Which medium format holder for Nikon CS 9000?

[willscarlett]

<p>I was wondering which is the right glass carrier for 120 film on the Nikon Super Coolscan 900 - the FH-869GR 120/220 Rotating Film Holder or the FH-869G 120/220 Strip Film Holder with Glass?<br>

<br /> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/218837-REG/Nikon_9247_FH_869GR_120_220_Rotating_Film.html<br>

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/218836-REG/Nikon_9241_FH_869G_120_220_Strip_Film.html</p>

[Ed_Ingold]

<p>The non-rotating holder is the best choice for general use. You can scan up to 4 frames of 645, 3 of 6x6 and 2 of 6x7 or 6x9. Use of one of the masks (provided) is optional.</p>

<p>The rotating holder is primarily intended for X-Pan (24x63mm) and microscope slides, and only allows one frame at a time. The rotating feature allows fine adjustments of alignment, which is important for long, narrow images. There is a mask for each size of film, and it is mandatory to use it (the scanner reads a code on the mask).</p>

<p>Alignment can be difficult in the non-rotating holder - the film tends to slip a little bit due to static and air flow when you close the holder. Here's the trick. There is enough space between the glass plates for the film to move. I tap the holder to center the film and to align the first frame and edges.</p>

<p>Here's another hint. Use photo finishing gloves! Fingerprints are very hard to remove from anti-Newton glass (upper) and anti-reflecting glass (lower). This will also protect your negatives. Medium format film requires a lot more handling and touching than 35mm.</p>

[nealcurrie]

<p>JP, I bought two sheets of glass from focal point that I put on the standard holder, and I've had excellent results for a couple hundred dollars in savings.</p>

[willscarlett]

<p>Thanks for the advice, guys! Neal, what size glass did you buy?</p>

[nealcurrie]

<p>I don't actually remember, as the website has the info on it.<br>

http://www.fpointinc.com/glass.htm for the main page, or https://linux19.domainnameservers.net/~fpoint5/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=486983.16436*Kp12s8&xm=on&product=SCANNER_GLASS will take you straight to the page I bought my glass from. I think the standard holder is the FH-869S, which is one of the options when you buy the glass.<br>

In order to get the glass working on the holder, you need to remove the closeable clasps on the sides of where the negatives goes. I didn't find it very hard to do. I'm getting corner to corner sharpness on every scan, but it does introduce more dust/hair that needs to be fixed in photoshop. You'll need to regularly blow dust off all 4 sides of the glass in addition to the negatives, but it's worth it IMO. I can send you a pic of what I did if you want.</p>

[willscarlett]

<p>Sure, send me a pic. That would be great... thanks!</p>

[mike pirie]

<p>Does anyone have the "mask-codes" that could be used to fool the scanner into thinking it has an FH869 fitted when in fact you could use a modified 35mm strip carrier instead for example to scan X-Pan films?<br>

The prospect of spending $400 on a carrier to scan X-Pan film seems crazy to me when you could modify a $50 strip carrier, assuming you had the codes. Of course, film flatness could become an issue without the inter-frame rebate supports.<br>

Regards,<br>

Mike</p>