Scanning 126 negatives

[Bryan]

I have some old 126 negatives and there are a few that I want to convert
into digital images. The problem is my scanner, an Epson 3490 perfection
only does 35mm negs or slides in the frame supplied with the scanner. So
does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to scan 126 negatives? It
seems that not many shops like Jessops and Boots can do this either although
a local camera shop might be able to do it.

--
"you're not supposed to be sleeping Hawkeye!"

"I'm not sleeping Radar, I'm just inspecting the insides of my eyelids!"

I'm a hero with coward's legs. - Spike Milligan.

 

[Marvin]

I have some old 126 negatives and there are a few that I want to convert
into digital images. The problem is my scanner, an Epson 3490 perfection
only does 35mm negs or slides in the frame supplied with the scanner. So
does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to scan 126 negatives? It
seems that not many shops like Jessops and Boots can do this either although
a local camera shop might be able to do it.

I have the same scanner. The adaptor that came with it does
not seem to be essential for scanning film, but it does help
to automate the process for 35 mm slides and film strips.
Open Epson Scan, and choose Home mode and either Color
Negative Film or B&W Negative Film. It will probably take a
few trials ot learn how to do the scans.

 

[APEX]

I have an older Epson Perfection 1650 that, with the adapter, I can
scan up to 4x5 film. It does 35mm and 120 (I never realized that there
was a 126 size film) as well. The optical resolution isn't the greatest
so it's best to scan at the exact (or nearest) size and resolution
needed. I believe there are drum scanners that can scan larger format
film as well but don't quote me on that. Hope this helps.

 

[Colin_D]

I have some old 126 negatives and there are a few that I want to convert
into digital images. The problem is my scanner, an Epson 3490 perfection
only does 35mm negs or slides in the frame supplied with the scanner. So
does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to scan 126 negatives? It
seems that not many shops like Jessops and Boots can do this either although
a local camera shop might be able to do it.

A reasonable digital camera with macro capability should be able to copy
those negatives. A >5 megapixel camera is roughly equal to scanning at
2,000 ppi, plenty for the average 126 negative.

You will of course get a negative from the camera, but Photoshop or
similar can invert the image to a positive, and will allow tonal
adjustment to optimize the image.

Colin D.

 

[Richard Polhill]

I have some old 126 negatives and there are a few that I want to convert
into digital images. The problem is my scanner, an Epson 3490 perfection
only does 35mm negs or slides in the frame supplied with the scanner. So
does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to scan 126 negatives? It
seems that not many shops like Jessops and Boots can do this either although
a local camera shop might be able to do it.

Can you not just pop the 126 negs in the 35mm holders - it is 35mm film
afer all - and scan them? You may get more part frames overscanned
either side of the pictures but you simply crop them to square afterwards.

 

[Barry Watzman]

126 negatives are not just 35mm film. 120/126/620 film is MUCH wider
than 35mm film.

 

[Colin_D]

126 negatives are not just 35mm film. 120/126/620 film is MUCH wider
than 35mm film.

126 film is indeed 35mm wide, but it has no sprockets on one side, and
only one per frame on the other side. The images are 28mm square,
intended to be masked down to 26.5mm for printing.

So the film will fit into a 35mm scanner holder, but you lose about 4mm
of image. The image is not centred on the film, it is off to one side
to allow for the one-sided sprocket holes, so in a 35mm frame one would
lose 1 or 2 mm from the sprocket side, and about 2 or 3 mm from the
other side.

Given the fairly simple viewfinders on 126 cameras, maybe that loss is
not significant.

Colin D.

 

[Bryan]

A reasonable digital camera with macro capability should be able to copy
those negatives. A >5 megapixel camera is roughly equal to scanning at
2,000 ppi, plenty for the average 126 negative.

You will of course get a negative from the camera, but Photoshop or
similar can invert the image to a positive, and will allow tonal
adjustment to optimize the image.

cool, can you explain how to do it? I have a Canon EOS350D.

 

[Bryan]

Can you not just pop the 126 negs in the 35mm holders - it is 35mm film
afer all - and scan them? You may get more part frames overscanned either
side of the pictures but you simply crop them to square afterwards.

