Which copy stand?

Thank you for the articles in your 29 August issue on lm. It has inspired me to copy my negatives using a DSLR. I am going to purchase the Essential Film Holder Kit as recommended but I’m not sure about which copy stand to buy. I have tried using a tripod but nd mine cumbersome to use for this purpose.

G. Barton

I use a Kaiser RS1 copy stand, with a pair of Rotolight NEO2 lights attached to Manfrotto clamps and extension arms, to photograph our archive issues. It’s a great set-up and the copy stand is very well made but at £500 it isn’t cheap. There are, however, cheaper options available from under £50, including Kaiser’s own Reprokid at £120. Speed Graphic (www.speedgraphic.co.uk)

and Fotospeed (www. fotospeed.com) both sell a good range. You will need a light source such as the lightbox shown in the picture of our set-up (below) but obviously you won’t need the extension arms or those top lights.

The Kaiser RS1 copy stand with Manfrotto arms, used to copy old issues of AP

Pat Whelan paid just £15 for a Canon EOS 300