Kyle is an exceptional no-nonsense thoughtful presenter. He never wastes our time. He never hypes. He always presents evidence in a compelling and timely manner. Kyle thank you for this and for all of your videos. They are appreciated.
I got the easy35 on the pre-sale. It's now fitted to a Fujifilm X-E4 with an old Micro Nikkor 55/2.8 plus extension ring. I camscan before cutting (process my own C41). I don't use Lightroom but Grain2Pixel works like a charm, is free and does batches. Allows quite a lot of post conversion actions and even creates a virtual contact print. TIP: Leave a blank frame at the start and use it for white balance.
Very useful video you shared here, pal! I have been seeking a not complicated way to scan my 135 mm and also my 120 mm film for quite a long now. I have had photography since 1978, you you can imagine how the mass of film stips I have in my archives. Thank you so much!!!!! 😃
It's easy to get overwhelmed in the black hole that is the internet when researching products and tools. I appreciate your simple, no-nonsense insight and opinions. Thank you.
Thanks@@TheOstorlab, that's kind. I've lots I'm grateful to him for, not least photography, but also music, gardening, a general approach of thoroughness etc. I was able to express this to him in recent years and also at the very end, which I'm very aware is a privilege that not all families get. Looking forward to going through his negs and slides, many of which I've not seen for decades! I offered to do this while he was alive, but he wasn't interested - I now of course wish I'd insisted and done this sooner of course! We always think there's more time...
I'm really sorry to hear about your Father, Andrew. Hope you're doing alright. We'll have to catch up soon. If you ever want to borrow the easy35 to scan those with, I'll post it over to you.
Yes!! After Plustek (slow af) and Epson (no sharpness) and also plenty other holders (which needed constant leveling) this solution made my year 2023 and made me scan all of my 135 stuff in just a matter of hours. Can’t recommend it enough!
Hi, have the plustek 8100 but looking to change systems especially since I’m noticing scan lines appearing on my conversions. Curious have you ever experienced that with the plustek?
I use the Nikon ES-2 which does almost exactly the same excepts that you need to bring your own light. Works fantastic! And unlike many people think, you don't need to use it with a Nikon lens or Nikon camera. Any macro lens with 62mm diameter or less can be used if you fit some extension tubes and perhaps step-down rings
Thank you. I just saw that and was wondering. I have a canon with a 50mm lens and wondering if I could make it work with that. Or the basic crappy lens that the camera comes with.
as someone who hates scanning their own 35mm film, this seems like a really great way to go about it efficiently. My V600 is kind of a nightmare for 35mm.
Yes,.they.really are useless for anything more than a 10x8 print.from 35mm, and that's assuming you can get a.dust free scan!! I don't know how Epson can get away with making their inflated resolution specs. Just because they can? Don't they know they'll be found out?
@@chrisfetto9400you won't get a perfectly clean scan no matter what system you use. Professional scanners just use infrared images to mask out the dust, with everything that does not offer that you won't get around having to quickly clone out dust. If you do black and white infrared won't work anyways. A film to digital workflow will always involve more digital work than just going digital.
@@chrisfetto9400 What are you carrying on about? My Epson photo scanner scans as good as the specs claim. The one I had before it had higher rez, but was much slower. I've scanned hundreds of negatives and slides...and have always gotten excellent results from Epson scanners. I suspect you just don't know what you're doing.
@@giuseppeg.8461 *laughs in manual correction in photoshop*...Oh what's that? Yes, I used super resolution and now have a 160mp equivalent image...What's that?! Yes I used super res. went down to 1:1 and combined 100 images together, stitched 4 images together and now have every ounce of detail possible out of my medium format images. Yeah, thought so, keep your outdated scanner, and when it dies? Say bye bye.
I use the Nikon ES-2 Film Digitiser system for digitizing my 35mm negs. It does not have its own light source but it's very easy to use. You don't need to parallel the film plain to the sensor plain as you say and you don't even need to keep the whole steady while taking the image. It doesn't do medium format.
that system isn't exactly cheap either... for 30 or 40 dollars more (depending on prices of each system) you could just get this one that does have a light source built in.
I've already got one of these for the community darkroom I'll be opening in a few weeks ... this makes me beyond excited, but also can serve as a handy instructional aid. Thank you!
I highly recomment the Flads Test Slides, which where available on Valoi Website too, for perfect focussing setup, bevor running your Sildes through the camera
I've been using my easy35 with a Panasonic S5 in the high res mode. Approx 90mp with an electronic shutter on a 2sec timer. Really happy with the results. Got the slide adapter on order.
@@Humungojerry not for every image. Snaps I'll just use the 24mp. Important images or ones I want cropping then the higher the better. For my professionally studio work I use a Sony A7RIII and always appreciate the resolution. It's good to know if I want a large print out that's possible with personal work too.
@@Humungojerry I don't mind real grain showing, would rather that than pixelation from a smaller file. I have the S5 for video so an added bonus it does the sensor shift high res.
it's all one connected system, you don't really need the 2 second timer. Sure, you don't want to bang it around, but if the whole setup is on a solid surface and you are gently hitting your shutter release, no camera shake is introduced.
am I the only one who thinks easy120 would be a great idea? Great job Kyle as usual, thanks a lot for the effort you put in these videos, appreciated it
I've been doing slide/negative copying since the mid 1970s. I can't disagree with anything you said, but the getting the right camera/lens thing is critical and needs to be addressed in detail. I've found it is the most important aspect of copying. Many lenses won't work with extension tubes, which is where many people will go first. You need a high quality lens with a flat field of focus, or at best the edges will be soft or totally out of focus. The lens also needs to be able to focus such that the film fills the digital image, otherwise pixels are wasted by "frame", or film area is lost. With slides or B&W negatives, the clear portions of the film are a straight path from lens to light source. If the light is not perfectly consistent in brightness and color balance, that's a real problem, especially when the light source is close to the film with stopped down apertures. My best copies have been with a light source as far from the film as possible (up to 2 meters with a studio light), with an aperture as open as possible for minimum depth of field so the focus plane is only at the film.
