Copying 35mm Slides Using The Nikon Z7; Part I; Figuring Out What It Is I need To Do

This digital file is one of my early tests in setting up my slide copying project. I made the original Kodachrome slide
in December 1981. Very little color correction had to be made.  (click to enlarge)

I've now started the preliminary portion of my summer project of copying my archives of 35mm slides.  I have identified about 1500 that I want to copy.  Rather than just dive into this and chance on doing things badly, I chose to be a little more thoughtful.  I knew I needed a plan.  I knew I needed to solidify in my mind what I wanted to accomplish and how I would go about doing it. Here is how I went about it.

First, I had to ask myself what it was I wanted to accomplish, i.e., set goals.  Then I asked myself what gear I needed to accomplish this goal.  Third, how will I go about achieving this goal, in other words, what is the best design of a practical setup considering my gear and limitations and what is the best process for copying the slides and getting them into Lightroom?  Finally, and very important, I asked myself a) do I have the time and b), do I have the wherewithal to complete this project?

Goal:  To digitize selected 35mm slides and negatives (several formats) in an efficient manner resulting in maximum image quality with the equipment I own.

Time Frame:  Summer months of 2019.

Gear:  After researching this, I came to the conclusion that I wanted a mirrorless camera  of 24mp or more (at least 6000 x 4000 pixels), a top quality macro lens, a slide/negative copying device to attach to the camera/lens and a diffuse daylight balanced light source to illuminate the slides and negatives.

Process Design:  I wanted to create a little area in my office where I could set up my camera, lens, light source, etc. and not have to take it down every day.  That would save a lot of work and reduce the inertia (inertia is a huge detriment to working on projects for me) generated in making up excuses as to why not copy slides due to having to set up the gear every day.  

I own a sturdy copy stand.  I've used it for copy work in the past.  I thought about using that, as that makes sense, but then I thought it would be much better to have my camera/lens/Nikon ES-2 attachment on a tripod near eye level (while seated in my office chair) pointed horizontally or almost horizontally while the light source is vertical.  That allows me to sit comfortably and look forward and not have to stand and bend over a camera pointed straight down while attached to a copy stand.  That is a much more comfortable position and my back and neck won't be bent over for hours at a time.  A horizontal setup rather than a vertical setup is better, I believe.

As for light source, I had three thoughts.  I could use a small flash unit, a small diffuse LED light panel or I could employ my old Bretford Acculight 24 inch daylight balanced light box I used from my film days.  I've had that light box about 30 years and I've been tempted to sell it many times, but instead I've stored it for potential use.  The Acculight has 2 daylight balanced fluorescent bulbs that sit far behind a piece of diffusing neutral white Plexiglas® (I'm guessing what it is).  

My decision was to utilize the light box.  I would need to see if it still worked and if the bulbs had shifted in color.  If it didn't work, I would then resort to either buying a flash or a small diffuse daylight balanced LED light panel.  I would probably get more use out of the flash in the future than the LED panel, however.  Luckily, in my preliminary tests, the Acculight seems to be working just fine.

Another early test copy.  This is from a Kodachrome made in 1979. (click to enlarge)
In the original copy, the little bit of sky visible was more cyan.  Being that I don't like cyan skies, I changed the hue a bit
during editing.  (click to enlarge)

Another piece to this project would be a small table next to my chair on which I could place boxes of slides and slide pages so I had easy access to them.  My plan is to open one box at a time (or pull out one page of slides), remove all of the slides, place them on the table and then pick each up separately to examine it.  At that time, I would decide as to whether or not any particular slide was copied.  That decision would primarily be based upon content, exposure and sharpness of the slide.  For that I would use my old, tried and true, Peak 8X Loupe that I've used for as long as I can remember.  Perfect for looking at slides.  If the slide is to be copied, I would then clean it with compressed air and a small brush.  After the box/page of slides are copied, they are then placed back into their original box or page. 

With the light source vertical in front of me (as I would sit and copy slides) it will be easy to pick the slide up, hold it up in front of the light table, examine it through the loupe and make an instant decision.  That, also, will preclude me having to repeatedly bend over a light source to examine each slide.  Another back and neck saver.  The Nikon attachment holds two slides at a time.  After the two slides are copied, I would return them to their box or page and pick up the next two.  All this is pretty efficient, which is part of my goal.

After much thought, I think I've designed a system that will allow me to copy these slides in an efficient manner as well as achieve the highest image quality attainable with the gear I'll use—and save my back and neck!

After logically thinking through and designing a satisfactory setup, I knew I needed to test the system to develop a process that would result in maximum quality and minimize some of the editing in Lightroom.  That is the next step.  I'll highlight what tests I felt I needed to conduct in my next post.

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Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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