The great irony of the resurgence of film is that, ultimately, the way we share the majority of our work is via digital – so at some stage, you will probably want to digitalise your negatives.
Around this time last year Capture ran an article about the low-budget ($119) Lomo film holder, which admittedly, I ended up purchasing. Since then I've been enjoying copying negatives and transparencies from my film shooting days.
The Lomo system is basically a small lightbox which backlights your film within a special film holder. You then have to find some way to mount your camera with a macro lens over the lightbox. The Lomo setup doesn't include a camera holder – you have to use a tripod, or purchase an old-school copy-stand to hold the camera – especially as exposures are typically as slow as 1/2s, f/8 at 100 iso.
This system is definitely faster, with better results than a traditional off-the-shelf 'flat-bed' film scanner – though there is still a far more efficient way of doing this via another, far more expensive product by the German company Filmomat.
The Filmomat 135 Autocarrier
The Filmomat 135 Autocarrier is a professional-grade, motorised film scanning system designed to automate the digitisation of 35mm negatives and slides using a digital camera.
This 'camera scanning' rig features an intelligent sensor that automatically detects and aligns each frame with pinpoint accuracy, allowing for a highly efficient workflow that can scan a full roll of film in approximately 12 seconds at speeds of up to three frames per second.
It includes an integrated 5000K high-CRI LED light source for consistent colour reproduction and a specialised BOBACH pressure mask to ensure the film remains perfectly flat, providing the edge-to-edge sharpness required for high-resolution digital work.
When used with an IR-ready camera and the optional SmartConvert software, the system also supports automated infrared dust removal, effectively bringing the speed and precision of a commercial lab scanner to a desktop environment.
To give you an idea what commercial professional film scans cost, they can range from $5 to $35 per scan – depending on the equipment used, and whether it is a finalised de-dusted image.
At over $2,500 AUD, the 135 Autocarrier is certainly not a low-budget solution to the problem of film digitisation. When you add the Camera Stand Pro at approximately $1,800 – not to mention the cost of a high-end camera and macro lens – you are looking at a very sizeable investment indeed.
However, if you have a massive archive of film waiting to be scanned, the value proposition begins to shift. For someone who has hundreds, if not thousands of film images, and also prioritises speed and precision, this system is more than just a luxury; it is a professional tool that transforms a tedious chore into a streamlined, high-speed workflow.
The 135 Autocarrier features:
- Impressive speed of up to 3fps (frame per second). Speed is continuously adjustable down to around 0.8fps.
- Custom frame sensor, which detects and positions each frame with pinpoint accuracy.
- BOBACH full-frame pressure mask for absolute flatness and optimal sharpness.
- Automatic camera trigger via 3-pin 3.5mm jack connector.
- Twenty full-spectrum LEDs (CRI > 95, 5000K) for homogeneous illumination and high colour accuracy.
- 3+1 modes: Auto, Manual, Semi (Semi-Manual and Semi-Auto).
- Beautifully designed control panel with exceptional haptic feedback.
- Compatible with uncut film and precut strips as short as 3 frames.
For those shooting on medium format, there is also a 120 roll film version called the 120 Autocarrier – Automatic 120 scanning system.
You can find out more information at the 135 Autocarrier website.