I tried that but you lose part of the negative and the software is setup to
detect either 2 or 4 x 35mm negs..

 

[Marvin]

I tried that but you lose part of the negative and the software is setup to
detect either 2 or 4 x 35mm negs..

With that scanner, I've found that the automated functions
are OK for many purposes, but there are scanning settings
that you can make yourself. It isn't hard to experiment
with them, and it costs nothing more than some time. It is
too bad that there isn't a decent manual with the scanner.

 

[tomm42]

cool, can you explain how to do it? I have a Canon EOS350D.

Not recommended for color negative film. Scanners take into
consideration the orange mask on the film your camera won't. Even auto
white or black balance doesn't work well. Black and white will work
fine, no mask.
The best way to copy the images is with a true macro lens. Know the
color temp of your light box and it is fairly straight forward. The
other thing you will need is a tripod or copy stand to stabilize your
camera.

Tom

 

[-]

I tried that but you lose part of the negative and the software is setup

to detect either 2 or 4 x 35mm negs..

Manually crop them yourself. In Professional mode, click on the little
arrow to the right of the Preview button, choose normal, re-preview, now
manually crop.

Doug

 

[Colin_D]

Not recommended for color negative film. Scanners take into
consideration the orange mask on the film your camera won't. Even auto
white or black balance doesn't work well. Black and white will work
fine, no mask.

On the contrary, it is recommended. Copying a color negative with a
digital camera will produce another negative, complete with mask. But
Photoshop, and probably other image handling programs, will invert the
image to a pale, greenish positive (Image/Adjustments/Invert - or Ctrl-I
for short). Then, you just hit Auto Levels (Image/Adjustments/Auto
levels - or Shift/Ctrl-I), and the image will be a pretty good positive.
It may need a bit of further tweaking, but generally the image as
produced is good enough for most purposes.

The best way to copy the images is with a true macro lens. Know the
color temp of your light box and it is fairly straight forward. The
other thing you will need is a tripod or copy stand to stabilize your
camera.

Yes, the OP has a 350D, eminently suitable for the job, but I agree that
he will need a macro lens. The lens with the camera will not focus
close enough, and would probably have a curved field as well.

Colin D.

 

[Ric Trexell]

*******************************************************************
Bryan: I have an Epson 2450 scanner which is older than yours and I have
scanned many 126 negatives with it. My scanner came with LaserSoft software
and I can use that to scan just about anything. I have even scanned 110
negatives with a paper holder I made. LaserSoft will scan the whole strip
in prescan and then you can set the dimensions that you want and it will
scan just that part. The manual I got with it says that if you are doing a
scan of a document and it cuts off some of it, in Epson Twain click
"configuration" and on the "preview" tab, make sure the Automatic Thumbnail
Preview for Film is unchecked. I don't know if that will work but you can
try it. I have never tried it because for a long time I lost my manual but
after I finally found it, I had already mastered the problem with LaserSoft.
Have fun. Ric in Wisconsin.

 

[Guest]

I have some old 126 negatives and there are a few that I want to convert
into digital images. The problem is my scanner, an Epson 3490 perfection
only does 35mm negs or slides in the frame supplied with the scanner.

Isn't 126 just 35mm without the perfs?

 

[Guest]

126 negatives are not just 35mm film. 120/126/620 film is MUCH wider
than 35mm film.

Maybe 120, etc. film is wider. But 126 is not 120 and has nothing
to do with 120 other than being film.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/126_film

 

[Pete D]

Isn't 126 just 35mm without the perfs?

Not quite, it is a square format.

 

[Guest]

Isn't 126 just 35mm without the perfs?

[/QUOTE]

Not quite, it is a square format.

True, but irrelevant to this discussion.

 

[Richard Polhill]

126 negatives are not just 35mm film. 120/126/620 film is MUCH wider
than 35mm film.

120/620 film may well be (and is) wider. Not really relevant as 126 film is
something quite different.

Why not look things up before replying? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/126_film