I love the slide duplicator method, 3D printed my own mechnically geared advancing one for 25GBP with parts off amazon and used a off shelf high CRI light so sub 50USD total cost, and with 61MP sensors pixel shift and exposure stacking with somnthing like a Sony A7RV today its as sane as scanning gets for people without drum scanners as you can rent camaras and optics as needed, but even my 42mp A7RIII fails to resolve modern Ektar 100 or ADOX CMS 20 II, getting that true 1:1 or 2:1 archival scan is the real hard part, next to getting a scanner frame that cuts non of the exposed frame area off position wise is somthing people forget.
Funny I just ordered mine earlier so this is very timely! Have boxes of my Grandfather's Kodachrome slides that have been meaning to digitize, ordered the slide holder so looking forward to getting started. Thank you Kyle!
That's ridiculous Pricey!! You DON'T Need to buy everything folks. Just build one yourself. Lately I build DIY box scan for 35mm and 120mm films. It's only cost me $2.00 for Black Cardboard and works perfectly. As for light I already have small LED, as for stand I use my tripod. Much smarter and I safe tons of Money.😊
It's not cheap but the pricing is actually very competitive to its competition. For example, the Epson v850 is $1300 right now, and the cheapest model in the Plustek OpticFilm lineup is $350, while this whole easy35 setup is around $350. You can DIY on your own all you wanted, but for 99% of people, we want something that is guaranteed to work, easy to use and hassle free.
The NLP plugin truly unlocked camera scanning, and therefore unlocked me being able to afford shooting lots of color film. Also, I’m still in love with the desert Southwest and the images it serves up. Your photos here are all old friends😎❤
I have it since june 2023. It has made (135mm) film scanning finally accessible to me. Using an old 5D II with live view and adapted Nikkor 55 micro lens.
Awesome! I always send people to your channel when they want to get into film scanning, and I love that you compare all the options out there! As an owner of the Plustek 8200i (and very selective of what frames I scan), I can appreciate this little setup! I could totally see putting my old Samsung NX3000 to use with this setup (as it's just collecting dust) if I wanted to quickly chew thru a bunch of film!
God, I hope this is it. I have purchased a Minolta dedicated 35mm scanner, an Epson flatbed and then better scanning negative holders, pixl ltr film holder, over the years with just a few scans to show for it. I just ordered the easy35 with the slide holder. Let’s see if I can finally revisit the old memories
cool system. someday i hope someone comes up with a Kodak Pakon like system to fully automate the process, just load in the leader and press go and a few min later its done and you just batch convert and even auto dust removal.
Hey Kyle! Thanks for another great video. I like the Veloi, but in my opinion is too expensive. A year ago I found in Amazon a similar option for a fraction of the Veloi price "JJC Photo Slide and Film Digitizer Converter with 10-Levels Brightness LED Backlight for 35mm Slide and Negatives Copying Scanning to Digital for Select Canon Nikon Sony Macro Lenses" Maybe is not as good as the Veloi, but for me works fine at reasonable price. I hope this info helps somebody. Regards
Fantastic! Personally I don't shoot film (yet), but recently found a bunch of old negatives from the 60's in the family stash and was looking for a solution to get them scanned by myself. This will be the way to go!
Great video. Always learn a lot from your detailed explanations and examples. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get this product or a solution from negative supply. After watching your video I will go with this one😊
I also scan with a GF 50R. A good tip is to use electronic shutter mode to preserve the mechanical shutter in the camera and increase its lifetime. Just look out for flickering at faster shutter speeds
Thanks for the demonstration. I've been leaning toward this system to scan my grandfather's collection of film. He was mainly a show horse photographer, but I think he did some weddings as well. We have a huge collection of negatives to sort through!
I scan film with Sony A7IV with a vintage OM macro lens too, it's a huge savings. I have just a light table for artists, this is enough for me now in terms of quality, but for better experience one day I hope to buy something more serious like this device🙏
I have an easy35 since maybe october and have now started to scan my old negatives - and that was when it showed that some choices I've made weren't as good as I thought. My Lightroom license is only for the cloud version (1 TB), and that means I can't use Negative Lab Pro until I upgrade to the "bigger" license including classic + 1 TB, but the current one is still valid for about 9 months. So I will have to wait a bit if I don't wont to waste any money. sigh But then again I am waiting for Valoi to make slide scanning available for the easy35 - looking forward to see all those old slides again.
Hi Kyle. Thanks for the video. I’ve been looking for an alternative to my flatbed scanner to scan my old negatives and slides and after hearing about this, I came across your video and decided to get one today (using your affiliate link).
I use a vintage Minolta Auto Bellows with its slide holder attachment, with a remote flash as the light source. It requires a bit of setup but works great.
Informative and interesting video Kyle. Like you I have the Valoi Advancer kit but do not have the space to leave my stand permanently erected so it can take longer setting up than scanning one roll of film! I've ordered an Easy 35, thanks for the discount code. I also support the suggestion that you don't need expensive cameras to scan film. I sold my Nikon mirrorless cameras last year when I went all in rangefinder and realised I didn't have a camera to scan with so I bought a beaten up Nikon D800 (36mpx) from MPB for 250 quid as I did keep the two F mount macro lenses. The results are just as good as with the Z7ii! Fortunately both the 60mm and 105 work with the Easy. I'll let you all know how it goes...once I blown the dust off my 35mm! Keep up the good work.
I started scanning my own film quite recently and I build this contraption of books and an ipad for my Nikon 55mm 2.8 macro setup. I was just thinking of what actual setup to buy when I saw your video and instantly ordered one with the code since i mainly use 35mm. Would be a real treat if they made one for medium format.
In terms of preserving details camera scanning looks very good. However, the colors from dedicated scanners usually look better. The car's colors in the example look better on the Nikon scan in my opinion.
@@giuseppeg.8461 I'd luke to add another thing. Once I had a Nikon LS-50. As far as I know, its 35mm scans are not very different from LS-8000 or LS-9000 scans. However, I didn't like that scans too much. Then I aquired a Noritsu scanner and I liked its scans much more (not talking about the scanning speed)! As for the camera scanning, I don't quite understand, how can a camera with a CMOS sensor make good scans at all?
@@KyleMcDougall Yeah, worries me that digital scanning is 'dumbing down' the colors of film (especially red + green). Colors might be limited or converted weirdly into digital spectrum of colors. Wonder what happens to dynamic range as well when you digitally scan via a camera
I use the Easy35 to scan my film. I scan at F8 and at base ISO, but I keep my shutter speed consistent throughout my roll. I do this because Negative Lab Pro recommends this for their latest v3 release. I also keep color temperature set to the coolest setting for color negative film, as this is what Valoi recommends. Have been very happy with my results. Glad you like the Easy35 too!
