Denali3times

OK Guys...the results are absolutely amazing! After trying few macro lens options, I set my preference for a Micro-Nikkor 55mm 2,8 + tube. @Milandro, the curvature of the negative wasn't in the equation as my negative is maintained in place by an enlarger negative carrier. I can now confirm that my negatives reproduction are absolutely perfect. I compared them with some scans I get from a professional lab using a Nikon 5000ED scanner and mines are, way out, better with more tonalities and approximately the same pixel count when using the XPro2.
 
  Here are the useful information if someone goes the same way:
Only real macro lenses give good to outstanding results  Micro-Nikkor 55/2,8 is an extraordinary lens I didn't test Fuji Macro because of high price and no need of autofocus but I believe it must be excellent  The negative must be flat so the use of an enlarger negative carrier is mandatory (or similar negative holder) The use of a remote trigger is mandatory (I use a cheap remote with cable from Amazon) My light source is an old X-Ray light (white balance isn't a problem with B&W negatives) The «scan» time is calculated in seconds, not in minutes. Only depend of the time it takes me to change negative in the carrier! WooHoo! Cost = zero/scan if I consider that I already have the XPro2 and a friend borrowed me his old 55mm with have a stiff focus ring so was never used. I made myself the reproduction rig with stuff I already had. Seriously I was hoping the results will be good but they are stunning. When taking time to test and refine all the variables, it works great. Now the only things I still must do is «scanning» 20 years of B&W photography...

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
 

 

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
 

 

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
 

 

In case you don't know, the black line around the picture is the actual outside limit of the original negative. Keeping it when enlarging images was a proof for an uncropped picture. That was named a full frame image...The origin of «full frame» digital sensors.

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
 

 

OK Guys...the results are absolutely amazing! After trying few macro lens options, I set my preference for a Micro-Nikkor 55mm 2,8 + tube. @Milandro, the curvature of the negative wasn't in the equation as my negative is maintained in place by an enlarger negative carrier. I can now confirm that my negatives reproduction are absolutely perfect. I compared them with some scans I get from a professional lab using a Nikon 5000ED scanner and mines are, way out, better with more tonalities and approximately the same pixel count when using the XPro2.
 
  Here are the useful information if someone goes the same way:
Only real macro lenses give good to outstanding results  Micro-Nikkor 55/2,8 is an extraordinary lens I didn't test Fuji Macro because of high price and no need of autofocus but I believe it must be excellent  The negative must be flat so the use of an enlarger negative carrier is mandatory (or similar negative holder) The use of a remote trigger is mandatory (I use a cheap remote with cable from Amazon) My light source is an old X-Ray light (white balance isn't a problem with B&W negatives) The «scan» time is calculated in seconds, not in minutes. Only depend of the time it takes me to change negative in the carrier! WooHoo! Cost = zero/scan if I consider that I already have the XPro2 and a friend borrowed me his old 55mm with have a stiff focus ring so was never used. I made myself the reproduction rig with stuff I already had. Seriously I was hoping the results will be good but they are stunning. When taking time to test and refine all the variables, it works great. Now the only things I still must do is «scanning» 20 years of B&W photography...

After intensive testing of coupling the two Fuji extension tubes together with my 56mm, I had to conclude that it's unusable for critical reproduction work. The ratio was really good, allowing framing a little bit larger than the 24x36mm negatives. But the sides and corners were always unsharp, independently of the aperture used. My goal is to «scan» a large quantity of B&W 35mm negatives using my x-Pro2. I now must turn to macro lenses to achieve the near 1:1 ratio with the pro quality I know I can get.