Most affordable copy stand with geared height adjustment? (Rack and pinion?)

[Drew Wiley]

Try to find a Durst 138 floor standing chassis with baseboard, minus any enlarging or negative stage, bellows etc - something they want to get rid of cheap because it's incomplete. They do turn up in this manner sometimes. It's easy to convert them into a truly deluxe copystand. You'd still need lights.

[Schuster_Shots]

Thanks for all the ideas!

Just a little more info on what I'm doing:

I'll be using this rig to digitize my film. I'll be building a rig for the baseboard that will allow me to very precisely shift the film on X and Y axes for the capture of multiple images that will be stitched together. Being able to set my lens to a specific magnification then focus by moving the camera up and down will allow to calculate exactly how far I need to shift the film in each direction between exposures to allow for necessary overlap and get as close as possible to a clean and straight grid of images, making the stitching software's job a little easier (in theory).

[Tin Can]

We have many threads about that

[Schuster_Shots]

We have many threads about that

I'm aware. Not really looking for advice on the stitching/digitizing. Just thought I'd mention it so that people know I don't need lights like a traditional copy stand.

[Drew Wiley]

You do need a high quality light box under it, especially if it involves any color imagery. There are lots of past threads on that subject too. For a boatload of XY positioning options, go to the Edmund Scientific Industrial Optics catalog (not the amateur website).

[Greg]

Linhof copy stand... OK the current Linhof Technopro II Copy Stand goes for $5,454.95.

But I am talking about the older Universal Accessory Stand (correct nomenclature Bob?) that has the same round geared column as a Linhof Heavy Duty Tripod. Check out State and Government Surplus stores. Got mine years ago for around $25.00 with half of a bracket that attached it to a wall (fortunately the part that attaches to the column). Was definitely used but not abused. Next to it was a Linhof vacuum frame, but it was priced over $100.00, so passed up on it. I have seen two on eBay over the years for little money, but the caveat was always no shipping... for pick up only. One was a 10+ hour round trip away. If I had not already had mine, I would have definitely made the round trip to pick it up. I have used my stand my 8x10 Norma with 100% stability.

[Bob Salomon]

Linhof copy stand... OK the current Linhof Technopro II Copy Stand goes for $5,454.95.

But I am talking about the older Universal Accessory Stand (correct nomenclature Bob?) that has the same round geared column as a Linhof Heavy Duty Tripod. Check out State and Government Surplus stores. Got mine years ago for around $25.00 with half of a bracket that attached it to a wall (fortunately the part that attaches to the column). Was definitely used but not abused. Next to it was a Linhof vacuum frame, but it was priced over $100.00, so passed up on it. I have seen two on eBay over the years for little money, but the caveat was always no shipping... for pick up only. One was a 10+ hour round trip away. If I had not already had mine, I would have definitely made the round trip to pick it up. I have used my stand my 8x10 Norma with 100% stability.

We were the USA distributor for several decades for bot LInhof and Kaiser. Kaiser made better, and less expensive, stands for the pro market as well as a complete selection of tungsten, halogen, fluorescent, strobe and LED lighting.
LInhof only offered tungsten lamps.
In addition Kaiser also offered polarizers for their lights as well as a wide assortment of camera arms.

[letchhausen]

Do not get the cheap Kaiser. That is a tweaky pos where the camera attaches to the stand. I'm looking at the Beseler because of my dissatisfaction with Kaiser and at $250, the Kaiser wasn't that cheap. But I guess you get what you pay for.

[Bob Salomon]

Do not get the cheap Kaiser. That is a tweaky pos where the camera attaches to the stand. I'm looking at the Beseler because of my dissatisfaction with Kaiser and at $250, the Kaiser wasn't that cheap. But I guess you get what you pay for.

It all depends on which Kaiser you bought and which camera arm you had.

[Tin Can]

I just started using an iPad 5 on "Copy camera adapter for Leitz Valoy II stand. This is a Glennview product."

A few adapters needed

I had one, it works well

I suggest you study Glennview online