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"Sigma SD1 Merrill not good for scanning negatives/slides"

Started Sep 10, 2018 | Discussions thread
D Cox Forum Pro • Posts: 32,979
Re: "Sigma SD1 Merrill not good for scanning negatives/slides"
1

JohnK wrote:

Hey Dr Tebi, I’m confused, so is it good or not good? It says not good, but the sample pics look alright. What about the QH? I was going to use it to scan some slides I made in the 70’s but don’t want to waste my time if Sigmas are no good for this. Should I use my other camera instead? I’m going to use a tripod and a lightbox, how do you think that would work? Will the files be good enough to print at 12x18?

I scanned all my 35mm slides with a NEX-5N, and in most cases I think the results are fine. I used the HDR mode to deal with the high contrast of slides.

Some time I may do some of them again with either the sdQH or the fp, but I don't expect a big improvement if any, except perhaps for Kodachromes.

B&W negs require higher resolution than the NEX-5N can offer, as you want to resolve the grain. I bought the sdQH mainly for scanning 35mm B&W and the results are completely satisfactory. By that time, I had already done all the slides, but I did a few tests with the sdQH and the results were OK. This was back in 2017, and I can get better colour from the sdQH now than I could then.

These are from 1970s Tri-X. Note the fine lines on the radiator grill at extreme left -- these were not resolved by the NEX-5N.

This is from Kodachrome. sdQH camera, Olympus OM 80mm macro lens on bellows.

Don

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