I recommend using silicone rubber feet for the EFH. I felt iffy about it because the base screws weren't flat but just apply them as evenly as possible. Doing that stopped the slipping without the need for any drastic or permanent mods. They work so well that I think the EFH should come with them.
I started with taping negs to a piece of glass to neg holders out of a flat bed, then lomo digitalizer and now the EFH. I use a Durst Colour Copy as the camera stand/light source and without a doubt the EFH is the bomb! The value for money is unparalleled.
I use the EFH & find it holds the negatives flat & is affordable. To solve the problem of it moving on the light table I simply took a piece of cardboard & cut the outside dimensions of my light source & another cut out in the center of the cardboard the dimensions of the EFH legs. I use 2 rubber bands to hold it to the light source. It works perfectly with no movement during scanning. Also I never cut the film for sleeves until I have scanned the negatives. The EFH diffuser is another bonus to this unit.
Nice review, Ribsy - thanks. Essential Film Holder - £90 and that INCLUDES free worldwide shipping too. 10,500 units now shipped to 55+ countries around the planet. ...AND the rumours of a long lead time were once correct, but now we are getting more efficient with packing, so 10 working days is fast becoming more usual. -Andrew
Thanks Ribsy, this video came at the right time. Just purchased the 35mm & 120 version, pretty excited. Have been using DIY masking and Lomography magnetic masks, it works but a bit of a faff and 5 or 3 negs at a time. Should save some time. Keep up the great work 😎🤘
I have a few thousand 120 film negatives to scan (family photos for archive). The film was shot 40-60 years ago and unfortunately the negatives were cut up (mostly singles and doubles) to fit in albums. Could you comment on the possible workflow for using a film holder with cut negatives (not a strip)? Many of the negatives have started to curl over time which I believe would further make it difficult.
Thanks for this review of available tools. I just started experimenting with this type of scanning. I’m using an Omega enlarger film holder and it can be a bit of a strain on the back since I have to be a bit more careful in lifting up the top plate of the holder and gently moving the film. There are also other cost concerns such as an adequate macro lens and/or bellows and a uniform, bright light source. I also noticed I can’t do this sort of thing in my living room where I have a wood floor where even slight movement can cause camera shake - better to do it where I have a solid concrete floor (or get a much brighter light source for faster shutter speeds). This won’t replace my main film scanner (Imacon 343) but it should be good for fast scans of the notebooks upon notebooks I have of film going back to the 1980s.
Have you looked at fluid mounting for scanning? It is slow like the enlarger tray method but it is super clean and flat. It is derived from drum scanning technology
Yes, have to agree with that. What I gather is that it gives you the cleanest scan possible so maybe you keep it for the most important images. Needs someone with the money and time to do some A/B testing
Shots fired Ribsy 😆 I know both Andrew and Hamish personally - the respective inventors of the Essential Film Holder (was a beta tester of this) and Pix-latr (the third budget film holder option) so have to stay neutral on this lol I use Negative Supply for the lab instead, need the best of the best!
@@jameslane3846 As a film shooter, it's good to see a number of options coming available for home digitization. You pay your money and take your choice. For us amateur users, I'd rather be spending the money on film and development than on a film holder. All you need are the 'essentials' and you're good to go. If you're running a lab, your requirements will be quite different. NS kit is quite nicely put together, but 10x...20x the price of an Essential Film Holder... for most people that's a non-starter.
I currently use my enlarger negative carrier. As you say it works, but is a faff. Being forced to readjust after every frame slows down the workflow and doesn't allow for syncing cropping in Post. Have tried the Limo digitalizers and have decided they are a triumph of marketing over substance. They are no better than the carrier. So am on the lookout for a better solution. So thanks for this video. Food for thought.
Hi Ribsy, to be honest I watched your video after I've already ordered the EFH and unfortunately I have to add though that while the product might be a brilliant tool, I do have some troubles with the support/shipment. To keep it short: Andrew Clifford made a mistake by shipping it to the wrong address and was not willing to correct that mistake. This might not be an issue for people within the UK but something to be aware of if you order from europe or even further away. I know you only review the products but I think it is helpful to have some insight on what happens after you placed your order and what support you can expect.
