Slide or Neagative Copying System

[pgk]

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I need to copy all my old transparencies - around 10K! So It makes sense for me to build a system to make this relatively easy and having looked at what was available I finally put the following together as a viable and effective and relatively inexpense solution. As other might have the same need I thought I'd post it here. Obviously the system could be altered and a Leica camera and lens installed quite easily but this works well enough.

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Basically I decided on using an Olympus OM system bellows togather with the slide/negative copier attachment which are easily available for less than £100 in great condition. I needed a lens and dealers have the 80mm cheaply available with a warranty and in clean conditon. I had adapters for Sony but basically any decent camera will do because its the sensor and RAW file output which matters so the camera is essentially a box fitted onto the bellews and needs just the ability to zoom in using live view to focus precisely. I added another section of OM bellows bough very cheaply off ebay and fitted using 49mm filter rims from damaged filters which works a treat. This minimises any extraneous light and minimises flare. Once everything is aligned and focussed copying slide is very easy. I use aperture priority and adjust to retain highlights using exposure compensation with both focus and highlight information switched on. Results are great and the RAW files often enable the copied image to be adjusted very well indeed. The system can be varied but this is an efficient way of copying large numbers of slides or negative quickly. Light source is an LED lightbox and I've mounted everything on some RRS/Arca bits but a tripod is fine. My set up portable and can be assembled anywhere - even on the messy work table in the lounge!

In the next post is a resulting file from a transparency shot many years ago on an M6 with a 35mm pre-aspheric Summilx I think.

It is worth bearing in mind that old transparencies can show many defects over time including fading and less known problems like marginal dye difussion which might make them look less sharp that they originally were. Some adjustments in software can help restore these, up to a point.

 

Edited February 15, 2024 by pgk

[pgk]

Islay Wreck (a Fleetwood trawler - drunkness rumoured to have been involved!)

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[LocalHero1953]

I can't help thinking about your 10k slides! What rate of copying can you achieve, including digital processing?

[pgk]

100/day and processing can wait! I've been meaning to start on this for years of course and have done a few as needed using M bellows and bits of adapters I had lying around but it was messy and a faff as it was a bit Heath Robinson.