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Episode 505: Super 8 Camera Digitizer

In a previous episode, Clem has built a proof of concept to convert a Super 8 film camera into a digital camcorder without any modifications to the camera itself. Many of you asked for a Kit or if a digital drop-in Film Cartridge replacement was possible! Finally, Clem has the chance to revisit the project and uses the New Raspberry PI compute Module 4 and the HQ camera module to build a crazy compact cartridge that is a major stepping stone towards a real product! And during the project, he even had to start his own 3D printer Resin brand just to obtain a material that is up to the task for this project!

Bill of Material:

Product Name Manufacturer Quantity Buy Kit
AMPHENOL ICC FFC / FPC Board Connector, 1 mm, 15 Contacts, Receptacle, FCI 58RF SFW-R series, Surface Mount, Top AMPHENOL ICC 1 Buy Now
MULTICOMP PRO FFC / FPC Cable, 15 Core, 1 mm, Same Sided Contacts, 1.97 ", 50 mm, White 1 Buy Now
HIROSE(HRS) Mezzanine Connector, Receptacle, 0.4 mm, 2 Rows, 100 Contacts, Surface Mount, Phosphor Bronze HIROSE(HRS) 2 Buy Now
Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4, with 4GB RAM, 32GB eMMC, Wireless, BCM2711, ARM Cortex-A72 RPI 1 Buy Now
Additional Parts Manufacturer Quantity
Glas prism 10x10mm
MAYER MAKES Engineering Resin 1kg
 
Attachments:
Super 8_Resources.zip
element14 presents
Super 8 Camera Digitizer

element14 presents  |  About Clem |  Project Videos

  • the resin that made this project possible is now availabe ! https://lectronz.com/products/mayer-makes-engineering-resin-extreme-strength-1kg

  • in reply to DAB

    Thanks DAB, I got some very good looking ideas from community members, a supercap alone might not do the trick but in combination with a better switch mode psu chip it could just be enough.

  • Good job Clem,

     

    I am glad you came back to this project.

     

    Not a big power supply designer, though I thought you might look at the supercapacitor solutions that one of the members came up to power his robot motors.

     

    DAB

  • in reply to mayermakes

    "...What I want to achieve is make the characteristics of the camera usable again for filmmakers  and therefore 1080p is the minimum... "

     

    If you dropped down to 8MP, then you could perhaps use the IMX219 imager found in the V2 camera module. This has the advantage of being able to be unplugged and extended avoiding the need for the additional optics. However it is a smaller 1/4" format imager.

    https://www.arducam.com/product/b0186-arducam-imx219-sensor-extension-cable-raspberry-pi-nvidia-jetson-nano/

     

    A lower resolution 2MP IMX291 imager may have lower light and wider dynamic range performance, which may be of interest to some filmmakers over the resolution. It is a 1/2.8" format imager.

     

    For those interested, Edmund Optics have a load of interesting videos on digital imaging aspects e.g.:

    Lens Types, Resolution, and Sensor Coverage - YouTube

  • in reply to mayermakes

    Good luck getting this to market.  I'd love to have a material that I could print that had mechanical strength.  I'd vote for the High Temp variant if you had to choose which one to work on next.

     

    Then, I'd definitely have to get a resin printer image...

  • in reply to dougw

    Thanks for asking.

    I call it "MAYER MAKES Engineering Resin".

    As seen in the video it is extremely tough and impact resistant.
    In my quick iterations I often use resin prints that I oversize and while trying them out mechanically adjusting them to fit (by milling turning or carving), once they fit I get measurements and adjust the cad model.
    While I could make fits and shapes perfectly with standard Resin , they would not hold up to actual use as mechanical parts or cases. I usually had to make them with PETG on my Filament Printers.
    On this project PETG was quickly ruled out as it was not accurate enough and stable to allow for the tight tolerances and forces involved (resin got cracked by the internal clamping mechanism of my camera)

    So I used my contacts into my old Job as dev at a 3D printing material company to see ,if it was possible to develop a resin that would fit my needs.
    And after some iterations the outcome was better than expected.
    Very impact resistant and tough.
    once printed it is flexible and yellowish.
    After curing in Full UV spectrum (daylight) it is stiffer and gets fully clear transparent (a great bonus for Cases!!)
    Behaves like machining plastic on the lathe and mill.
    I might replace some stuff I previously made in aluminium with resin prints thanks to my Engineering Resin.

    Of course It would not be viable to just make a bit of resin for me, so I basically had to start my own Resin brand and make it accessible to the public, Ordering the raw materials in bigger batches gets the price down to a competitive level and we all can benefit from it.
    Currently a tiny prototyping batch is in use by myself but another possibly improved batch is in the works. Soon I should be able to send out review samples to some experts/influencers.
    I plan on two other varaints for the future :
    very Flexible (for softtouch surfaces and compliant structures)
    High Temperature
    Let's hope I can get this to market
  • in reply to ralphjy

    thanks, Yes heat dissipation is still another concern.

    I suspect I could dissipate enough heat over the cameras chassi/the case if conductive enough.
    Also using a lower power approach might be possible..BUT I really wnat to get the best possible picture and the most compact solution I found so far is the one showen here.
    of course if we get into totally custom engineering there is abetter way, but I'm not quite ready for that yet, and if I can make this happen with "standard" parts. it is easier to produce in the small batches I count on.

     

    I would not want to go below HD 1080p, as filmgrain often gets mistaken for low resolution by consumers. What I want to achieve is make the characteristics of the camera usable again for filmmakers  and therefore 1080p is the minimum.

  • That's an incredible packaging accomplishment - great electromechanical design (plus the optical path).  Makes me want to try a resin printer image.

     

    It seems like trying to get that much power into an unmodified camera is problematic (as you mentioned that you'll need to design something for heat dissipation).  Maybe you need to try a lower power design.  What pixel resolution do you think is needed for Super 8?

  • in reply to beacon_dave

    thats a rabbit hole i JUST Looked brief into..and turned around forever...