With these prices I'll just stick with my taped DIY solution, using film scanner holders from a CanoScan 4400f. It's a shame these holders cost so much...imo They look like they make it a lot easiert tho, for the hobbyist that is a bit much though. If it weren't such a niche market I don't think this stuff would cost anymore then maybe 70$, the EFH even maybe 30...but I guess because they aren't from big factories, so they cost more, which is understandable then. The enlarger holders look like a similarly good option, I might get one of them sometime maybe. One thing that might be better with a certain film holder is being able to scan the borders of the film as well, but you cannot do that with either of those, I think.
Btw a nice alternative very few talk about is the pixl latr. It is the cheapest option out there I have heard of. Seems to be more what I would get, but my results are fine. I would rather invest the money in a macro lens sometime...
Hey man, thanks! would the valoi 35 holder (without the base with wheels) not be a cheaper, and equally effective solution (or even better) than the EFH?
@@ribsy Would you say there are any obvious disadvantages (or advantages) to it? I've heard the EFH can sometimes create a drop shadow which creates hot spots on the edges of b&w and colour cast on colour film, due to the thick, edges. I think the Valoi has bevelled edges on the film mask. But most people don't complain about that/notice it.
Hi everyone ! I love your vids btw @Risby mate good work ! I have a question though : I own and use a lot the Negative Film Holder, I'm happy with my dslr results scans except my images come out quite blury in the bottom left corner every time ! I don't know if that issue is related to my negs themeselves : are they not flat enough when dslr-scanned ? Is there a technique to flatten them perfectly when drying ? Or do you think it is that related to the dslr's lens (I use a 18-55mm af-s DX nikon lens on a d7200 with + 12mm macro ring) at 1/30 f5.6 iso 500 (I can't do any better than that because of my light table pretty weak). I'm open to any suggestions ! Thanks !
I can't recommend the Valoi, as it's put roller marks & small scratches on my negatives. I would go for the EFH. The Valoi is way too expensive for what it is, and then to damage your negatives on top of that is just unacceptable. The same goes for the Lomo Digitaliza, scratches your negatives for some reason, looked like a great idea to keep the negs flat, but it also causes small scratches to the negatives. A bummer.
@@ribsy I'm not the only one to say that. Hashem from Pushing Film UA-cam channel had the same problem. Wheel marks were left on the negatives also. Not cool.
I knew that would happen just from empirical deduction.. I saw the wheel of the valoi on the film thought that would be inevitable.. thanks for confirming what I suspected
I recommend using silicone rubber feet for the EFH. I felt iffy about it because the base screws weren't flat but just apply them as evenly as possible. Doing that stopped the slipping without the need for any drastic or permanent mods. They work so well that I think the EFH should come with them.
yea good call!
Enlarger Film Holders ! wdf & NEVER thought of this. Good stuff, Well presented and six decades of experience gives ya 5 Stars !
😃
Fantastic video as always Ribs! Very informative and gave me a ton of new information! :)
glad it was useful!
I started with taping negs to a piece of glass to neg holders out of a flat bed, then lomo digitalizer and now the EFH. I use a Durst Colour Copy as the camera stand/light source and without a doubt the EFH is the bomb! The value for money is unparalleled.
you got it all! haha, there is a time and place for each
It is great to have so many options when DSLR/mirrorless scanning!
Thanks for the video!
Have a good week!
yup - options are great. thanks for watching!
I use the EFH & find it holds the negatives flat & is affordable. To solve the problem of it moving on the light table I simply took a piece of cardboard & cut the outside dimensions of my light source & another cut out in the center of the cardboard the dimensions of the EFH legs. I use 2 rubber bands to hold it to the light source. It works perfectly with no movement during scanning. Also I never cut the film for sleeves until I have scanned the negatives. The EFH diffuser is another bonus to this unit.
Good tip. Altho Sometimes you need to go back and rescan an already cut negative, fortunately it’s possible
Nice review, Ribsy - thanks.
Essential Film Holder - £90 and that INCLUDES free worldwide shipping too.
10,500 units now shipped to 55+ countries around the planet.
...AND the rumours of a long lead time were once correct, but now we are getting more efficient with packing, so 10 working days is fast becoming more usual.
-Andrew
price includes shipping ... that's a deal!
