NEWS: BlackScale Lab Releases BlackBox 120 for Medium Format Movie Scanning After 35mm Success

The BlackBox 120 and 135 scanning methods from BlackScale Lab began with a shoebox and a Pringles can. At the moment, it’s a totally developed compact DSLR/mirrorless digicam scanning system designed by a images fanatic who builds medical imaging methods in the course of the day. The BlackBox 120 is the most recent launch from BlackScale Lab following the success of the BlackBox 135 system for 35mm movie.

The BlackBox 120 is constructed to adapt to most digital cameras with interchangeable lenses by utilizing a intelligent filter ring and top extension design. Aside from a DSLR/mirrorless digicam and lens, the BlackBox 120 equipment consists of every part wanted to begin scanning negatives. It arrives with a base, Rybozen C400 5×4 inch Gentle Panel, top extensions (from 20mm to 150mm), lens mount, step-up filter rings (from 82mm to 37mm), and movie carriers for the assorted codecs of 120 movie (6×9, 6×7, 6×6, 6×4.5).

The sunshine panel is rated at a high-quality CRI-98 with an optical diffuser over the illumination space of 125 x 100mm. Powered over a USB-A cable, the Rybozen gentle can be used independently of the BlackBox 120 system.

Constructed with high-density PLA and ABS supplies, the system is designed for max stability. No levelling or alignment is required because the movie airplane is about as much as be parallel to the lens from the beginning. The step-up rings and top extensions preserve ambient gentle fully out of the system. These extensions are linked with a bayonet lock and if wanted, further extensions will be requested from BlackScale Lab. Utilizing the extensions included, the BlackBox 120 can work with lenses as much as 140mm which can be wanted for scanning 6×9 negatives.

The movie holder is a Canon Movie Information QM3-2695-000 which might maintain 22cm of medium format movie that has been reduce in addition to the 120 format masks. It may possibly maintain as much as 2 6×9, 3 6×7, 3 6×6, or 4 6×4.5 frames at a time. BlackScale Lab says the space between the movie airplane and the diffuser (which is 7.5mm) is designed to have the ability to push any mud particles on the sunshine desk out of focus. Mud is all the time a priority for movie photographers who scan at residence, so it is a significantly welcomed function.

BlackBox 120 is out there from BlackScale Lab’s store (linked right here) for £242.35. The 135 system can also be obtainable for £150.79.

We requested the creator, Dmitry Bozhko, extra concerning the system and his journey into movie images which started in the course of the 2020 pandemic. He was sort sufficient to present us additional perception into his technique of bringing to life the BlackBox scanning methods.

35mmc: How did you get into movie images? Your web site talked about you began in 2020, however what impressed you or led you to shoot movie?

DB: Like many people, I used to be capturing digital for a very long time however all the time gravitated in the direction of movie’s nostalgic look. The hope to recreate movie aesthetics pulled me to the Fuji X system in some unspecified time in the future, however that was not adequate. When COVID gave me a quiet time to ponder the absurdity of constructing digital photographs seem like analogue photographs, I realised that the one technique to get a movie look is to really shoot movie. From there, I dived right into a rabbit gap of outdated cameras, movie shares, and, ultimately, movie scanning. It grew to become a shock for me at the beginning, that there’s a international movie group which is energetic and expands each day.

35mmc: I’m additionally curious concerning the course of you went by means of to create the BlackBox system – how was it like to provide it from begin to end?

DB: My skilled background is in product improvement within the subject of medical imaging. I construct imaging methods for most cancers detection, diagnostics of arteries, and different purposes in medication and pharma. Trying to construct a system for movie scanning was a pure intuition for me. The primary BlackBox was constructed out of a black shoe field and a Pringles can. I scanned with a chief lens and a set of macro rings. The display of my telephone was my gentle desk. Outcomes have been horrible. However feasibility was clear, it confirmed two issues: 1) a movie scanning setup is just not a rocket. It’s only a ‘black field’ with a light-weight supply. Anybody can construct their very own. And a couple of) the system ought to be designed for movie scanning from the start to exclude all pointless changes, alignments, and masking like with a duplicate stand setup.

One of many greatest challenges Dmitry describes within the course of was adapting the system to the assorted forms of cameras and lenses.

“There may be one problem that basically stands out as a result of it took me round 50 prototypes to resolve. All people makes use of their very own lens and digicam for scanning their movie. The lens dictates the space it’s good to place your digicam from the movie airplane. To start with, I requested every purchaser what lens they used and 3D printed BlackBox of a selected top for his or her setup. But it surely didn’t work effectively. I used to be typically miscalculating the working distance of the lens and the system didn’t work correctly.” – Dmitry Bozhko, BlackScale Lab

He solved this with the stackable top extension rings which permit customers to acquire a variation of distances between the lens and the movie damaging airplane.

“It was a problem to search out a great way to attach the peak extension rings in a simple however dependable approach. I designed a connection much like a lens bayonet. You merely place one ring on prime of one other and rotate 10-15 levels clockwise to lock it in place. Such connections are tough to 3D print. It took many iterations to get good tolerances and to make them really feel proper.” – Dmitry Bozhko, BlackScale Lab

Apart from the design problem, Dmitry additionally mentions the concern of critique when initially releasing the product to the general public.

“What if I missed one thing and the system is not going to work when individuals purchase it? Really, that’s what occurred at first, once I miscalculated the working distances. I’m very grateful that individuals gave their suggestions and allowed me to repair my errors. Over the past 12 months the design of BlackBox has advanced far past what I may do myself.” – Dmitry Bozhko, BlackScale Lab

I requested what the longer term holds for BlackScale Lab. Dmitry tells us he’s at the moment centered on having fun with the interactions with BlackScale Lab clients and connecting with like-minded movie lovers.

“We focus on tools, strategies, movie shares. I need to preserve linked with the group and folks utilizing BlackBox. This implies I can’t develop the machine portfolio of BlackScale Lab an excessive amount of. It should stay a small and cosy enterprise – as reverse to mass manufacturing as doable.” – Dmitry Bozhko, BlackScale Lab

To seek out extra details about BlackScale Lab, head over to the web site linked right here or observe the Instagram account for updates right here.