Would 3 extension tubes with a reasonably close focusing normal lens work, or is absolutely necessary to have a true macro lens? Great vid, by the way!
I'd be interested to know if their system can be adapted to use enlarger lenses (assuming threads exist on both ends) instead of SLR lenses. Unlike macro lenses, enlarger lenses are designed for photographing flat surfaces.
It's okaaaay. However, if your negative isn't sufficiently dense (anything other than a bright, daytime shot) you're likely going to see orange vignetting in the corners of your scans, and that's because the Valoi Easy35 has defective/uneven backlighting on it's panels. They tried to fix this issue and send out new models, but unfortunately the issue persists. (I've been through 2 units myself). You can take off the panel and then put something like a Viltrox in it's place which seems to remedy the issue... but it's an expensive modification as the Valoi Easy35 isn't actually cheap and obviously betrays the entire idea of the product. Despite all this, Valoi continues to market the product even tho they are well aware of the issue. Very disappointing.
Hi! I think I remember your case - of course very unfortunate. We genuinely couldn't figure out why your setup was never able to produce the expected results, and you're of course eligible for a return and refund. We have thousands of happy customers so it's always puzzling when someone has problems, but with a handful of setup combinations or negative types, there have been problems which we of course offer to replace or refund. - Arild
Great content. Thanks. I have an original Canon Eos 5D (so without live preview possibilities) so I guess this does make the featured scanning process a bit troublesome ?
Interesting video you did here. My main bone of contention with the VALOI easy35, it offers no 35mm slide holder. I have 35mm slides that haven't see the light of day in years. How can I scan them with a holder. Not so easy after all.
I was planning to splurge on a Negative Supply kit, but this one is much more convenient. Do you know if they have any plans for a 120, or is it technically impossible?
A very reassuring product review for anyone worried about a drop in quality moving from a dedicated scanner. Thank you. But I wonder about the effectiveness of the dust removal attachment, especially as dust accumulates on it. What's your assessment?
The dust attachment seemed to work well for me. I gave the negatives a blast with the rocket blower first as well. But dust seemed to be minimal in my scans.
Sure, like many are saying here it is expensive. But so was my Nikon Coolscan. It does a great job but is slow like most film scanners. And with using this tool I could get better resolution using my GFX. This takes up almost no space whereas a flat bed or film scanner needs a dedicated space. There are arguments both ways. I think that if this is the tool that gets you scanning then that's great. If you want to DIY it the go that way. Or buy an expensive scanner. No reason to trash this or any other method. To each there is a best way. I've been doing a DIY setup for 120 and 4X5 and it's cumbersome but gets the job done. I'm about to start developing my own film again after many years and think the speed and setup of this very attractive. I am curious Kyle what lens you're using on the GFX. I don't have a macro for it but could buy an extension tube.
Very useful video. But the devil is in the details. For example, the screw on extension gizmos? Why? How many? And I missed if they were an extra cost? I use a Lumix G9ii and would use an Olympus 60mm macro; the Lumix has a 'high-res' mode that increases the file size quite a bit. Do you see that as adding to the quality of the result in terms of detail? Or just allowing for larger prints? Inter-related question I know, so whatever you could add would be a help. Thanks for this.
Kyle, thank you so much for this video -- so helpful and much needed. Quick question: so much of the appeal of this type of 35mm negative scanning relies on a question I rarely hear tabled on current videos, especially as someone who mostly shoots Black and White (tr-x 400 or Ilford) -- can you scan sharply and closely enough to see film grain on the negative?
I scanned most of my negatives -- both 35 mm and 6x6 cm - around 10 years ago using the 4990. It took forever and the results weren't all that great, especially the 6x6 negs which are not perfectly flat in the film holder. My D300 is low res by today's standards but with good glass and proper extensions, I might give this a shot. Also, I borrowed a Coolscan (4000, I think) for slides and it was a disaster with constant jams using the slide feeder. Speaking of slides, any suggestions?
Interesting. Is it an LED light? Does this system work with a 50mm macro or does it require a long macro? Is the bellows tube adjustable? Is there a unit that will do both film and slides? I have about 10,000 of each.
Dang, just recorded almost the same last week, but you did it so much better😅 think that's going into the bin. Been really enjoying this system. Like you said, not having to have a dedicated space for it has been a lifesaver.Great job on the video!
With the Valoi. In 5-10 years time can you still get an exchange battery? Because I believe it is a rechargeable battery, and with all rechargeable they will eventually die, especially if it lays uncharged over time?!
Hello! I'm very happy to have found this video! I've been wanting to get back into shooting with film cameras for a while, but I live in a small town, and we don't have the option to scan film on demand. I still need to find an affordable way to develop negatives. Do you have any videos on the developing process as well? Regarding the scanning process, do you recommend using an old camera and vintage lenses because they are cheaper? If I have a modern camera like the Sony A7M3 and a macro lens like the Sigma 105mm, would I be able to scan film on my own? Thanks a lot for your hard work! 🥰
Hi Kyle, Thanks for the video. i have a epson v850 but in actual quality it scans around 2400dpi. I have an old Nikon d800 which has a 36mp sensor how do i calculate what the actual dpi would be for the Nikon or any other sensor size to see if its worth spending money on this or even go for a scanner like the Pacific Image prime film XA Plus. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Fantastic review, Kyle, thank you! Let me know if you would like to try my system for scanning medium format film 😉 It is already released and available.
Hi Kyle, thanks for the useful video. I tried a number of different methods and tools to digitize my old slides (not negatives so far), with limited success. My number 1 issue was sub-optimal shaprness of the scans due to the film not being perfectly flat hence plain of focus was not definitive. The tool you use here does not seem to address this issue and I am not sure if there is any such non-industrial scanning tool out there that does. I am aware of flat bed scanners, but those cannot match the optical quality and rendering of a moderately decent lens with APSC< sized sensor combo. How would you overcome of the film curvature problem? Any suggestions?
glass sandwich but then it would be too thick to fit the scanners. It would work for an camera and lens system though but have to cobble something together yourself most likely
200 quid for that plastic thing with a wee light in it?? And then I'd still have to factor in the cost of a macro lens... I think I'll go with the Plustek 8100 you recommended in your other video, thank you very much.
