5D Mark II used as 8mm Projector CMOS Pickup

James Miller · July 4th, 2009, 11:25 AM

The wonderful Kodachrome isn't great seeing the grains. Yes the sharpness does drift off, I'll have do do some calculations on a lens and find a more suitable alternative.

I do still like the idea of projecting onto the sensor so will find something that works.

Been playing with projector with the LED light. If I get the led to pulse at: 1/ matched frame to the speed of the film 18fps or 2/ 30fps to match the camera I could take away the projectors shutters. I'd have to put in a brushless motor and an optical sensor for a trigger. With 555 chips it should be possible.

Dave Contreras · July 6th, 2009, 01:56 PM

This is great info. I have several Super 8 cameras as well as 16mm cameras that I plan on dusting off soon.

Quick question, you're projecting the film right onto the sensor right? So the camera has no lens? Do you put the camera in mirror lock up mode?

Tom Hardwick · July 7th, 2009, 01:14 AM

If it's not in mirror lockup mode, all the light goes into the pentaprism.

Years ago I used my Canon EF (lensless, but not in mirror lockup mode of course) to copy frames of Super-8 onto Ektachrome 64 film. The Super 8 was held in a mask in my enlarger's gate, and my Canon was upside down. The tiny Super-8 frame was projected into the EF's mirror box, and the resulting 35 mm slides were far easier to print.

My very high quality 50 mm Nikon enlarging lens had a beautifully flat field and very even coverage, unlike most Super-8 projection lenses.

tom.

Adrian Frearson · July 7th, 2009, 05:34 AM

Good thinking James. I have just got the GH1 and was going to give it a try on some telecine when I've got used to the camera and settings.
The best diy telecines I've seen have been done with a macro lens, like a few others have pointed out earlier. The thing that would concern me most about your first method of going straight to the sensor, is muck getting inside the camera. Projecting old film, no matter how clean you are, usually kicks up some dirt and debris, so having the naked camera that close to it all might cause some damage?
I would have expected the rolling shutter skew to be worse than it was in your transfer, apart from the soft edges it looked very nice indeed.

July 7th, 2009, 05:34 AM	#19
Adrian Frearson Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Haute Savoie ( France ) Posts: 50	Good thinking James. I have just got the GH1 and was going to give it a try on some telecine when I've got used to the camera and settings. The best diy telecines I've seen have been done with a macro lens, like a few others have pointed out earlier. The thing that would concern me most about your first method of going straight to the sensor, is muck getting inside the camera. Projecting old film, no matter how clean you are, usually kicks up some dirt and debris, so having the naked camera that close to it all might cause some damage? I would have expected the rolling shutter skew to be worse than it was in your transfer, apart from the soft edges it looked very nice indeed. __________________ Adrian http://chillfactorfilms.squarespace.com

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July 4th, 2009, 11:25 AM	#16
James Miller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sussex, UK Posts: 233	The wonderful Kodachrome isn't great seeing the grains. Yes the sharpness does drift off, I'll have do do some calculations on a lens and find a more suitable alternative. I do still like the idea of projecting onto the sensor so will find something that works. Been playing with projector with the LED light. If I get the led to pulse at: 1/ matched frame to the speed of the film 18fps or 2/ 30fps to match the camera I could take away the projectors shutters. I'd have to put in a brushless motor and an optical sensor for a trigger. With 555 chips it should be possible.

July 6th, 2009, 01:56 PM	#17
Dave Contreras New Boot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10	This is great info. I have several Super 8 cameras as well as 16mm cameras that I plan on dusting off soon. Quick question, you're projecting the film right onto the sensor right? So the camera has no lens? Do you put the camera in mirror lock up mode?

July 7th, 2009, 01:14 AM	#18
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 3,761	If it's not in mirror lockup mode, all the light goes into the pentaprism. Years ago I used my Canon EF (lensless, but not in mirror lockup mode of course) to copy frames of Super-8 onto Ektachrome 64 film. The Super 8 was held in a mask in my enlarger's gate, and my Canon was upside down. The tiny Super-8 frame was projected into the EF's mirror box, and the resulting 35 mm slides were far easier to print. My very high quality 50 mm Nikon enlarging lens had a beautifully flat field and very even coverage, unlike most Super-8 projection lenses. tom.