Hey Andrew, a little discount would be nice and give a little something to Ribsy who gave you a shoutout here if use his coupon code for example.
Thanks Ribsy, this video came at the right time. Just purchased the 35mm & 120 version, pretty excited. Have been using DIY masking and Lomography magnetic masks, it works but a bit of a faff and 5 or 3 negs at a time. Should save some time.
Keep up the great work 😎🤘
awesome. glad i could help!
I have a few thousand 120 film negatives to scan (family photos for archive). The film was shot 40-60 years ago and unfortunately the negatives were cut up (mostly singles and doubles) to fit in albums. Could you comment on the possible workflow for using a film holder with cut negatives (not a strip)? Many of the negatives have started to curl over time which I believe would further make it difficult.
The enlarger holder. I do contact sheets and know which negative I'm looking for.
yup!
Thanks Ribsy, from Barcelona!
Cheers
Thanks for this review of available tools. I just started experimenting with this type of scanning. I’m using an Omega enlarger film holder and it can be a bit of a strain on the back since I have to be a bit more careful in lifting up the top plate of the holder and gently moving the film. There are also other cost concerns such as an adequate macro lens and/or bellows and a uniform, bright light source. I also noticed I can’t do this sort of thing in my living room where I have a wood floor where even slight movement can cause camera shake - better to do it where I have a solid concrete floor (or get a much brighter light source for faster shutter speeds). This won’t replace my main film scanner (Imacon 343) but it should be good for fast scans of the notebooks upon notebooks I have of film going back to the 1980s.
i think you can get over the shake by using the timer on your shutter. 2 secs should be enough to give you a steady camera. give it a try!
Expose by flash (backlight!), best through some white material to disperse the light. No shakes, perfectly sharp.
@@JanVotava75 make CERTAIN that the flash has a high CRI of at least 90 or 90+ Most do, ah'm told
Awesome 🎉
Have you looked at fluid mounting for scanning? It is slow like the enlarger tray method but it is super clean and flat. It is derived from drum scanning technology
i haven't but i am intrigued. seems like a lot of work tho 😊
Yes, have to agree with that. What I gather is that it gives you the cleanest scan possible so maybe you keep it for the most important images. Needs someone with the money and time to do some A/B testing
Ordered the EFH, thanks Ribsy. Now I can finally start shooting my Holga.
awesome. ahh i need me a holga!
Currently using a tripod and pixlator but without the adpter
🙌🏾
Shots fired Ribsy 😆 I know both Andrew and Hamish personally - the respective inventors of the Essential Film Holder (was a beta tester of this) and Pix-latr (the third budget film holder option) so have to stay neutral on this lol
I use Negative Supply for the lab instead, need the best of the best!
Hahaha I got no beef. I’m a supporter here!
@@ribsy They're all good budget options :) but sometimes I wonder if the £4k Negative Supply full kit was worth it... haha
@@jameslane3846 As a film shooter, it's good to see a number of options coming available for home digitization. You pay your money and take your choice.
For us amateur users, I'd rather be spending the money on film and development than on a film holder. All you need are the 'essentials' and you're good to go.
If you're running a lab, your requirements will be quite different. NS kit is quite nicely put together, but 10x...20x the price of an Essential Film Holder... for most people that's a non-starter.
@@aaa0303a yeah I run a lab ;) hence the need for NS kit
I currently use my enlarger negative carrier. As you say it works, but is a faff. Being forced to readjust after every frame slows down the workflow and doesn't allow for syncing cropping in Post. Have tried the Limo digitalizers and have decided they are a triumph of marketing over substance. They are no better than the carrier. So am on the lookout for a better solution. So thanks for this video. Food for thought.
Yea definitely. The enlarger holder def works but it’s a pain. Good for people just starting out tho
Hi Ribsy, to be honest I watched your video after I've already ordered the EFH and unfortunately I have to add though that while the product might be a brilliant tool, I do have some troubles with the support/shipment. To keep it short: Andrew Clifford made a mistake by shipping it to the wrong address and was not willing to correct that mistake. This might not be an issue for people within the UK but something to be aware of if you order from europe or even further away. I know you only review the products but I think it is helpful to have some insight on what happens after you placed your order and what support you can expect.
