Using a coolscan to scan 4 x 5 film has tempted me for a couple years.

Recently, I built a scanner system using a DSLR as the digitizing device. As part of that, I studied the Nikon Coolscan system. Today, I made my first modification to a Coolscan film holder. In concept this should work. But, do I put this modified, kludged holder into my Coolscan? What if it grinds all to a halt? Oh well, courage and such ,,,,

Igor, It Works

Another hour, and it works. Meaning, it fits. It scans. Two tiffs later, and time to align them. The actual scan opening, after mods is 2.35″. Since a 4×5, in the short dimension is about 3.93″ there is an overlap, that should make it easy for alignment software to correct and merge the two scans.

Igor, You Idiot.

We need a new brain! The damned thing doesn’t work! The film will not fit inside the track within the Coolscan. This means DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME. The film will hit guides within the Coolscan. Careful measurement would have saved me the “head slap” and $54 of this experiment. But careful measurement might have meant I wouldn’t have had as much excitement. It may be possible to adjust the holder, however, I think the scan coverage wouldn’t be enough to cover the film and keep focus across the plane.

If only Nikon had made the scanner about 1/4 inch wider, but they didn’t.