For medium format same thing, from camflix (japanese product) , called 120L with 3 Film holders, 6x4,5 / 6x6/ 6x7 , which I got. Amazing piece. High Quality made really. My Light source will be flash, for any LED , physically, are never capable of covering the entire Lightspectrum. It's a Physics thing. So the full spectrum of colors will never really show entirely and such missing spectrum areas are always "fabricated" or left out . Something about LED Physics You should research maybe. (Note: this has nothing to do with Kelvin temperatures). A 50mb sensor or higher to do this with a 6x6 negative comes now very handy.... the medium camera unit from camflix is cheaper , btw...
Incorrect in so many ways. Our eyes are indeed able to see full spectrum daylight, camera Sensors cannot do this. thats just for starters. Considering your statement here, for the rest on this topic, you would not understand any of it anyways... LOL @@thomasmaughan4798
Almost seemed like you guessed it, I'm just rebuilding my film setup and wanted to move from flatbed to DSLR scanning (or better said GFX scanning), and this video helped me make some decisions. Thanks for sharing great tips and great knowledge!
I didn't have any vignetting. Unfortunately because I'm using a 120mm, I have to use that many distance rings. Would be much more compact with something like a 50-80mm.
Do you think this is the best method for scanning a massive amount of cut and sleeved negatives? I've tried them all as well (used the Nikon Coolscan 9000 for years and Epson 600).
Camera scanning is much much quicker than a dedicated film scanner. It's especially nice if you have a full un-cut roll, but even with strips it's substantially faster.
Hi Kyle, I’ve just ordered it and now looking forward to starting scanning my negatives. I’ve been getting different results from different labs so I’d like to see if I can scan myself and get good results. I still need to learn how to develop film… I have a question regarding pushing/pulling films; e.g. if I pull a film from iso 400 to 200, should I ask the lab to develop it at iso 200? Is this the general rule? I’m fairly new to the 35mm film photography and trying to learn best practices. Thank you, Maciej.
Looks like a great solution. Too bad my wife decided to throw away all of her negatives decades ago, not seeing the point of saving them if she had prints. All my film negatives are in a binder.
Hello what do you think about scanning 35mm and 120 film with a similar adapter on the Nikon Z8 or D850 ? Or even with a Sigma Quattro Foveon at 100 iso of course
Hey Kyle, great video! I'm actually using almost the same setup as you (same lens, GFX 50S) but I find myself having to use a few more extension tubes to get the negative in focus with the Pentax 120mm Macro. I noticed you have a different kind of adapter for the lens/body than me, does it maybe have to do something with that? Cheers!
the one thing i don't understand is why it should be a battery powered unit instead of plugged in. Like it seems very rarely that you'd ever need it to be away from a desk to use it
I have a Fujifilm XT5. Any recommendations for lenses? Or is an old Nikon 55micro or Canon 50mm Macro (with extension tubes) just as good as anything else? Thank you 🙏
Kyle is an exceptional no-nonsense thoughtful presenter. He never wastes our time. He never hypes. He always presents evidence in a compelling and timely manner. Kyle thank you for this and for all of your videos. They are appreciated.
Thanks, Jefferey! I appreciate that.
Are you owing a favour to Kyle?😂
@@jeffreystulin8130 only.for.those u capable of using their own brains.
I got the easy35 on the pre-sale. It's now fitted to a Fujifilm X-E4 with an old Micro Nikkor 55/2.8 plus extension ring. I camscan before cutting (process my own C41).
I don't use Lightroom but Grain2Pixel works like a charm, is free and does batches. Allows quite a lot of post conversion actions and even creates a virtual contact print.
TIP: Leave a blank frame at the start and use it for white balance.
Very useful video you shared here, pal! I have been seeking a not complicated way to scan my 135 mm and also my 120 mm film for quite a long now. I have had photography since 1978, you you can imagine how the mass of film stips I have in my archives. Thank you so much!!!!! 😃
It's easy to get overwhelmed in the black hole that is the internet when researching products and tools. I appreciate your simple, no-nonsense insight and opinions. Thank you.
Cheers!
completely agree!
Very timely! We sadly lost dad on boxing day and there's a stack of photos from his OM1 35mm days to sort through, archive and display.
So sorry for your loss.
Thanks@@TheOstorlab, that's kind. I've lots I'm grateful to him for, not least photography, but also music, gardening, a general approach of thoroughness etc. I was able to express this to him in recent years and also at the very end, which I'm very aware is a privilege that not all families get. Looking forward to going through his negs and slides, many of which I've not seen for decades! I offered to do this while he was alive, but he wasn't interested - I now of course wish I'd insisted and done this sooner of course! We always think there's more time...
I'm really sorry to hear about your Father, Andrew. Hope you're doing alright. We'll have to catch up soon. If you ever want to borrow the easy35 to scan those with, I'll post it over to you.
@@KyleMcDougall Wow, that's really generous Kyle, yes please! I'll email my address in a moment :)
@@KyleMcDougall Just wanted to say that this is a lovely thing to offer
Yes!! After Plustek (slow af) and Epson (no sharpness) and also plenty other holders (which needed constant leveling) this solution made my year 2023 and made me scan all of my 135 stuff in just a matter of hours. Can’t recommend it enough!
Hi, have the plustek 8100 but looking to change systems especially since I’m noticing scan lines appearing on my conversions. Curious have you ever experienced that with the plustek?
I use the Nikon ES-2 which does almost exactly the same excepts that you need to bring your own light. Works fantastic! And unlike many people think, you don't need to use it with a Nikon lens or Nikon camera. Any macro lens with 62mm diameter or less can be used if you fit some extension tubes and perhaps step-down rings
Thank you. I just saw that and was wondering. I have a canon with a 50mm lens and wondering if I could make it work with that. Or the basic crappy lens that the camera comes with.
as someone who hates scanning their own 35mm film, this seems like a really great way to go about it efficiently. My V600 is kind of a nightmare for 35mm.
Yes,.they.really are useless for anything more than a 10x8 print.from 35mm, and that's assuming you can get a.dust free scan!! I don't know how Epson can get away with making their inflated resolution specs. Just because they can? Don't they know they'll be found out?
@@chrisfetto9400you won't get a perfectly clean scan no matter what system you use. Professional scanners just use infrared images to mask out the dust, with everything that does not offer that you won't get around having to quickly clone out dust. If you do black and white infrared won't work anyways. A film to digital workflow will always involve more digital work than just going digital.
