Digitize Negatives - Nikon Z6 w/ 24-70/4 lens

[ejg1890]

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Curious if the above set up is sufficient to digitize negatives for the computer and import into Lightroom? Previous articles and videos indicates a micro lens would be required. However, I read a recent article where a Nikon Z6 w/ 24-120/4 lens was utilized. While I don’t have that lens I do have the 24-70/4.

I had been looking at selling the setup along with the 14-30/4 as the are little used these days and use the proceeds to fund a scanner. However, if the Nikon Z6 w/ 24-70/4 works for snapping a raw file of the negative I can then transform that to a photo with software and not bother with the scanner. 

If the camera/lens set up would work what remaining hardware is required and does anyone sell it as a complete set up or kit?

Thanks

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[250swb]

I think you need a lens that can give you a flat plane image without distortion. So either an enlarging lens with an adapter or a Nikon micro lens, maybe the 60mm AF-D, with the FTZ adapter. You are looking at recording 'flat to flat', as a film scanner does it.

Edit, FWIW I use my Z7 with the 60mm micro to copy/scan my negatives.

Edited April 19, 2022 by 250swb

[ejg1890]

1 hour ago, 250swb said:

I think you need a lens that can give you a flat plane image without distortion. So either an enlarging lens with an adapter or a Nikon micro lens, maybe the 60mm AF-D, with the FTZ adapter. You are looking at recording 'flat to flat', as a film scanner does it.

Wouldn’t  Lightroom’s camera/lens correction fix that issue?

[oldwino]

When I owned the Z6, I bought a used AF-S 60 micro lens for scanning purposes. It worked great. No need to re-invent the wheel. 

I think using a 24-70 would be difficult.

[250swb]

8 hours ago, ejg1890 said:

Wouldn’t  Lightroom’s camera/lens correction fix that issue?

The 24 - 70 is a great lens but it's not nearly as sharp close up as a micro lens. I don't know if software would correct any distortions, but on my Z7 it won't focus anywhere near close enough to copy a negative properly, there would be a lot of wasted pixels around it. Sure it's possible to get something and that is all some people want, a simple representation of the negative, but it will be a bit crude. You could possibly cut the costs by getting a simple Z to F mount adapter and a 55mm Micro Nikkor.

[ejg1890]

Thanks for all the responses. I have another follow up. The 50mm 2.8Z and 60mm 2.8G are both 1:1 for macro while the 55mm 2.8 AI the object appears at half its size so not 1:1. Is a 1:1 ration required for the macro/micro lens?  Thanks

[250swb]

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3 hours ago, ejg1890 said:

Thanks for all the responses. I have another follow up. The 50mm 2.8Z and 60mm 2.8G are both 1:1 for macro while the 55mm 2.8 AI the object appears at half its size so not 1:1. Is a 1:1 ration required for the macro/micro lens?  Thanks

Ideally 1:1.

[ejg1890]

Thanks all. I have decided to go with the Nikon Z MC 50mm 2.8 over the 60mm 2.8G as the 50mm is much smaller, a native fit to z6, 1:1 and focus closer than the 60mm.

[250swb]

5 hours ago, ejg1890 said:

Thanks all. I have decided to go with the Nikon Z MC 50mm 2.8 over the 60mm 2.8G as the 50mm is much smaller, a native fit to z6, 1:1 and focus closer than the 60mm.

You'll probably find that is fine and get you in the zone, although a lens that can do micro isn't necessarily a lens that is made specifically for micro. So if it doesn't have a micro (Nikon) or macro (everybody else) name attached to it in the name of the lens, just check again.

[Sandokan]

Just get the Nikon ES2 as it saves a lot of time fiddling around aligning slides or negatives. You need the Nikkor Micro lens too (I bought the 60mm). 

I use it with my SL with the Nikon G to L adaptor (e.g. Urth) but will work on any camera with a lens adaptor

Edited May 1, 2022 by Sandokan

[roydonian]

If you have an existing lens, try it and see how effective it is in this role. Faced with the need to digitise a collection of BW negatives dating from the late 1940s and 1950s, I used a Leitz BEOON copying stand, and experimented with most of my vintage 50mm lenses to see which one worked best. To my surprise, the lens that outperformed the others in this role was a late-1930s 5cm Elmar.