In my last post I talked about how to prepare Silverfast for negative scanning. Today I aill show you how I mount my medium format film into an Epson V700 film holder. Therefore I have prepared a short video showing how I do the mounting. Let me just tell you real quick why I use the conventional Epson holders and not any kind of third party holders which get good critiques. Well, I have used them, literally every mounting solution availbale for the Epson V-series, and I must say in the end they are not worth the effort. I find the conventional standrad Epson film holder do their job very well. Maybe I am lucky and my scanner is manufactured the way it should be, but I was able to get better sharpness and grain from the Epson holders than from any other holder I was using.

Scanner Cleaning

Before we mounting the film I always clean my scanner. I use glass cloths from Zeiss and a simple microfibre cleaning cloth to get rid of dust and contamination on the scanner glass. If I have not used my scanner for a while I start with a brush to get rid of dust particle before using the cleaning cloths. Anyway, make sure the scanner surface is a s clean as possible and also have a look on the film holder which maybe needs a short treatment as well. It is also advisable to work in an area that is as dust free as possible.

Mounting

Mounting tips:

have your negatives ready
use gloves for all negative handling
use a dust blower to clean the negatives when mounted
put the holders directly on the scanner after mounting
For film from the Hasselblad V-System use a scanner mask for best results.
The Epson V700 holder work best with the emulsion side of the film (dull side) facing upwards.

Excerpt from the Epson V700 manual:

“For 35mm film and Medium Format Film

Slide up to two medium format film images into the film holder with the shiny base side facing down. Your images and any wording on the film should appear backwards on the side that faces up, as shown by the illustration on the film holder. Make sure the entire image frame is positioned in the film holder opening.

Hold the edge of the film gently or use gloves to touch the film; otherwise you may damage the film. Make sure the white stickers on the back of the film holder and the areas around them are not scratched, dusty, or covered in any way. If the areas are obscured, the scanner may have trouble recognizing your film in Full Auto Mode. Do not cover any of the tiny holes in the film holder or the scanner may have trouble recognizing which film holder you are using.”

— Epson V700 User Manual

Hope this very basic tutorials helps to ensure proper film mounting. Feel free to adapt this method to suit your own needs and your personal technique.

INTRODUCTION

What is it that draws photographers to film, despite its somewhat outdated nature? I've written at length on this blog about the tactile, emotional, and aesthetic qualities of analog photography — and I still believe that digital can rarely replace the joy of loading a roll, advancing the film lever, hearing the satisfying shutter sound, and embracing the beautiful uncertainty of results.

Still, digital photography is often more practical. That’s why so many film photographers — myself included — look for tools to emulate the feel of analog film in a digital workflow. Over the years, a number of companies have emerged in this space: Mastin Labs, RNI, The Classic Presets, Dehancer — and now, a new contender: ColorPrecision, developed by film enthusiast and colorist Owen Markham.

Exploring the Floating City with a Canon AE-1

Venice in the fall. The city breathes differently when the summer crowds fade. The soft, diffused light reflects on the water, casting subtle ripples on ancient facades. The damp air carries the scent of salt and history. I arrived with no fixed plan—just my Canon AE-1 and a few rolls of Kodak Vision3, ready to capture whatever unfolded in front of me.

DEHANCER FILM LIGHTROOM PLUGIN REVIEW

A personal take on one of the most popular film emulation tools

This isn’t your typical review! Instead, it’s a report on my hands-on experience with Dehancer Film, breaking down the key aspects of the software. After experimenting with its interface and creating a range of looks, I wanted to see if Dehancer could complement my digital workflow, especially since I primarily shoot analog film.

ColorPrecision Review

A FRESH TAKE ON KODAK FILM EMULATION FOR LIGHTROOM

A SILENT JOURNEY THROUGH VENICE

The Ultimate Way of Digital Film Emulation

No. 24 — A Visual Journey

Introduction On many of my travels, I often seek out architectural gems: small houses that are iconic and stylistically significant but lie off the beaten tourist paths and aren't featured on every influencer's account. One of these significant masterpieces is the Alvar Aalto House in Helsinki, a place where architecture and light form a poetic symbiosis. During my visit, I was impressed by the thoughtful spatial design and the warm, natural lighting. The flowing forms and organic materials tell the story of an architect who masterfully knew how to direct light. To view the rooms undisturbed and in peace, the Alvar Aalto Foundation limits group sizes to a small number of participants. After a very knowledgeable and engaging tour, I had the opportunity to explore and photograph the house on my own. I will elaborate on the specific photographic techniques later, but first, let’s take a brief look at who Alvar Aalto

Camera Scanning Part IV

If, like me, you've been captivated by scanning over the years and simply enjoy digitizing film, it's clear that you follow the market and the countless options available to you. I've written several times about the possibility of building your own small scanner setup. By now, my own setup has changed significantly and what started with a few simple components has grown into a very precise tool. I get a lot of joy from it and can finally scan films the way I want. However, to get this far, I had to overcome several hurdles. But let's start from the beginning.