November 21, 2024—I ordered the BlackBox 135 film scanner to digitize about 180 rolls of 35mm slide and negative film for a family photo archive. The choice of the BlackBox 135 was based on a review of its big brother, the BlackBox 120, on PetaPixel. The scanner arrived on time and as advertised.
What’s in the box?
The BlackBox 135 comprises a series of interlocking tubes of different lengths. The tubes sit between a USB-powered light source and the front of your macro lens. You mix and match the tubes until your lens can focus on the light source and produce an image that fills the camera frame. The tubes and base appear to be 3D printed. The supplied light source and negative and slide holders are made by another company.
Using the BlackBox 135 film scanner
I was happy with the results from the BlackBox 135. I used the film scanner with a Nikon D810 and a borrowed Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D. Images were processed with the open source program darktable.
No ambient light leaked into the tubes or on to the film carriers. The tubes and base fit together snugly. The BlackBox 135 was stable with the Nikon DSLR on it, though I would install the scanner in a secure location if there were small children, cats or clumsy people nearby.
Suggested improvements
It would be helpful if you could buy extra film and slide carriers with the scanner. That would let you process more than two slides or one six-frame negative strip at a time.
I’d also add a mark on the tubes (like the dots on lenses and camera bodies) to make it obvious the tubes and base are aligned properly.
But these are minor quibbles. The BlackBox 135 was easy to use and did what I wanted. And it helped me recover hundreds of happy memories.
Christopher Dillon is a Hong Kong–based writer, photographer and entrepreneur.
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