Scanning 120 film in SG

[SeAnCoLd]

Where or how do you guys scan your 120 color and bw negative films? I find the v700 rather lacking despite buying and using the better holders and glass bought separately.

Having them scanned by the mini labs here costs about 20 per roll inclusive of developing. Too expensive and the format returned is jpeg and I have no say in how I want the negs scanned.

 

[Vedfolnir]

Triple D does it for $13 total. $14 if you're developing black and white film. Personally, I'm thinking of scanning using my digital camera + macro lens. Was struggling with the epson scanner vs camera scanning options for a while but it's not like the former solution has no problems of itself.

 

[SeAnCoLd]

Triple D's a great shop to buy film and process film at, but scanning isn't that great. Color correction isn't to my taste, and again, they return only jpgs. I've got a pakon for 35mm, which works amazingly well, but for 120, speed, color consistency and details are just not up to my expectations using an epson v700. A noritsu hs-1800 costs over 20k USD and while a frontier sp3000 is much cheaper, it is outdated hardware. There seems to be no way to realise the full potential of MF cameras here in SG. The negs are great, but no way to extract the details with color consistency

 

[Anxin]

Triple D's a great shop to buy film and process film at, but scanning isn't that great. Color correction isn't to my taste, and again, they return only jpgs. I've got a pakon for 35mm, which works amazingly well, but for 120, speed, color consistency and details are just not up to my expectations using an epson v700. A noritsu hs-1800 costs over 20k USD and while a frontier sp3000 is much cheaper, it is outdated hardware. There seems to be no way to realise the full potential of MF cameras here in SG. The negs are great, but no way to extract the details with color consistency

Moving up from Epson V700, currently the best scanner for 120 would be Hasselblad Flextight X-series but that costs a bomb. The next thing would be a Nikon Coolscan 9000ED (some say it is as good as the X-series) but it has been discontinued quite a while. Excellent examples can still be found at the Bay (price range from US$3-6K, not cheap and it's a huge risk to ship such a monster in.) The 9000 can do true 4000dpi and can scan up to 6x9 with superb quality (I have one so I know).

There used to be a CS member providing 120 scanning service using coolscan 9000ED. Do a search for Planar Productions. (probably won't be cheaper than $20/roll but the scan quality should be much much better than V700 and those mini-lab.) Give it a try.

anxin

 

[trippingthelight]

I used a Nikon LS-800 that I bought on eBay in the US about 3 years ago and had it shipped here via vPost. Cost me about US$1250 including the shipping. It is not as fast as the 9000ED but it sure gets the job done at 4000 dpi. I use Vuescan and it has been an interesting journey. I scan my medium format film on this. Mainly 6x7 on my Mamiya 7II and panoramic format on my Hasselbald Xpan. Amazing details but it is a sttep learning curve to get all the parameters right, especially in the shadows. Using Fuji Velvia 50 or Provia 100F works great on this scanner. Drums scanners are also good but they are more expensive.