@@chrisfetto9400 What are you carrying on about? My Epson photo scanner scans as good as the specs claim. The one I had before it had higher rez, but was much slower. I've scanned hundreds of negatives and slides...and have always gotten excellent results from Epson scanners. I suspect you just don't know what you're doing.
@@giuseppeg.8461 *laughs in manual correction in photoshop*...Oh what's that? Yes, I used super resolution and now have a 160mp equivalent image...What's that?! Yes I used super res. went down to 1:1 and combined 100 images together, stitched 4 images together and now have every ounce of detail possible out of my medium format images.
Yeah, thought so, keep your outdated scanner, and when it dies? Say bye bye.
@@Adrian-wd4rn My Nikon Coolscan 9000 developed a thin blue line through every scan after many years of use.
I saw this online the other day and was considering it but was holding out to find a good review on it and, well, here we are! Thank you!
I use the Nikon ES-2 Film Digitiser system for digitizing my 35mm negs. It does not have its own light source but it's very easy to use. You don't need to parallel the film plain to the sensor plain as you say and you don't even need to keep the whole steady while taking the image. It doesn't do medium format.
that system isn't exactly cheap either... for 30 or 40 dollars more (depending on prices of each system) you could just get this one that does have a light source built in.
Man I love your lighting setup. So super crisp and clean.
I just hope these guys make a Valoi Easy120 someday. I have the Easy35 and I think this gadget is pure genius.
just print it yourself?
today!
I've already got one of these for the community darkroom I'll be opening in a few weeks ... this makes me beyond excited, but also can serve as a handy instructional aid. Thank you!
Thats awesome!! Highly recommend our 3 part series with instructions for an in depth on the easy35. Found here on our RUclips channel
@@valoico Thank you!
I highly recomment the Flads Test Slides, which where available on Valoi Website too, for perfect focussing setup, bevor running your Sildes through the camera
Link? I can't seem to find anything like that listed.
I've been using my easy35 with a Panasonic S5 in the high res mode. Approx 90mp with an electronic shutter on a 2sec timer. Really happy with the results. Got the slide adapter on order.
is 90mp really necessary for 35mm film?
@@Humungojerry not for every image. Snaps I'll just use the 24mp. Important images or ones I want cropping then the higher the better. For my professionally studio work I use a Sony A7RIII and always appreciate the resolution. It's good to know if I want a large print out that's possible with personal work too.
@@edshotsdotcodotukcool. i guess some film has a pretty high resolution
@@Humungojerry I don't mind real grain showing, would rather that than pixelation from a smaller file. I have the S5 for video so an added bonus it does the sensor shift high res.
it's all one connected system, you don't really need the 2 second timer. Sure, you don't want to bang it around, but if the whole setup is on a solid surface and you are gently hitting your shutter release, no camera shake is introduced.
am I the only one who thinks easy120 would be a great idea? Great job Kyle as usual, thanks a lot for the effort you put in these videos, appreciated it
Yes, easy120 would be an instant purchase for me!
And it can digitize 35mm as well.
Easy120 is now available from the team at Valoi!
I've been doing slide/negative copying since the mid 1970s. I can't disagree with anything you said, but the getting the right camera/lens thing is critical and needs to be addressed in detail. I've found it is the most important aspect of copying. Many lenses won't work with extension tubes, which is where many people will go first. You need a high quality lens with a flat field of focus, or at best the edges will be soft or totally out of focus. The lens also needs to be able to focus such that the film fills the digital image, otherwise pixels are wasted by "frame", or film area is lost.
With slides or B&W negatives, the clear portions of the film are a straight path from lens to light source. If the light is not perfectly consistent in brightness and color balance, that's a real problem, especially when the light source is close to the film with stopped down apertures. My best copies have been with a light source as far from the film as possible (up to 2 meters with a studio light), with an aperture as open as possible for minimum depth of field so the focus plane is only at the film.
I love the slide duplicator method, 3D printed my own mechnically geared advancing one for 25GBP with parts off amazon and used a off shelf high CRI light so sub 50USD total cost, and with 61MP sensors pixel shift and exposure stacking with somnthing like a Sony A7RV today its as sane as scanning gets for people without drum scanners as you can rent camaras and optics as needed, but even my 42mp A7RIII fails to resolve modern Ektar 100 or ADOX CMS 20 II, getting that true 1:1 or 2:1 archival scan is the real hard part, next to getting a scanner frame that cuts non of the exposed frame area off position wise is somthing people forget.
Funny I just ordered mine earlier so this is very timely! Have boxes of my Grandfather's Kodachrome slides that have been meaning to digitize, ordered the slide holder so looking forward to getting started. Thank you Kyle!
That's ridiculous Pricey!! You DON'T Need to buy everything folks. Just build one yourself. Lately I build DIY box scan for 35mm and 120mm films. It's only cost me $2.00 for Black Cardboard and works perfectly. As for light I already have small LED, as for stand I use my tripod. Much smarter and I safe tons of Money.😊
I was introduced to photography by my dad who made one of these. Just as you were saying.
Here we go again with a "I can do this in the basement for 2c" comment. Please do, and make it commercially available, until then, no one cares.
@@abhijit-sarkarapparently you do.
It's not cheap but the pricing is actually very competitive to its competition. For example, the Epson v850 is $1300 right now, and the cheapest model in the Plustek OpticFilm lineup is $350, while this whole easy35 setup is around $350.
You can DIY on your own all you wanted, but for 99% of people, we want something that is guaranteed to work, easy to use and hassle free.
Send files
The NLP plugin truly unlocked camera scanning, and therefore unlocked me being able to afford shooting lots of color film. Also, I’m still in love with the desert Southwest and the images it serves up. Your photos here are all old friends😎❤
NLP, and the other options on the market nowadays have really made conversion much easier!
I have it since june 2023. It has made (135mm) film scanning finally accessible to me. Using an old 5D II with live view and adapted Nikkor 55 micro lens.
Thanks for this video Kyle. I recently bought this & the initial results look excellent.
I like how valoi gave us the border scanning mask for 135 format, wish they do the same for 120 format soon.
It's just a very different technical challenge that comes with compromises on one or more of the three areas (cost, usability, quality)...
