Scanning 35mm film

I have a huge pile of 35mm film negatives I'm looking to digitize. I would very much like to use my 5d3, however, I'm not sure what kind of equipment I would need to accomplish the task with quality results and reasonable efficiency.

I've tried some things such as using macro extension tubes and using a cup to retain the film (the DRTV method) at the end of the lens, but such crude methods don't produce consistent results and are very slow to set up. Especially when the negatives are slightly curled, it's very difficult to get accurate focus.

I looked online and some vendors seem to make slide duplicators which can be threaded onto the end of your lens, but they don't seem to have 35mm film trays nor 77mm filter threads.

If no such product exists, I also wouldn't be opposed to using a lower resolution film scanner. Do you guys have any suggestions?

How many are we talking about here? It may be better off to outsource it. Is faster and better quality scans. To digitize your negatives with a DSLR is somewhat DIY for the most parts. Go google the subject and that should give you some ideas how to setup the platform. You can use a home 35mm scanner for it. Try the Plustek 8100i. There is the 8100 model but it has no ICE or dust and scratches removal. It is cheaper, under $300. The "i" model is around $400. Stay away from flatbed scanner for 35mm. They are often slower and the quality isn't so great.

TooManyShots wrote in post #15788372
How many are we talking about here? It may be better off to outsource it. Is faster and better quality scans. To digitize your negatives with a DSLR is somewhat DIY for the most parts. Go google the subject and that should give you some ideas how to setup the platform. You can use a home 35mm scanner for it. Try the Plustek 8100i. There is the 8100 model but it has no ICE or dust and scratches removal. It is cheaper, under $300. The "i" model is around $400. Stay away from flatbed scanner for 35mm. They are often slower and the quality isn't so great.

Thanks for the info, currently the number of pictures I want to digitize is in the low thousands, but maybe more in the future. I really want to avoid outsourcing the job, as I enjoy doing the work myself. I probably won't go the DSLR route if it requires building some large contraption though.

Scanning negs/slides yourself involves lots of time cleaning the film surfaces to rid them of dust particles. Then, with high resolution scans, there is a lot of time consumed for each scan. In short, you spend LOTS of time in preparation and scanning.

Wilt wrote in post #15788840
Scanning negs/slides yourself involves lots of time cleaning the film surfaces to rid them of dust particles. Then, with high resolution scans, there is a lot of time consumed for each scan. In short, you spend LOTS of time in preparation and scanning.

I don't mind I was just wondering what's the best means of going about it.

I had a similar situation a few years ago. I bought a Nikon Coolscan V ED which scans 35mm film and slides. It took me a while to do it and yes, you have to clean each slide/piece of film before you scan them. I've even had to blow off the inside of my scanner a few times as well. I'd do a couple rolls of film every evening after work and eventually I got them all scanned in.

windlight wrote in post #15788817
Thanks for the info, currently the number of pictures I want to digitize is in the low thousands, but maybe more in the future. I really want to avoid outsourcing the job, as I enjoy doing the work myself. I probably won't go the DSLR route if it requires building some large contraption though.

Hehehe...that's a lot. You can do the math. A typical scan time could be between 2 minutes to 5 minutes, optimistically, for each negative. If it takes 3 minutes to scan one negative, a thousand would take 50 hours+. Not to mention that no PP has been involved yet. You are basically looking at a week long project for the first 1000 negatives. Could be a month if scanning couple of thousands, adding that you have a full time job. You have to eat, sleep, and do other things.

One guy on POTN posted about scan time, " 2400dpi 12 frames can take something like 40 minutes"

I would just use low cost cheap and very fast film scanner. Tower with frame for six.
It shows you the negative right away and scan-save is two seconds.
Use it to go through all negatives, to select only those which are good for higher resolution scanning.

Thanks for all the input. I was well aware of the time investment required beforehand. Any suggestions for good quality but relatively inexpensive film scanners other than the Plustek 8100?

Wilt wrote in post #15788921
One guy on POTN posted about scan time, " 2400dpi 12 frames can take something like 40 minutes"

Yeah, these scanners are pretty slow. That is why I would only do a couple rolls worth every evening. 24 exposures would take about an hour to do.

You could get a flatbed scanner designed for negatives with the holders and everything. I have one for my 4x5's but I'm not a big fan of those. Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I like the Nikon Coolscan better than the flatbed.

windlight wrote in post #15788936
Thanks for all the input. I was well aware of the time investment required beforehand. Any suggestions for good quality but relatively inexpensive film scanners other than the Plustek 8100?

If you can find the 7400i model used, it is even better. As far as I know, there aren't a lot of good 35mm scanner. Nikon Coolscans are good but they are expensive and lacking supports from Nikon. I say it again, stay away from flatbed scanners for 35mm. Yes, I am serious.

windlight wrote in post #15788936
Thanks for all the input. I was well aware of the time investment required beforehand. Any suggestions for good quality but relatively inexpensive film scanners other than the Plustek 8100?

Epsons flatbeds are good enough and very affordable. V330 is $120, scans six 135. V500 is $180, scans 12 at one time.
Depends on the settings and computer, my V500 will do 12 at 2400 for 20 or so minutes.
But if you need it at 4800 it takes much longer.

kf095 wrote in post #15789981
Epsons flatbeds are good enough and very affordable. V330 is $120, scans six 135. V500 is $180, scans 12 at one time.
Depends on the settings and computer, my V500 will do 12 at 2400 for 20 or so minutes.
But if you need it at 4800 it takes much longer.

Well, from my experience using the Canon 9000f, similar to most Epson lower end scanners, you really need to flatten the 35 negatives as much as possible to get any decent image quality. We all know it is impossible for the supplied film holders to hold the negative completely flat.

There are ways to flatten them completely but I would spare the OP the details.

I was looking for my first flatbed scanner year or two ago. After reading real users reviews on-line, my impression was - Canon non-expensive flatbeds are ... garbage.
But Epson V-series were in opposite at good side in majority of reviews from real users.
Including me now. It is working solution. Nothing bad at all. All I have to do is to hold my horses, put film between pages into the book (about digital photography, for best results) and let it lay down for couple of days. Negatives becomes flatten and the trick is to put it arch down, not up, facing flatbed of the scanner (bottom part).
I'm not saying it is perfect. It is just working, very affordable solution.
If here is any $300 boxy style new ones, I'll get one.
I have no luck to find them used here.
Even flatbeds. Majority of adds here are posted by local gooffers who wants 90% of original price, but no cables, no software.
Plus, How do I know if it was't dropped?