After entering the film world late last year with a Rolleiflex, I just picked up my first 35mm camera, a Leica M2 that I found in near mint condition. First thing I discovered is just how much smaller 35mm is from medium format. I knew it was smaller of course, but damn Gina. This brings up my main question to those of you shooting the smaller format. What are your preferred settings/software for scanning the negatives? I have an Epson V800 which does a good job, but I don't want to discover 6 months and 30 rolls of film later that I could have been getting better results from my scans, and have to go back to do them again. Any advice about the process in general would be helpful/welcome. Thanks - Sean
I currently use a microtek i800 for larger than 35 & an LS4000 for 35, that I converted to scan uncut rolls, one shot. wash/dry/scan no touching or manipulation. On a variety of scanners thru the years I only use Vuescan (since 1999, my first dedicated 35 scanner HPPhotoSmart, not so smart it kicked out the film strip after every single scan). I like your results as is for film scans...love rain shooting.
Thanks for the comments Robert. Picking up a few more developed rolls today, so maybe I'll run some tests this weekend. I also want as large a file size as possible (I've been spoiled by the huge digital sizes I'm used to).
I went through this myself and became completely frustrated with how hard it was to get a clean scan. I live in the desert, so dust is a huge issue. Ultimately I sold my Epson V850 after shopping around now send my film out to Richard Photo Lab and have them scan. They do a fantastic job with the scans and I'm a much happier person :)
I shoot film on a Leica M3 and a Hasselblad 503