Anyone using DSLR/photostitching instead of a scanner for 4x5 film?

**okcomputer** · 19-Mar-2013, 07:38

I saw this article and was very intrigued: http://www.addicted2light.com/2012/1...vs-epson-v700/

I have a 5Dii, a 100mm macro, and light box so I tried to replicate this procedure last night. Problem is that with the lens hood on and directly on top of the negative, my lens doesn't reach it's minimum focus distance. I then rigged up something where my lens was resting on top of two cups and took 6 shots of a 6x6 negative and compared it against the V700 scan (both with similar PP, including sharpening). Used "Hugin" (free) for the stitching. Scanning was my typical method, with the negative flat on the glass emulsion side down with ANR glass on top. This tends to give me better results that using the Epson film holders.

Results are below, with the DSLR method first. So far it's encouraging. Has anyone tried this with a 4x5 negative yet, and found it superior to scanning? The reason I haven't tried it yet on 4x5 is I need a much more stable "stand-off" for my lens to be able to align and take the 10-20 pictures. I may make something if this produces much better results than what is possible with the V700.

DSLR Method, with 100% crop on left

Scanned

**Kirk Gittings** · 19-Mar-2013, 08:38

do a search for "DSLR scanner" in the DIY section. A few people have been working a lot on this.

**okcomputer** · 19-Mar-2013, 17:24

Ah, looks like you guys have gotten a head start

thanks.

**Randy** · 22-Mar-2013, 05:17

Very encouraging results. Just seems awfully time consuming...but...if one doesn't have a decent film scanner, great option.

**Adamphotoman** · 24-Mar-2013, 22:26

The D800 is 4950 dpi in a slide duper from a 35 mm piece of film.
If you have a sliding stage you can shoot up to 20 overlapping images from a 4x5 and end up with 12 X the DPI.
Time consuming and overkill.
We enter into the realm of EMPTY MAGNIFICATION.
But if one shoots 3 or 4 overlaps then you will have more dpi than the v700.
If you process all in raw and then stitch you can have a 1.5 gig file in under 15 minutes.

**paulr** · 24-Mar-2013, 23:26

How is the optical quality of these macro / duping lenses compared with high end scanner optics?

**Peter De Smidt** · 25-Mar-2013, 23:41

Rodagon D 75mm F4s are terrific at 1:1. I have the Linos lens from an Imacon, and it's not better. I also have a macro Digitar, which is very good, but not quite as good as the Rodagon. The only lens I know of better than the Rodagon is a 105mm Printing Nikkor, which is extremely rare and expensive.