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How to scan Instamatic / 126 slides

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Andy Champ

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Aug 18, 2010, 4:36:51 PM8/18/10
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I'm writing this in the hope it'll be useful to someone else, as I
finally have an answer!

Many years ago I had a camera that took Instamatic film, also known as
126. And I always took slides - unusual, because these were normally
used for snaps and prints only.

I've had terrible trouble finding a scanner, because the slides are
square. The mounts are 2 inches square, just like a 35mm - but the
actual image in the middle is about 26mm square, unlike 35mm slides
where it's about 34mm x 23mm. I've finally found a scanner which will
accept these and let me scan the whole thing, and not crop it to 23mm
one way or the other.

It's an Epson Perfection 1670 photo flatbed. Not anything obscure, and
not even very obsolete. I found that if I use "Home" or "Professional"
mode in their software _and_ _disable_ _thumbnail_ _preview_ it'll let
me apply completely manual cropping to the real edges of the image. And
I can now get my slides in.

Regards to all

Andy

Bob AZ

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Aug 25, 2010, 1:43:03 AM8/25/10
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 I've finally found a scanner which will
> accept these and let me scan the whole thing, and not crop it to 23mm
> one way or the other.
>
> It's an Epson Perfection 1670 photo flatbed.  Not anything obscure, and
> not even very obsolete.

Andy

Congratulations.

My Nikon film scanners will also do this. I usually use a Nikon
LS4500AF scanner.

Bob AZ

Woofdog

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Sep 13, 2010, 6:51:04 AM9/13/10
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"Bob AZ" <rwats...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:ad3c9bbf-cc56-4891...@x18g2000pro.googlegroups.com...

Andy

Congratulations.

Bob AZ

Bob,
I have the Nikon LS4000Ed. This will scan 126 with the FH-3 adaptor (As I
presume you use) but FILMSCAN USA do a nice adaptor for 126 and, one for 110
film which I am currently scanning, it works a treat. I also have and Epson
V700 and have scanned odd sizes with that but not as good as the Nikon

Eddie


Rob

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Sep 16, 2010, 8:01:31 AM9/16/10
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Thats an interesting point. I have a Minolta Multi pro Up to the 6x7
which does all these things, but have been offered a V700 and want it
for my 6x17 film. I have been scanning and stitching my 6x17 stuff.

What is the actual problems with the V700? Should I get the V700 or keep
using the Minolta film scanner.

r

Woofdog

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Sep 17, 2010, 11:29:43 PM9/17/10
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"Rob" <mesa...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4c92...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...

Rob,
Sorry to be late in replying. No, there is NO scanning problem with the V700
on most normal film. But it does not have the dmax of the Nikon and thus
does not penetrate dark matter as well as the nikon, neither does it have
multi-scan and I think that the dedicated Nikon is slightly sharper and,
does a better job with it's ice and grain reduction. That said, I still
recommend the Epson V700 for those that do not wish to spend thousands on a
Nikon. The Epson has similar 4000 dpi scanning. And of course unless you
have the Nikon 5000, medium format and 127 still have to be done on the
Epson. I can manage 126 on the Nikon. Also, the V700 can do multiple batch
strip or slide up to 24 at a time!

Ed

Eddie


1Scan

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Sep 18, 2010, 4:49:54 AM9/18/10
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On Sep 18, 4:29 am, "Woofdog" <woof...@kennel.com.au> wrote:
> "Rob" <mesam...@gmail.com> wrote in message

>
> news:4c92...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
>
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> > On 13/09/2010 8:51 PM, Woofdog wrote:
> >> "Bob AZ"<rwatson...@aol.com>  wrote in message

I agree with Eddie, we have V750 scanners for the same reasons. For
the vast majority of our clients an Epson scan is every bit as good as
a Nikon scan.

But the Epson has one big advantage over Nikon - you can buy one new,
today. And it comes with Silverfast too.

Jeff Underwood
1Scan.co.uk

Woofdog

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Sep 18, 2010, 8:18:13 AM9/18/10
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"1Scan" <jeff.un...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ff6e0fc1-38e9-4cdb...@j30g2000vbr.googlegroups.com...

Yep, the 750 with fluid bed capability is the tops....

