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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://...

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...

35 mm alignment strip

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  Vlads Test Target has addition to the family - “35 mm alignment strip” "35 mm alignment strip” is the high precision test target executed via high-fidelity laser printing on specialty Agfa-Gevaert photographic film. Because of how it's made, the image elements are geometrically perfect - lines are straight and parallel to each other, the fine raster is very uniform and is distortion-free.   IMG_20221225_153412141.jpg What does that bring to the field of camera scanning? The target geometrically resembles a 35 mm film strip (type 135). All markings on film are per the spec, including the 24x36 mm frame which corresponds to the typical film camera gate. While positioning the strip in a scanning film holder, user can observe exactly how the actual negative will fit in the film holder and any parts which might be exposed or obscured. IMG_20221225_154220492.jpg The target also contains marking 23x35 mm depicting how a typical mount would mask parts of the frame to remove the edge...

Let's compare side by side Silverfast and Vlads Test Targets

Here is the article I published on FB product page:  https://www.facebook.com/VladsTestTarget/posts/468265601989667

Vlad's take on the current campaign to promote “Euphoric 100” film from Atlanta Film Co.

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Here is my take re: the current campaign to promote “Euphoric 100” film from Atlanta Film Co. ( https://www.atlantafilmco.com/product-page/euphoric-100 ) The availability of Kodak EKTACHROME 100D in 36 exp rolls at the lower price is a very good news For certain, the availability of Kodak EKTACHROME 100D in 36 exp rolls at the lower price is a very good and healthy development. So it’s a bit counterintuitive that offering the top shelf color reversible film at a lower price point is not what Atlanta Film Co is spotlighting. Instead, they are trying to reach the souls and wallets of the film geeks on almost subliminal level: here is the deep purple can, the Euphoric name, charming models in what appears to be bomb shelter setting, and bootleg-movie contrast and colors style. Enticing film photographers with the distinct style the cross-processed EKTACHROME The press release and the review in 35mmc.com by Molly Kate ( https://www.35mmc.com/.../atlanta-film-co-euphoric-100-a......

Zen and the Art of Camera Scanning

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My article   Zen and the Art of Camera Scanning or The Brief History of Vlads Test Target  is now live on 35mmc.com

Pro-slide: New product announcement

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By the pure accident (to be completely honest I was just aimlessly browsing eBay 😀) I came across some strangely shaped GEPE slide mounts. They have 37.5 x 37.5 mm opening in the standard 50x50 form-factor and come with anti-newton glass covers.  The built-in flash popped up in my head: those mounts would be perfect for mounting the full frame slide if I ever want to project the slide with the rebate area and sprocket holes. The more utilitarian use for these mounts would be to use them to perfectly tune a scanning rig so exact  film camera 24x36 mm  dimensions would be available for framing.   Typical paper or plastic slide mounts have 23x35 mm opening to allow film frames  from the different cameras be mounted even if some cameras have the film gate of slightly varying height and width. Not only photographers have to be very precise while framing the view during the shoot,  they also will struggle with digitizing the mounted transparencies as the ma...

New Target Available ISO 12233:2000

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Some folks asked about this chart - ISO 12233 - as they wanted the slanted edges to make certain measurements . It just happened I have them ready:  Limited number of these targets is available in MF format at my Etsy store https://www.etsy.com/shop/SilverKnits Note these targets are nor of high resolution, they are approximately  ~ 20 lp/mm due to specifics of production process.  Certain elements cannot be resolved properly - those areas are marked with red eclipses on the photos below. If you need high resolution you may use my 35 mm targets. (see also  https://www.edmundoptics.com/p/1X-Enhanced-I3AISO-12233-Digital-Camera-Resolution-Test-Chart/15688 ) The below pictures were taken at magnification x40 with the optical microscope.

How good 35 mm test target actually is?

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 I have been passed the question from the customer called Mark who provided the following feedback:  The 35mm targets I bought are good value, but aren’t as sharp as I’d hoped for. They are only just good enough to show the limits of my 16MP MFT sensor with 45mm Leica lens, but wouldn’t be good enough to explore the limits of the best full frame cameras and lenses. I’d probably need to buy a chrome on glass target for that, but that would be much more expensive. --Mark  I am actually happy to jump in and argue that my targets are indeed can help folks with the scanning setups of  decent resolution. For starters, let's look how 42 MP  (7952x5304) Sony camera resolves the test target. Chart 1.  Click on the image to see full resolution image open in the new browser tab. Now, let's take a closer look at the small chart in the upper right quadrant of the frame. Chart 2.  Click on the image to see full resolution image open in the new browser t...