Needful Things… D850, 60mm macro, Nikon ES2 and hundreds of slides & negatives.

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There are a few big advantages of Negative Lab Pro.
  • You can keep all your files in original raw format. That eliminates redundant files and allows the best possible starting point for processing.
  • It uses the standard LR sliders - not inverted sliders. This makes workflows and adjustments a lot easier.
  • All adjustments can be cancelled, changed or adjusted further at any point.
  • There are presets to expedite editing.

For a few dozen files, I would not care. For a large project of hundreds of images, it's a very easy decision.

You still may end up using Topaz or other tools for specific images. As pointed out - many times these old negatives were not that sharp originally.

In using the ES2 and handling negatives, it best to be selective and clean the negatives or transparencies well before scanning. A minute or two on the front end can save hours of cleanup. Close viewing before scanning can reduce time wasted on images that really aren't good enough to justify much effort.
 
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Larry Sherertz said:
For clarity, any camera with a macro lens (60-105mm) that the ES2 fits onto will digitize slides. The D850 can reverse B&W or color negatives. I have not found that function in the menus for the Z8/9. If you have, please help me out here….🤷🏼‍♀️
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Thanks for posting this! Now I have another reason not to sell my D850. I already have these 5 Micro lenses:

AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G
AF Zoom-Micro Nikkor 70-180mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S

Should I get a 60mm to do it right or will one of those get the job done? Even though it's on the list of lenses that can be attached to the adapter, I don't think using a DX lens would be very good because the camera would crop the image.


It can be attached to the following lenses:

  • AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G
  • AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED
  • AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D
  • NIKKOR Z MC 50mm f/2.8

The FTZ mount adapter is required to attach an F-mount lens to a Nikon Z series mirrorless camera. The AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED and the NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S have longer working distances and the length of the film digitizing adapter ES-2 does not support them.

The D850 and D780 have a built-in Negative Digitizer function, which automatically inverts the colours in negative film (colour/monochrome). *1

You will need to manually invert the colours using photo editing software such as NX Studio if the model of camera you are using does not have this feature, this includes Nikon Z mirrorless cameras.
 
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EricBowles said:
If you buy the plugin from Negative Lab Pro, you have full functionality for processing in LR Classic. The plugin is a bit expensive, but makes editing a lot faster and makes any edits lossless. You can shoot RAW, convert in LR, and then use all the selective layer enhancements.

Some of those old lenses were really bad by today's standards - great for a 3x5 print but not so good for large prints or close examination.
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How we take for granted the quality of modern lenses. Even mediocre lenses still far outstrip many of the old ones, particularly in the case of zooms. Early primes were quite good but the zooms can’t hold a candle to today’s offerings.
 
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I'm thinking of digitizing my slides. I have the 105mm Micro lens, and wonder if ithe ES-2 will work well with either my D 7100 or D7500?. If not, how about the 60 mm Micro?
 
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I have an 850 and 780. Both will convert the negatives and I use the 850 to give larger file size. I built my own slide/negative holder and use a 3rd party plastic holder for the slides/negatives to keep flat. I had the 105 close-up and didn't want to buy the 60mm because I knew that I would be switching to mirrorless in the near future. This gives me something to do during the long Minnesota winters. :)
 
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Tom C said:
Thanks for posting this! Now I have another reason not to sell my D850. I already have these 5 Micro lenses:

AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G
AF Zoom-Micro Nikkor 70-180mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S

Should I get a 60mm to do it right or will one of those get the job done? Even though it's on the list of lenses that can be attached to the adapter, I don't think using a DX lens would be very good because the camera would crop the image.


It can be attached to the following lenses:

  • AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G
  • AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED
  • AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D
  • NIKKOR Z MC 50mm f/2.8

The FTZ mount adapter is required to attach an F-mount lens to a Nikon Z series mirrorless camera. The AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED and the NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S have longer working distances and the length of the film digitizing adapter ES-2 does not support them.

The D850 and D780 have a built-in Negative Digitizer function, which automatically inverts the colours in negative film (colour/monochrome). *1

You will need to manually invert the colours using photo editing software such as NX Studio if the model of camera you are using does not have this feature, this includes Nikon Z mirrorless cameras.
Click to expand...
Tom, I see you have an older 28-105mm lens. It has a macro switch that allows you to use it this way. It’s 62mm so give it a try. Have you ever tried the macro function with this lens? I bought one years ago and never found reason to let it go. It’s compact and travels well….
 
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