Eddie

Jeff Underwood
1Scan.co.uk


Woofdog

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Sep 18, 2010, 8:19:20 AM9/18/10
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"1Scan" <jeff.un...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ff6e0fc1-38e9-4cdb...@j30g2000vbr.googlegroups.com...

...actually, I use Vuescan.....

Eddie

Jeff Underwood
1Scan.co.uk


Rob

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Sep 19, 2010, 10:04:33 AM9/19/10
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Thanks in othere words its just a flatbed with higher specs.

Ill still keep my Minolta then for critical scans off my trannys. :)

Rob

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Sep 19, 2010, 10:06:19 AM9/19/10
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Thanks

Woofdog

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Sep 19, 2010, 8:59:43 PM9/19/10
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"Rob" <mesa...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4c961871$1...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...

Do so. But the Epson is not, 'Just a flatbed'. I reckon its the top of the
range of any others.

Eddie


Rob

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Sep 20, 2010, 12:02:11 AM9/20/10
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Just looked at the specs and the dmax is not so hot at 4.0 whereas the
Minolta is 4.8 but then again what can be achieved in Photoshop may
compensate for this with a little fiddle.

I haven't used the Minolta in over 5 years and can't remember the
sequence to arrive at the dmax of 4.8. But Ill load the software and see
once again what happens.

I haven't picked up a film camera in 7 years. Things change people want
newer images but at last people are after my archival stuff. Some of my
negs will require Digital ROC.

Woofdog

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Sep 21, 2010, 12:05:35 AM9/21/10
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"Rob" <mesa...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4c96...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
Rob, always beware of Dmax specs. Even Epson's 4.0 is suspect. But your
Minolta will certainly be better in that regards. The Epson V700/750 is
brilliant for medium sized negs/slides, unless of course, your Minolta does
that or you can afford a Nikon 5000 or above.

As for dmax, you can't compensate in photoshop as, if the detail is not
there photoshop will not bring it out, just noise. (bit like digital zoom,
enlarges the image but does not bring up extra detail which optical zoom
does) With good scanners you can use multi-pass, high bitrate format and
analog gain, which can force it's way through dense negs/slides. More detail
will be available with less noise. Photoshop's noise reduction is poor, I
use neat image which is good, and for sharpening, Focus magic. Post
processing in Photoshop with levels and curves etc will match the digital
ROC of scanners, though I must say Nikon's isn't bad, Vuescan is very good
most of the time. Also, the Nikon/Vuescan grain reduction is better than
Epson's.

Last word Nikon Dmax is supposedly 4.2, Minolta 4.8, so your's is better,
but overal quality also relies on lens, mirros, focus sys etc. But I do know
that Minolta's are good. Much better than the Pustek's and their suspect
specs. And as for those cheapie so-called neg scanners...they are not, just
5MP cmos thingies that basically copy, not scan a pic

Eddie

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Rob

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Sep 22, 2010, 9:04:26 AM9/22/10
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Its the Minolta Scan Multi pro which will scan 35mm at 4800 and MF at
3200?? It does a multi pass scan to maximise the Dmax It scans up to
6x9 film.

Found the specs here (if you can believe Ken Rockwell) who disputes the
Dmax.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/minolta/mpspex.htm

Now to find the drivers for the scanner if not Ill get Vuescan working.
Hoping it works with Windows 7.

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Rob

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Sep 22, 2010, 9:08:00 AM9/22/10
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This is a better review of the Minolta.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/SCAN/DSMP/DSMA.HTM

I was scanning my 6x17 film twice and stitching them together.

Eddie

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Sep 22, 2010, 11:29:37 AM9/22/10
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"Rob" <mesa...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4c99...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...

Yes, Vuescan works with Windows 7...at least 32 bit, not sure of 64 bit but
I think it does.

Eddie
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Eddie

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Sep 22, 2010, 11:30:29 AM9/22/10
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"Rob" <mesa...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4c99ffb3$1...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...

Then the Epson v700/750 is for you!

Eddie


Eddie

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Sep 22, 2010, 11:31:42 AM9/22/10
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"Rob" <mesa...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4c99...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...

4800...impressive. The Epson V700/750 will scan at either 4000 or 4800
optical res

Eddie

surr...@gmail.com

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May 20, 2019, 8:56:07 AM5/20/19
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Thank you very much for the input everyone!
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