When it comes to scanning film with a DSLR, the quality of light matters as much as the quality of the lens. I built a custom light box for 4×5 and medium format film, and the Godox MF12 Macro Flash Kit has become the perfect companion for driving even, repeatable illumination across the frame.
Why I Use It for Scanning
The challenge with scanning negatives is eliminating hotspots, color shifts, and uneven exposures. Traditional strobes can be powerful but hard to control. The MF12 solves this by giving me multiple small flash heads that I can position precisely around my light box. Instead of blasting light from a single direction, I can fine-tune the angle and distance of each head to create absolutely consistent coverage.
The other advantage is speed. Unlike continuous lights that can introduce flicker or heat, the MF12 kit gives me a burst of clean light every time I trip the shutter. That keeps my workflow fast and accurate—no waiting around for LEDs to cool down or worrying about exposure inconsistencies from one frame to the next.
The Results
With the MF12, I get scans that are sharp, color-true, and uniform edge to edge. Once dialed in, I don’t have to think about the lighting anymore—it just works, which is exactly what you want when you’re running dozens of negatives through a scanning session.
If you’re building your own scanning setup or looking for a reliable flash solution to pair with an existing rig, the MF12 kit is one of the best tools I’ve found.