Sorry to hear about your experience
With these prices I'll just stick with my taped DIY solution, using film scanner holders from a CanoScan 4400f. It's a shame these holders cost so much...imo
They look like they make it a lot easiert tho, for the hobbyist that is a bit much though.
If it weren't such a niche market I don't think this stuff would cost anymore then maybe 70$, the EFH even maybe 30...but I guess because they aren't from big factories, so they cost more, which is understandable then.
The enlarger holders look like a similarly good option, I might get one of them sometime maybe.
One thing that might be better with a certain film holder is being able to scan the borders of the film as well, but you cannot do that with either of those, I think.
whatever works! good luck 😊
Btw a nice alternative very few talk about is the pixl latr. It is the cheapest option out there I have heard of. Seems to be more what I would get, but my results are fine. I would rather invest the money in a macro lens sometime...
What i want is a cheap copy stand maybe even something that clamps to a table so it can be light weight and cheaper.
yea a copy stand makes a difference!
Love the video. Just what I was looking for.
I’m glad!
i will go for Valoi 360
yea its a good one
Dude, you should wear an SSC Napoli shirt in some future video. It'd be AWESOME! 💙
haha i don't have one! hook me up
is that a print by pearl ivy behind you??
yea
Soo cool, I used to stock her work in a shop in the UK! Love Pearl!!@@ribsy
I us a enlarger film holder I have made a frame for it to sit in so it does not slide about
yea that works well! nice to use free solutions
So why skip negative supply and other manufacturers ???
i never used one so i can't speak on it
I'm curious about the Pixl-later. Any opinions on this product?
Never used it 😀
Barçaaa❤️💙
hahah 🤟🏽
If I have an old “beginner level” dslr, do you think it’s best to just use a scanner instead?
na! i think a dslr is still worth it - especially since you have it already. the scans should still be very nice
What do you use as a stand? My tripod was not build to point straight down :(
I tilt my tripod forward them point the head down
Hey man, thanks! would the valoi 35 holder (without the base with wheels) not be a cheaper, and equally effective solution (or even better) than the EFH?
It def works well with just the holders and no advancer
@@ribsy Would you say there are any obvious disadvantages (or advantages) to it? I've heard the EFH can sometimes create a drop shadow which creates hot spots on the edges of b&w and colour cast on colour film, due to the thick, edges. I think the Valoi has bevelled edges on the film mask. But most people don't complain about that/notice it.
Hi everyone ! I love your vids btw @Risby mate good work ! I have a question though : I own and use a lot the Negative Film Holder, I'm happy with my dslr results scans except my images come out quite blury in the bottom left corner every time ! I don't know if that issue is related to my negs themeselves : are they not flat enough when dslr-scanned ? Is there a technique to flatten them perfectly when drying ? Or do you think it is that related to the dslr's lens (I use a 18-55mm af-s DX nikon lens on a d7200 with + 12mm macro ring) at 1/30 f5.6 iso 500 (I can't do any better than that because of my light table pretty weak). I'm open to any suggestions ! Thanks !
shoot with you lens at f8 or higher, that will ensure everything is in focus
@@ribsy Thanks mate ! I'll try to find another source of light because it'll get too weak
Great thought! Thanks man!
Hope they were helpful
As always a great video with options in every price range. Keep it up
yea. its great that we have so many option now!
I can't recommend the Valoi, as it's put roller marks & small scratches on my negatives. I would go for the EFH. The Valoi is way too expensive for what it is, and then to damage your negatives on top of that is just unacceptable.
The same goes for the Lomo Digitaliza, scratches your negatives for some reason, looked like a great idea to keep the negs flat, but it also causes small scratches to the negatives. A bummer.
hmm i haven't noticed any scratches on my negative. thats a shame
@@ribsy I'm not the only one to say that. Hashem from Pushing Film UA-cam channel had the same problem. Wheel marks were left on the negatives also. Not cool.
@@mpk33 try to buff the rollers with some ultra fine steel wool then clean them with acetone
@@alterworks7212 Sold it a while back & am happy with the EFH.
I knew that would happen just from empirical deduction.. I saw the wheel of the valoi on the film thought that would be inevitable.. thanks for confirming what I suspected
0:31, you forgot to cut
Ooops 😅
The best way to scan, is to print the negative :P
as much as i love printing, it aint scanning lol