This is exactly the solution I'm looking for. Thanks for another great review.
Awesome! I always send people to your channel when they want to get into film scanning, and I love that you compare all the options out there! As an owner of the Plustek 8200i (and very selective of what frames I scan), I can appreciate this little setup! I could totally see putting my old Samsung NX3000 to use with this setup (as it's just collecting dust) if I wanted to quickly chew thru a bunch of film!
Cheers, Patrick!
God, I hope this is it. I have purchased a Minolta dedicated 35mm scanner, an Epson flatbed and then better scanning negative holders, pixl ltr film holder, over the years with just a few scans to show for it. I just ordered the easy35 with the slide holder. Let’s see if I can finally revisit the old memories
Do you have issues with vignetting?
Are you liking it?
Do you like the light source it has? That's one of the downsides I've read about.
@@kristytillman6845I am a complete newbie at this so I may not be the best to judge the quality of the light but it seems fine to me.
cool system. someday i hope someone comes up with a Kodak Pakon like system to fully automate the process, just load in the leader and press go and a few min later its done and you just batch convert and even auto dust removal.
The Pakon is very cool. It's just a shame the resolution is so low.
Just bought one using the code! Can't wait to use this and not have to worry about leveling tripods or copy stands!
Cheers, Brad. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
Hey Kyle! Thanks for another great video. I like the Veloi, but in my opinion is too expensive. A year ago I found in Amazon a similar option for a fraction of the Veloi price "JJC Photo Slide and Film Digitizer Converter with 10-Levels Brightness LED Backlight for 35mm Slide and Negatives Copying Scanning to Digital for Select Canon Nikon Sony Macro Lenses" Maybe is not as good as the Veloi, but for me works fine at reasonable price. I hope this info helps somebody. Regards
Fantastic! Personally I don't shoot film (yet), but recently found a bunch of old negatives from the 60's in the family stash and was looking for a solution to get them scanned by myself. This will be the way to go!
Great video. Always learn a lot from your detailed explanations and examples. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get this product or a solution from negative supply. After watching your video I will go with this one😊
Great review and instructional video. You make it look easy. Peace
I'm hoping for a 120 version either from Valoi or another vendor this year!
I also scan with a GF 50R. A good tip is to use electronic shutter mode to preserve the mechanical shutter in the camera and increase its lifetime. Just look out for flickering at faster shutter speeds
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING images
Thanks for the demonstration. I've been leaning toward this system to scan my grandfather's collection of film. He was mainly a show horse photographer, but I think he did some weddings as well. We have a huge collection of negatives to sort through!
I scan film with Sony A7IV with a vintage OM macro lens too, it's a huge savings. I have just a light table for artists, this is enough for me now in terms of quality, but for better experience one day I hope to buy something more serious like this device🙏
I have an easy35 since maybe october and have now started to scan my old negatives - and that was when it showed that some choices I've made weren't as good as I thought. My Lightroom license is only for the cloud version (1 TB), and that means I can't use Negative Lab Pro until I upgrade to the "bigger" license including classic + 1 TB, but the current one is still valid for about 9 months. So I will have to wait a bit if I don't wont to waste any money. sigh
But then again I am waiting for Valoi to make slide scanning available for the easy35 - looking forward to see all those old slides again.
USE LIGHTROOM CLASSIC!! There's no cloud storing, it's all on your computer memory.
Use darktable. Its free and includes a module “negdoctor” for inverting color film
Or DPO same thing..
Amazing what people are creating in their spare bedroom with 3d printers well done
Hi Kyle. Thanks for the video. I’ve been looking for an alternative to my flatbed scanner to scan my old negatives and slides and after hearing about this, I came across your video and decided to get one today (using your affiliate link).
Cheers, Chris. Enjoy!
2:26 Yes, that's my problem (lots of medium format 6x7 negatives).
I use a vintage Minolta Auto Bellows with its slide holder attachment, with a remote flash as the light source. It requires a bit of setup but works great.
Informative and interesting video Kyle.
Like you I have the Valoi Advancer kit but do not have the space to leave my stand permanently erected so it can take longer setting up than scanning one roll of film! I've ordered an Easy 35, thanks for the discount code.
I also support the suggestion that you don't need expensive cameras to scan film. I sold my Nikon mirrorless cameras last year when I went all in rangefinder and realised I didn't have a camera to scan with so I bought a beaten up Nikon D800 (36mpx) from MPB for 250 quid as I did keep the two F mount macro lenses. The results are just as good as with the Z7ii! Fortunately both the 60mm and 105 work with the Easy.
I'll let you all know how it goes...once I blown the dust off my 35mm! Keep up the good work.
Cheers, David! Yeah, the difference in quality between cheap and expensive cameras is pretty minimal (if you have your setup dialled in).
Forgot about the £50+ import tax & vat, ouch! I’m sure it will be available in UK soon, if not already.
I started scanning my own film quite recently and I build this contraption of books and an ipad for my Nikon 55mm 2.8 macro setup. I was just thinking of what actual setup to buy when I saw your video and instantly ordered one with the code since i mainly use 35mm. Would be a real treat if they made one for medium format.
In terms of preserving details camera scanning looks very good. However, the colors from dedicated scanners usually look better. The car's colors in the example look better on the Nikon scan in my opinion.
@@giuseppeg.8461 I'd luke to add another thing. Once I had a Nikon LS-50. As far as I know, its 35mm scans are not very different from LS-8000 or LS-9000 scans. However, I didn't like that scans too much. Then I aquired a Noritsu scanner and I liked its scans much more (not talking about the scanning speed)!
As for the camera scanning, I don't quite understand, how can a camera with a CMOS sensor make good scans at all?
Fair enough. I personally am very happy with the colours from camera 'scanning'. But I know a lot of people prefer dedicated scanners.
@@KyleMcDougall Yeah, worries me that digital scanning is 'dumbing down' the colors of film (especially red + green). Colors might be limited or converted weirdly into digital spectrum of colors. Wonder what happens to dynamic range as well when you digitally scan via a camera
This gadget and pixel shifted full frame or newer gfx setup could be spectacular?!
i hope they will make one for 120, this looks the easiest among all other scanning alternatives
Hey, I like the picture of the Hudson hornet. I remember them well I’m that old. They were good cars.
