How do you digitize your negative film? There are a lot of measures already as you know. After several trials with different ways, finally I selected retro tool, Leitz BEOON 16511. I think it’s cool solution of digitizing for Leica & Leitz film camera enthusiasts.
Leitz ( Leica ) BEOON 16511 Copy Stand
Why I’d like to get BEOON 16511 now? The key driving force is the new 135 film of Leica named MONOPAN 50. In case of traditional wet processing, I’m utilizing Focomat Ic, IIc and Valoy II at my home darkroom. So I can enjoying the printing from film to enlarging process with Leitz and Leica products as much as possible. Therefore I also would like to realize the digitization of MONOPAN 50 and other B&W negative films with Leitz’s and Leica’s equipment.
Parts set
Originally BEOON 16511 is the tool for copy of negative film with Leica or Leitz analogue camera. But this tool is also very nice to digitize the film with Leica M digital camera. In addition, the medium format film like 6X6 taken with Hasselblad, Rolleiflex and other analogue cameras can be digitized using larger size mask.
Beautility
BEOON 16511 is filled with functional beauty. Compact and precise to catch the image. The aspect is also nice. The surface of this tool has hammer tone coating, which is same as the final model version of Focomat Ic and IIc. It is also applied for each size of mask. But in case of mask for 135 film of my purchased product, another one more type is attached. Another one has the black crepe like aspect. This type of aspect is more better to avoid unnecessary reflection of light?
Set M digital camera
The top part of this tool has L type screw mount. But it’s possible to put Leica M digital camera by way of the L-M adapter.
In my case, put Leica M11 Monochrom. Taking advantage of bayonet structure of M mount, the fixation on the top portion is very good. But if the relatively heavy mirror less single focal camera of some other camera makers is attached, using the alternative mount adapter, I think the balance might be not so nice. It might lead some problem to keep the horizontal position, Thanks to the lighter weight of M11 Monochrom, I’m not afraid of anything.
on the top
Just at the last weekend, I tried the newest Leica M EV1. This new model has also lighter weight as Leica M digital. So in addition to the usual shooting, it must be also excellent for digitizing of Leica MONOPAN 50 and other models.
Adjust the height
For each film size, the height of camera must be adjusted. It is done with milled brace.
Extension ring
We have the different extension ring, A, B, C and D ring. This ring work like as zooming function. When we set 50mm single focal lens, the ring combination must be selected. I use modern 50mm ASPH lens for the digitizing. But I also tried to use Focotar 60mm lens, which is originally for Focomat IIc enlarger. For this lens, I can’t find out the suitable combination for the digitizing of 135 film. Fortunately I noticed that the combination of Fit Tube 17675 X for Focotar lens and extension rings of BEOON 16511.
Extension ring + Fit Tube 17675 X
Attach lens
If you select traditional Leitz lens with L mount, it is possible to attached with extension ring directly. In case of M mount lens, L-M mount adaptor should be attached between extension ring and M mount lens.
Magnifier
You can find out black color cylindrical one in the above photo of parts list. It is magnifier to check focus adjustment, watching the film image though lens. BEOON is originally for copy of film with Leica M2, M3 or other film camera of Leitz or Leica. Analogue camera doesn’t have LCD screen of LVF. So it is impossible to implement focus adjustment. So I thought this magnifier is not necessary in case of the digitizing of film. Because we can check the exactness of focus adjustment with LCD screen on back side of Leica M digital camera.
So actually I didn’t utilize the magnifier. I adjusted the focus with LCD screen. However after all I noticed that it was big mistake. As you know, Leica M digital camera doesn’t have auto sensor cleaning function. And if it is the 1st time to use BEOON 16511 for digitizing, you must try the various combinations of extension ring A, B, C and D. This means that the free opening time of image sensor is longer. It is more and more risk that many of dust attach on image sensor of Leica M digital camera.
To avoid the dust attachment on sensor surface, it is better to use magnifier at first to decide extension ring combination for your own 50mm lens ( or other lens as I tried Focotar 60mm) to digitize 135 film or 120 film. Then finally put Leica Digital M camera on the top of the tool in shorter time to avoid dust attachment.
Yes, the image sensor of my Leica M11 Monochrom got a lot of dust particles on image sensor since I didn’t use the magnifier. But fortunately my Leica M11 Monochrom was still in effective period of warranty for the 1st free cleaning service of image sensor by Leica Japan. Just two days
Utilize FOTOS
In case of Leica M Digital camera, it is possible to utilize Fotos application to adjust the focus with larger screen. I use Fotos with iPad. Since I pad has the larger screen size, it is much easier to adjust the focus on film surface.
Example of digitization
Here is the example of digitization.
+ MONOPAN 50
Digitize with BEOON 16511 + Leica M11 Monochrom
+ Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm
