VALOI Easy120—Efficient and Streamlined Camera Scanning
VALOI Easy120 Overview
VALOI has introduced the "Easy120," a new innovation in camera scanning technology for 35mm and medium format films, including sizes like 4.5x6, 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9. It simplifies the process by addressing challenges such as aligning the film plane, isolating the optical path, and integrating the film carrier with the backlight for better portability. This makes it a practical option for home or community darkroom setups.
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| VALOI Easy120 in 6x9 configuration with 50mm manual lens and full frame camera. VLADS TEST TARGET used for exact focusing and framing. |
The Easy120 provides a stable connection between the camera and film holder, ensuring a vibration-proof and reliable scanning experience. Enthusiasts looking to streamline their workflow will find it precise and user-friendly.
Streamlined Efficiency and Professional-Grade Results
The Easy120 is an all-in-one solution for digitizing
120 roll film with precision. Its high-CRI (95+) LED light eliminates the need
for a copy stand or external light source, reducing setup time. Sturdy aluminum
tubes ensure stability and a vibration-free connection. Its modular design
supports 120 and 35mm formats, allowing an entire roll to be scanned in minutes
with a pull-through system. Optional accessories like the Easy120 Advancer
enhance speed and accuracy. Compact and easily storable, it consistently
delivers professional-quality scans without occupying significant space.
Choosing the Right Camera and Lens
Still there is something each photographer has to do before
Easy120 starts churning out the digitized photographs – the user has to decide
what camera and lens they will be using. This is essentially the very personal decision
each of us has to make based on desired outcome, projected throughput, equipment
already available, desire to exercise their DIY skills and of course the budget.
Before scanning, the choice of camera and lens should
consider results (image usage and pixel size), workload (number of rolls and
formats processed weekly) , and, of course, the budget.
Key Factors in
Choosing Cameras and Lenses for Scanning with Easy120
As mentioned earlier, choosing the appropriate camera and lens for
scanning involves balancing technical specifications with personal preferences.
The Easy120 is compatible with a wide range of DSLR and mirrorless cameras,
from APS-C sensors to medium formats like Hasselblad or Fuji GFX. This
compatibility highlights the importance of the camera body in determining
scanning outcomes, particularly in terms of pixel count and color fidelity.
However, the quality of the lens—characterized by its sharpness and
"flatness of field”—is critical in influencing the perceived quality of
the scans.
Lens-Body Problem:
Choosing the Body
Recent digital cameras from major brands are generally
compatible with scanning. Mirrorless cameras are preferred for their superior
Live View, which aids precise focusing at high magnifications. Older DSLR
models may struggle with grainy or unstable Live View at 10x magnification,
making accurate focus difficult. Mirrorless models ensure a clearer and more
stable Live View, enhancing efficiency when paired with any lenses – especially
with small apertures.
APS-C vs Full Frame
When selecting a camera for film scanning, the difference between
APS-C and full-frame sensors is less critical than the working reproduction
ratio (WRR). For a full-frame camera scanning a 35mm film frame, the WRR is
1:1. In contrast, for an APS-C sensor, the WRR is 1:1.5. When it comes to
medium format film, the WRR increases to 1:2.3 for full-frame (24mm vs. 54mm)
and 1:3 for APS-C (18mm to 54mm). These WRR values are crucial because they
significantly influence lens selection.
Many high-quality lenses are specifically optimized for certain
ranges of reproduction ratios and may not perform optimally when used at a WRR
outside their intended range. Therefore, understanding and considering the WRR
is essential for achieving the best results in film scanning, regardless of the
sensor's resolution.
Lens-Body Problem:
Choosing the Lens
Few lenses meet the stringent requirements for camera
scanning. Flatness of field—ensuring uniform sharpness across the frame—is
critical. Many lenses, especially zooms, fail to meet this standard due to all compromises
manufacturers have to make by combining three optically very distinct schemas
into single lens. So called “process lenses”, used in industrial applications,
and enlarger lenses often are better suited for scanning.
Photographers often assume lenses from other tasks will
perform well for scanning, but this is rarely the case. For example, zoom
lenses are unsuitable due to distortion and inconsistent sharpness.
After technical considerations, the decision often
comes down to the photographer's willingness to invest in equipment and time.
Scanning requires labor-intensive steps such as maintaining a dust-free
environment, organizing originals, and actively managing image conversion.
Labor costs can quickly exceed hardware expenses, so selecting the right
equipment initially is vital to avoid repeating the process.
Criteria for Lens
Selection
Half of the questions on camera scanning forums focus
on lens selection. Without specific criteria, this decision can become interminable.
A lens must exhibit these qualities:
· Minimal Geometric Distortion: Little to no pincushion or barrel distortion. For instance, the highly regarded Sigma 2.8/50 mm DG Macro, despite its overall performance, does show some visible pillow distortion.
· Uniform Sharpness: Center and edges should maintain similar clarity.
· No Color Fringing: No halos around high-contrast edges. A common issue, such as with the popular Componon-S 80 mm lens, shows noticeable color fringing unless the aperture is set to f/11 or smaller.
· Consistent Contrast: Uniform across the field of view.
· Limited Light Fall-Off: Ensures consistent brightness for accurate color negative inversion.
Why Fewer Than 1%
of Lenses Are Suitable for Camera Scanning
Flatness of field is rare in most lenses, as it is not
a focus for consumer or professional photography. This
capability is not commonly found in the vast majority of lenses on the market. Even some
fixed-focus macro lenses fail to meet the rigorous demands of scanning. Additionally,
achieving flatness of field is not straightforward; a lens may only exhibit
this trait within a very limited range of reproduction ratios. Manufacturers
typically specify this range explicitly, particularly for industrial lenses
where flatness of field is crucial.
For instance, the highly regarded Rodenstock APO-Rodagon D lens
series includes models with designations like 2X and 1X, indicating their
optimized performance ranges. The "2X" denotes that the lens is
designed to perform best at a 1:2 reproduction ratio, while the "1X"
indicates optimal performance at a 1:1 scale.
Specialized process lenses are ideal but often
expensive unless purchased second-hand. Enlarger lenses are a more accessible
alternative, optimized for 1:5 to 1:20 reproduction ratios but sometimes
suitable for scanning magnifications like 2:1 to 1:3.
Process and enlarger lenses typically lack focusing
mechanisms and require extension rings, helicoids, or bellows for proper
positioning. This adds another layer of complexity for those assembling a
camera scanning setup, but often pays off in terms of quality.
Fret Not:
Top-Quality Lenses for Camera Scanning
Excellent scanning lenses are available, ranging from
vintage models with simple adapters to modern lenses with electronic controls.
Online communities frequently debate their merits, and many photographers
experiment with several options before settling on “the one.”
Lists of such lenses are frequently discussed online ", and
photographers often debate their merits with the same fervor typically reserved
for iOS vs. Android or Canon vs. Nikon debates. It is more often than not that
photographers go through a number of lenses before settling on “the one.”
Richard Karash has compiled excellent list. To give you the taste of
Rick's list here is his Tier 1 lenses:
"In Richard’s words, “Testing done at 1x magnification to
50MP Sensor, mid-corner, from the Edmund Scientific glass USAF Test target
(which has perfect lines to 224 lp/mm)”. Testing this way, these are the lenses
that performed best:
50 f/2.8 Sigma EX DG macro
50 f/4.5 Tominon
55 f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor AI or AIS
70 f/2.8 Sigma Macro ART
75 f/4 APO Rodagon-D 1x Copy Lens
75 f/4.5 APO Rodagon-D 2x Copy Lens (normal orientation)
90 f/2.8 Sony Macro
100 f/2.x CoolScan 8000/9000 lens"
This is Part 1 of a three-part series: Optimizing Camera
and Lens Selection for Advanced Camera Scanning with Easy120
Part 1. VALOI Easy120—Efficient and Streamlined Camera
Scanning
Part 2. Assembling Easy120
Part 3. Utilizing Vlads Test Targets for Effective Lens Evaluation
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