I use the Easy35 to scan my film. I scan at F8 and at base ISO, but I keep my shutter speed consistent throughout my roll. I do this because Negative Lab Pro recommends this for their latest v3 release. I also keep color temperature set to the coolest setting for color negative film, as this is what Valoi recommends.
Have been very happy with my results. Glad you like the Easy35 too!
Also, white balance shouldn't matter if you're converting a raw file.
I used your code and at was like 250 shipped. Excited to try this on the GFX 50s.
I have had mine for a month now. Well worth the money, in my opinion.
Do you have issues with vignetting?
@@laurencewhite4809 I haven't had any issues. Very easy and uncomplicated to use.
Would 3 extension tubes with a reasonably close focusing normal lens work, or is absolutely necessary to have a true macro lens? Great vid, by the way!
I'd be interested to know if their system can be adapted to use enlarger lenses (assuming threads exist on both ends) instead of SLR lenses. Unlike macro lenses, enlarger lenses are designed for photographing flat surfaces.
Sure it can! Just make sure its an enlarger lens with a front filter thread. Not all have that
Thanks for the video!
It's okaaaay. However, if your negative isn't sufficiently dense (anything other than a bright, daytime shot) you're likely going to see orange vignetting in the corners of your scans, and that's because the Valoi Easy35 has defective/uneven backlighting on it's panels. They tried to fix this issue and send out new models, but unfortunately the issue persists. (I've been through 2 units myself).
You can take off the panel and then put something like a Viltrox in it's place which seems to remedy the issue... but it's an expensive modification as the Valoi Easy35 isn't actually cheap and obviously betrays the entire idea of the product. Despite all this, Valoi continues to market the product even tho they are well aware of the issue. Very disappointing.
Hi! I think I remember your case - of course very unfortunate. We genuinely couldn't figure out why your setup was never able to produce the expected results, and you're of course eligible for a return and refund. We have thousands of happy customers so it's always puzzling when someone has problems, but with a handful of setup combinations or negative types, there have been problems which we of course offer to replace or refund.
- Arild
Sorry to hear you had issues, Julian. I didn't experience anything like that with mine.
I have one and it is great , digitized lots of negs and colour slides
Terrific, no-nonsense presentation. Is there a similar product for 35mm slides?
Great content. Thanks. I have an original Canon Eos 5D (so without live preview possibilities) so I guess this does make the featured scanning process a bit troublesome ?
Interesting video you did here. My main bone of contention with the VALOI easy35, it offers no 35mm slide holder. I have 35mm slides that haven't see the light of day in years. How can I scan them with a holder. Not so easy after all.
I was planning to splurge on a Negative Supply kit, but this one is much more convenient. Do you know if they have any plans for a 120, or is it technically impossible?
This 👀
Not sure. I hope so.
A very reassuring product review for anyone worried about a drop in quality moving from a dedicated scanner. Thank you. But I wonder about the effectiveness of the dust removal attachment, especially as dust accumulates on it. What's your assessment?
The dust attachment seemed to work well for me. I gave the negatives a blast with the rocket blower first as well. But dust seemed to be minimal in my scans.
@@KyleMcDougalldust is always minimal when you process your own film
Sure, like many are saying here it is expensive. But so was my Nikon Coolscan. It does a great job but is slow like most film scanners. And with using this tool I could get better resolution using my GFX. This takes up almost no space whereas a flat bed or film scanner needs a dedicated space. There are arguments both ways. I think that if this is the tool that gets you scanning then that's great. If you want to DIY it the go that way. Or buy an expensive scanner. No reason to trash this or any other method. To each there is a best way. I've been doing a DIY setup for 120 and 4X5 and it's cumbersome but gets the job done. I'm about to start developing my own film again after many years and think the speed and setup of this very attractive. I am curious Kyle what lens you're using on the GFX. I don't have a macro for it but could buy an extension tube.
Very useful video. But the devil is in the details. For example, the screw on extension gizmos? Why? How many? And I missed if they were an extra cost? I use a Lumix G9ii and would use an Olympus 60mm macro; the Lumix has a 'high-res' mode that increases the file size quite a bit. Do you see that as adding to the quality of the result in terms of detail? Or just allowing for larger prints? Inter-related question I know, so whatever you could add would be a help. Thanks for this.
This is AMAZING!!!!!
Wish they had on for Medium Format
Kyle, thank you so much for this video -- so helpful and much needed. Quick question: so much of the appeal of this type of 35mm negative scanning relies on a question I rarely hear tabled on current videos, especially as someone who mostly shoots Black and White (tr-x 400 or Ilford) -- can you scan sharply and closely enough to see film grain on the negative?
All depends on the lens you choose, but in my experience, yes.
Nice pictures/photos
Just blown away seeing the dynamic range. But still wondering how LR distinguish and convert to the original colour.
are you referring to the lightroom plugin "Negative Lab Pro"
Does VALOI offer an option for 35mm mounted slides? I have a TON of 35mm B&W negatives !! ( and 3 TONS of mounted slides !! )
what's the difference between correcting white balance, brightness etc (min 8:25) vs just doing that in lightroom?
Thanks for the info !
I scanned most of my negatives -- both 35 mm and 6x6 cm - around 10 years ago using the 4990. It took forever and the results weren't all that great, especially the 6x6 negs which are not perfectly flat in the film holder. My D300 is low res by today's standards but with good glass and proper extensions, I might give this a shot. Also, I borrowed a Coolscan (4000, I think) for slides and it was a disaster with constant jams using the slide feeder. Speaking of slides, any suggestions?
Interesting. Is it an LED light? Does this system work with a 50mm macro or does it require a long macro? Is the bellows tube adjustable? Is there a unit that will do both film and slides? I have about 10,000 of each.
Dang, just recorded almost the same last week, but you did it so much better😅 think that's going into the bin. Been really enjoying this system. Like you said, not having to have a dedicated space for it has been a lifesaver.Great job on the video!
Lovely video ! Question: do you think an Canon 200d and a 18-55mm macro lens are good options to have a great quality with this valoi 35 mm ?
With the Valoi. In 5-10 years time can you still get an exchange battery? Because I believe it is a rechargeable battery, and with all rechargeable they will eventually die, especially if it lays uncharged over time?!
