Recommended Lightboxes?
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Bring on the clowns

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

208 months

Sunday 31st January 2016
quotequote all
I've a pretty large archive of film from 35mm to 4"x5", mostly transparency, and I'm now moving more and more to BW using film - again 35mm to 4"x5". Looking at the price and reviews of scanners and after issues with 2 Nikons I used to own I'm wondering about setting up a dark 'tent' area with a (wall mounted, preferably) lightbox and using a macro lens to digress slides and negatives to the A7Rii. It will also allow me to look at slides in all their (small) glory!

Does anyone either do this or have any experience of light boxes? I had a cheapish one before but I'd like to get one that offers a very stable and uniform light source. I'm particularly interested in the JL-P10B X-Ray Film Viewer Lightbox so wonder if I'm on the right lines?

rich888

2,610 posts

223 months

Sunday 31st January 2016
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Try the free 'Color Softbox' iPad app by John Rouda which allows you to experiment with various background colours including white. I've used it on numerous occasions when wanting to view 35mm negatives.

Bring on the clowns

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

208 months

Sunday 31st January 2016
quotequote all
rich888 said:
Try the free 'Color Softbox' iPad app by John Rouda which allows you to experiment with various background colours including white. I've used it on numerous occasions when wanting to view 35mm negatives.
Thanks, I hadn't thought of that.

Simpo Two

91,486 posts

289 months

Sunday 31st January 2016
quotequote all
Wouldn't you see the pixels? (assuming 35mm slide so resolution of approx 4000dpi)

Or does the slide mount provide enough distance to get them out of focus?

Bring on the clowns

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

208 months

Sunday 31st January 2016
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Wouldn't you see the pixels? (assuming 35mm slide so resolution of approx 4000dpi)

Or does the slide mount provide enough distance to get them out of focus?
I was going to mount the negative or slide on the box, taped down, then photograph it with a 100mm macro lens on a Leica Macro-bellows unit which should allow me to film at up to 1:! - if that works. If that was too detailed I guess I could reduce the size. I used to copy slides back on to film as duplicates using a cheapish slide copier attachment and the results (at least on film) were pretty much indistinguishable with correct lighting.