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Showing posts from 2023

Catch them if you can....

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Test Targets are on sale for few more hours only:  https://amzn.to/47sXpoF . Note the best deal: 35 mm and MF test target as Combo - for US$40 it's a steal  😉

"Vlads Test Target"s are coming to the Amazon.com store near you

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"Vlads Test Target"s are coming to the Amazon shop near you 😉. I am letting Amazon fulfill the orders so targets are shipped faster and shipping is free for Amazon Prime members. The first batch is already sitting in the Amazon warehouse. Funny enough, it turned out that Amazon search works in strange ways, so entering "Vlads Test Target" brings up anything, but the targets. Apparently all words in query are considered different options: Vlads OR Test Or Target . Anyway, here is the the proper query:  Amazon.com : vlads+test+target And here are the direct product links: Strip of 3 - High Resolution 35 mm Test Target on Adox CMS II Pro 35 mm film. 3 frames https://amazon.com/dp/B0BYLYRTZJ Strip of 5 - High Resolution 35 mm Test Target on Adox CMS II Pro 35 mm film. 5 frames https://amazon.com/dp/B0BYV4ZR48 Type 120 Test Target and Focusing Aid 6x6, 6x7, 6x9, 6x12 https://amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6FMYJT 4x5 inch Test Target and Focusing Aid https://amazon.com/dp/B0BZ5ZJCPS

Where RAW files come from...

  I am working on the article which describes my approach to film scanning where such questions as "what should be the white balance while film scanning" are dismissed as non-sensical. While I am polishing my article, I recommend your read this one as the very good introduction to my coming piece. https://www.diyphotography.net/color-theory-raw-files-and-raw-developers/

Scan-tastic! Fine-tuning Your Flatbed Scanner for Film with Vlads Test Target

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Hey there, film-scanning fanatics! If you're using a flatbed scanner to digitize your old rolls, listen up. Did you know that placing the film at the right distance from the glass surface of the scanner bed can make a big difference in image quality? It's true! And if you want to fine-tune your Epson scanner for film scanning, there's a very nice video out there that shows you how to do it. And don't worry, it involves Vlads Test Target - the gold standard in film-scanning geekery. So grab your popcorn and get ready for a wild ride! Good luck scanning, and remember: keep your distance!

APO Rodagon D 2X 4.5/75 mm vs. Sigma 2.8/70 Macro Art - Fight of the Century

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If someone would want to compare the full size .png exports from the camera scans taken with Canon EOS R camera and APO Rodagon D 2X 4.5/75 mm and Sigma 2.8/70 Macro Art here is the link  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-2cN8blD7M6xQ9T-bDM5cK9z2toPtTZq?usp=sharing .  The film original is "Vlads Test Target" on 35 mm Adox CMS 20 Pro film.  The pictures in the series were taken at shutter speeds no longer then 1/160 sec at full range of lens apertures. The aperture setting is included in the file name. The folder QuickCompare contains the same images, but less informative parts of images were cut out so it's easier to compare the files.   Full scan: Abbreviated file: I would suggest to download the files locally and use Lightroom or similar app to review images at 100% - otherwise you will not see the differences. Let me just note that the scans resolution is limited by the camera sensor, not by the lenses. See my previous post for details:  https://www.facebook.co

Vibration-Proof Scanning Setup: Is Yours Up to the Task?

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As I look at pictures of camera-scanning setups, I can't help but have a persistent worry: what if all of these weights on long poles are just pendulums waiting for a bump to start swinging. Of course, the manufacturers claim that their stands are as steady as rock, as stable as an Egyptian pyramid, as solid as gold bullions. However, I am not fully convinced. If I were to tell you that a camera on such a stand moving just 1/10 the thickness of a human hair during exposure would result in a loss of half the resolution, would you be concerned? So, in this article, I'll present my arguments and show you how to check and possibly secure your own scanning setup against vibrations. Blurring the edges Certainly, let's start from the basics and define what is meant by "blur".  Blurring on a camera occurs as a result of movement of the camera, subject, or both. Motion blur specifically refers to the streaking or smearing seen in the image due to this movement [1].   On th