EdFladung

I think it's worth it to share my experience with the process of digitize black & white negatives using the X-Pro2. If some peoples were thinking about it, it will be faster to make it work! First you need the following :
X-Pro2 A good Macro lens (I use a Micro-Nikkor 55mm/2.8, exceptionnal lens for reproduction work) An extension tube (if your lens don't go to a 1:1 ratio) A lightbox (I use an old X-Ray lightbox!) A reproduction bench (I made one by myself, cheap but effective) A remote to avoid camera vibrations during exposure A can of compressed air for negatives cleaning A way to keep negatives in place and flat (I use a negative carrier from an old enlarger) An old 50mm. Used as a magnifier for choosing the good negatives from the bad ones. After testing, it appears that only Macro lenses can do that task with excellent results. I tried RAW as I always shoot RAW but I got artifact pattern. The JPEG processor correct the pattern perfectly.
 

 

 
Here are the settings I use on the X-Pro2:
JPEG ISO200 Auto speed +1 exposure correction F8 Manual focus (after a good adjustment, it stay at the right focusing distance) Drive = single Electronic shutter NR -4 Sharpening -4 Shadow details -1 Highlights details -1 Simple B&W custom setting Few months ago I asked my local lab to scan few negatives for an exhibition. They used a Nikon Coolscan 5000ED. I wasn't sure that the results were as good as the negatives were but at the time I had no way to have comparatives. Now that I have that set-up, I compare the scans from the lab to my «scans» made with the X-Pro2 and mines aren't just better, they are A LOT better! Much more tonalities. During the firsts experimentations, I search the web and found that when well done, this method give amazing results and I can confirm that. The only better way to digitize is using a drum scan, an impossible solution for my thousands of B&W negatives from 20 years of analog photography.
 
When the «scans» are done, I transfer the pictures on computer, Using Photoshop batch process, I invert the negatives. After that I import the positives in Lightroom. The rest is similar processing as with digital pictures.
 
Until now I have 1200 scans completed so I really can confirm that this method work! Hoping that it can simplified the process for others tempted by this solution for «scanning» B&W negatives.
 
As exemple, here is a picture I first shoot 20 years ago using a Leica M4-P with a summilux 35mm on Tri-X film