Hello! I'm very happy to have found this video! I've been wanting to get back into shooting with film cameras for a while, but I live in a small town, and we don't have the option to scan film on demand. I still need to find an affordable way to develop negatives. Do you have any videos on the developing process as well? Regarding the scanning process, do you recommend using an old camera and vintage lenses because they are cheaper? If I have a modern camera like the Sony A7M3 and a macro lens like the Sigma 105mm, would I be able to scan film on my own? Thanks a lot for your hard work! 🥰
OMG I Just ordered the Negative Supply kits...
Excellent content, well delivered. Could you tell me what adapter you used to mount the Pentax lens? Cheers!
Hi Kyle, Thanks for the video. i have a epson v850 but in actual quality it scans around 2400dpi. I have an old Nikon d800 which has a 36mp sensor how do i calculate what the actual dpi would be for the Nikon or any other sensor size to see if its worth spending money on this or even go for a scanner like the Pacific Image prime film XA Plus. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Fantastic review, Kyle, thank you! Let me know if you would like to try my system for scanning medium format film 😉 It is already released and available.
Hi Kyle, thanks for the useful video. I tried a number of different methods and tools to digitize my old slides (not negatives so far), with limited success. My number 1 issue was sub-optimal shaprness of the scans due to the film not being perfectly flat hence plain of focus was not definitive. The tool you use here does not seem to address this issue and I am not sure if there is any such non-industrial scanning tool out there that does. I am aware of flat bed scanners, but those cannot match the optical quality and rendering of a moderately decent lens with APSC< sized sensor combo. How would you overcome of the film curvature problem? Any suggestions?
F8?
@@mitchbrown3911 DoF=2.5mm @F8
glass sandwich but then it would be too thick to fit the scanners. It would work for an camera and lens system though but have to cobble something together yourself most likely
200 quid for that plastic thing with a wee light in it?? And then I'd still have to factor in the cost of a macro lens... I think I'll go with the Plustek 8100 you recommended in your other video, thank you very much.
Is it possible to scan a single slide (in its mount or removed)? My Plustek never does a great job with Kodachrome; how does Valoi do?
Oh yeah, we just released a slide holder for it!
For medium format same thing, from camflix (japanese product) , called 120L with 3 Film holders, 6x4,5 / 6x6/ 6x7 , which I got. Amazing piece. High Quality made really. My Light source will be flash, for any LED , physically, are never capable of covering the entire Lightspectrum. It's a Physics thing. So the full spectrum of colors will never really show entirely and such missing spectrum areas are always "fabricated" or left out . Something about LED Physics You should research maybe. (Note: this has nothing to do with Kelvin temperatures). A 50mb sensor or higher to do this with a 6x6 negative comes now very handy.... the medium camera unit from camflix is cheaper , btw...
Full spectrum illumination isn't really all that critical. The camera sensor is usually just R, G and B; so are your eyes.
Incorrect in so many ways. Our eyes are indeed able to see full spectrum daylight, camera Sensors cannot do this. thats just for starters. Considering your statement here, for the rest on this topic, you would not understand any of it anyways... LOL @@thomasmaughan4798
@@thomasmaughan4798 keep believing that Slick. Must be why there are lights that have higher CRI levels and cost a hell of a lot more
Nice marketing. Nikon ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter Set is #1 seller and the price is the winner! Nikon quality for sure! Good luck!
I'd consider that if I could run an entire uncut roll through. Having to load a strip at a time in the holder seems like quite the time suck.
Seems as though you’re the one marketing 🤔🤔🤔
Almost seemed like you guessed it, I'm just rebuilding my film setup and wanted to move from flatbed to DSLR scanning (or better said GFX scanning), and this video helped me make some decisions. Thanks for sharing great tips and great knowledge!
You're welcome. Cheers.
You have so many distance rings between your lens and the Easy 35. Don't you have trouble with vignetting in your shots, especially on darker frames?
I didn't have any vignetting. Unfortunately because I'm using a 120mm, I have to use that many distance rings. Would be much more compact with something like a 50-80mm.
@@KyleMcDougallcan you use a close focus adapter and adjust accordingly without the extra tube(s)
Do you think this is the best method for scanning a massive amount of cut and sleeved negatives? I've tried them all as well (used the Nikon Coolscan 9000 for years and Epson 600).
Camera scanning is much much quicker than a dedicated film scanner. It's especially nice if you have a full un-cut roll, but even with strips it's substantially faster.
Hi Kyle, I’ve just ordered it and now looking forward to starting scanning my negatives.
I’ve been getting different results from different labs so I’d like to see if I can scan myself and get good results.
I still need to learn how to develop film…
I have a question regarding pushing/pulling films; e.g. if I pull a film from iso 400 to 200, should I ask the lab to develop it at iso 200? Is this the general rule?
I’m fairly new to the 35mm film photography and trying to learn best practices.
Thank you, Maciej.
I have a lot of APS (Advantix) Film to get scanned. I have a V600 adapter but not loving it. Would this also work with the APS size film ?
We are releasing an aps holder for it in a couple of months
Looks like a great solution. Too bad my wife decided to throw away all of her negatives decades ago, not seeing the point of saving them if she had prints. All my film negatives are in a binder.
Great review. Thank you for this; I've placed an order now. :)
I shoot a lot of 35 and I am getting tired of always readjusting my film scanning set up.
I wonder if a easy120 product would be possible. Love using the easy35 myself.
Hello what do you think about scanning 35mm and 120 film with a similar adapter on the Nikon Z8 or D850 ? Or even with a Sigma Quattro Foveon at 100 iso of course
Hey Kyle, great video! I'm actually using almost the same setup as you (same lens, GFX 50S) but I find myself having to use a few more extension tubes to get the negative in focus with the Pentax 120mm Macro. I noticed you have a different kind of adapter for the lens/body than me, does it maybe have to do something with that? Cheers!
Do you use extension tubes with the lens? I’m in the same boat, the 35mm frame only fills centre of the frame at 1:1 as it’s 1:1 for a 645 frame
the one thing i don't understand is why it should be a battery powered unit instead of plugged in. Like it seems very rarely that you'd ever need it to be away from a desk to use it
I have a Fujifilm XT5. Any recommendations for lenses? Or is an old Nikon 55micro or Canon 50mm Macro (with extension tubes) just as good as anything else? Thank you 🙏
Valoi has a list of recommended lenses by camera system on their website. The Nikon 55 micro and later 60 afd are well regarded, though.
@@DirectRegister Thank you 🙏
Great video have you heard of 120 in the future