Available formats

Nikon Coolscan 9000 ED filmscanner
Workflow

The photos on this website are taken using both digital and several classic cameras. The latter give lots of pleasure, but off course one first has to develop film to see one’s work (part of the charm). After that, all photos are scanned on a Nikon Coolscan 9000 ED film scanner. Most of the photo’s on this website can be enlarged considerably, as this page explains.

Photos can be scanned up to 16 times multisampling with 16 bit colour depth per colour, using a glass holder to ensure maximum film flatness. Should you have any interest in one of these photos, I’m able to rescan according to your specifications:

  • name of photos on website?
  • required output dimensions (length, width, dots per inch)?
  • is a print required or a digital file?
  • colour space and output file format (not for prints)?
  • specific post-scan corrections such as cropping and color balance, saturation, etcetera?
  • On many photos, subtle editing and enhancing can strongly influence the impact the picture has on your intended viewers. Digital blending and high dynamic range imaging (HDR / HDRI) are also possible, within the boundaries of the available material. Many of the single negatives have a larger dynamic range than are visible in a single scan.

    Please e-mail me with your requirements and i will reply the specific possibilities of the photos.

    What are the different cameras capable of?

    How big a print can I make out of these photos? Below I list all the cameras that have been used on this website. For each camera, I show the maximum size that they can yield for a print in ideal circumstances, without camera shake and without cropping applied. In real life, the ratio between desired output dimensions and the dimensions of the CMOS chip/negative limit the maximum possible enlargement. On the other hand, if the viewing distance of the final print is large, the DPI of the print may be subsequently lowered. The values below are examples of print sizes at different viewing distances.

    The column marked with an asterisk *) lists the sizes for prints that can be inspected from close up by viewers.
    The rightmost column **) shows printsizes when the distance of the viewer to the print is at least 1.2 meters (50 inches).

    All listed values are without upsampling the negatives (adding resolution with a computer, not originating from the photographic source). If you decide to upsample the photo, you could end up twice the size that I mention here. Please contact me about any photo that you are interested in and I will indicate the possibilities with that specific one.

    Maximum print size (estimate) *) Maximum print size (estimate) **)
    Camera Illustration Lenses Negative size at 300 DPI (viewing at 25-50cm/10-20 inches) at 150 DPI (viewing at 120 cm/50 inches or more)
    Linhof Technika III with 6×9, 6×12 and 6×17 roll film holders (and Nikon D90 body for digital capture)

    (1956)

    Linhof Technika III-5 Rodenstock Grandagon-N 90mm Voigtlander Apo-Lanthar 150mm (1955), Rodenstock Sinaron-N 150mm (1990′s), Rodenstock Grandagon-N 90 mm (1990′s), Carl Zeiss Tessar 250mm (1924!) 6×9 cm
    69
    75 x 109 cm

    29 x 43 inch

    150 x 219 cm

    59 x 86 inch

    6×12 cm
    612
    75 x 167 cm

    29 x 66 inch

    150 x 333 cm

    59 x 131 inch

    6×17 cm
    617
    75 x 207 cm

    29 x 81 inch

    150 x 414 cm

    59 x 163 inch

    Mamiya RB67 Pro-S and Pro-SD

    (1990 to date)

    Mamiya RB67, the workhorse without batteries Mamiya Sekor C 50mm, K/L 90mm, K/L 127mm (great lenses), 250mm 6×7 cm
    67
    75 x 90 cm

    29 x 36 inch

    150 x 181 cm

    59 x 71 inch

    6×4.5 cm
    645
    6×4,5
    55 x 75 cm

    21 x 29 inch

    109 x 150 cm

    43 x 59 inch

    Mamiya 645-1000S

    (about 1990)

    Mamiya 645-1000s Mamiya Sekor C: 35mm, 55mm, 80mm, 210mm 6×4.5 cm
    645
    6×4,5
    55 x 75 cm

    21 x 29 inch

    109 x 150 cm

    43 x 59 inch

    Nikon D90

    2008-present

    nikon D90 AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm VR ED 16x24mm 24 x 36 cm

    9,5 x 14,3 inch

    48 x 73 cm

    19 x 28,6 inch

    Minolta XD7 / Minolta XD11

    (about 1980)

