Field of view correction for an image handling device using a non-integral electronic camera

An imaging system for capturing images recorded on a film and transmitting the captured images to a computer, said system comprising:

• an electronic camera having a predetermined field of view for capturing images recorded on the film;
• a film handling mechanism for supporting the film, said film handling mechanism including a film gate having an aperture for exposing an image bearing area of the film to the electronic camera, means for illuminating the film gate, and means for supporting the electronic camera in a position that images the film gate while capturing an area larger than the image bearing area of the film, said supporting means allowing removal of the camera from the film handling mechanism;
• and
• wherein the computer initiates capture of an image of the film gate in the absence of an image bearing area of the film and determines the coordinates of the image bearing area from the image of the illuminated film gate.

A method of incorporating field of view correction into the electronic capture of images from image bearing media that is positioned in a gate, said method comprising the steps of:

• supporting an electronic camera in a position that images the gate while capturing a field of view larger than the image bearing area of the media;
• obtaining an image of the gate in the absence of an image bearing area;
• determining the image bearing area from the image of the gate;
• and
• calculating a field of view correction based on the determined image bearing area.