    Minolta XD7 Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm, Auto Tele Rokkor-QE 100mm, Tokina RMC 17mm, 24mm and 135 mm 24×36 mm 32 x 48 cm

    12 x 19 inch

    64 x 96 cm

    25 x 38 inch

    Rollei 35 and Rollei 35 S

    (1971-1980)

    rollei 35s Tessar 40mm

    and Sonnar 40 mm

    24×36 mm 32 x 48 cm

    12 x 19 inch

    64 x 96 cm

    25 x 38 inch

    What is the maximum resolution of these photos?
    The following table shows the maximum scan size offered by the Nikon Coolscan 9000 ED with each negative as well as the D90 output size. Note the rightmost column in the table that shows the estimated equivalent of the filmscans to digital backs of medium format cameras ***). The maximum resolutions in the table apply when no cropping is necessary. Some of the photos on the website were already cropped to get the most striking image possible. The stated values are without upsampling, that might be used to add (artificial) resolution.

    True size True size Size Maximum scan size Maximum output size Comparison to digital back
    Size in cm in inch in square inch in pixels in Mp in Mp (estimate) ***)
    24×36 mm 2.4×3.6 0.95×1.42 1.35 3.800×5.680 21 7-8
    Nikon CMOS 1.58×2.36 0.62×0.93 0.58 12.3
    6×4.5 4.1×5.6 1.61×2.21 3.55 6.440×8.840 57 16-19
    6×7 5.6×6.8 2.21×2.67 5.92 8.840×10.680 94 24-31
    6×9 5.6×8.2 2.21×3.23 7.13 8.840×12.920 114 28-37
    6×12 5.6×12.5 2.21×4.92 10.88 8.840×19.680 174 43-58
    6×17 5.6×16.5 2.21×6.10 13.49 8.840×24.400 216 54-72
    Custom panorama These are all different in size. Usually i make panoramas of between three and eight 6×7 negatives, with 25% overlap. this results in panoramas of 56Mp to 150Mp.

    ***) Values in the above table are based on the assumption that a 35mm negative can yield as much details as a 7-8 Mp digital camera. As a 645 negative is at most 2.6 times larger than a 35mm negative, the resolution may be multiplied by that factor. A 6×7 negative is 4.4 times the size of a 35mm negative and a 6×9 negative is 5.3 times the size. Another way of estimating is the rule of thumb “divide the film scanner’s output by 3 to 4 to get an estimate of the equivalent to digital cameras of scanned film”. The idea is that digital cameras deliver such grain-free and clear images, that they need much less pixels to offer comparable image detail and quality. I would much like to find a more reliable way of estimating and I’m open to suggestions. Better still, lend me your DSLR!

    Because, to be honest, I would prefer to work with a digital 39 Mp camera for ease of use. However, even in 2009 you have to multiply the prices of my medium format cameras by 10 to 30 to buy digital medium format cameras that offer the equivalent resolution. ;)

    By the way, the speed at which the full frame sensor DSLR’s have reached and surpassed 6×45 equivalent resolution promises a bright future in an already amazing digital revolution! And, off course without any grain at ISO speeds that are impossible to match with film. They just lack the fun of playing with fully mechanical cameras, all aluminum and glass… AND I can easily add resolution by using more and more film surface without prices going through the roof. No affordable, single shot, large CMOS chip yet exists that can do that. Let’s just wait for another 5 years and see what digital technology has on offer by then. I expect to attach digital backs to my classic camera’s and keep going! In the mean time…

    What films are being used?

    Film type Comment
    Colour negative Preferably Fuji Reala 100 ASA. I value the natural colours of this film and the larger dynamic range when compared to slide films. To me, this film scans well and stays flat after just 24 hours of pressing flat. Also Kodak Portra 160 VC and NC (generation II and III). Good in terms of grain, not so easy in the film scan holder, because the film is thin and wobbly.
    colour slide film Fuji Provia 100 F. But I find it more difficult to get right, perhaps because of my casual style of metering light.
    B/W negative Fuji Acros, Kodak Plus-X 125 and TMAX, Ilford Delta, XP2 and HP5. Still have to try the Kodak Ektar. There’s plenty of life and recent development of film emulsions in the niche :) . How about Foma, Rollei and Bergger? Strangely, I’m almost being forced into developing the films myself, as there’s no possiblilty to get especially B/W developed at an affordable price. More on developing later on.