Super 8 Camera Digital Conversion (using Raspberry Pi)
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- Опубликовано: 21 сен 2021
- This video shows how to build a Super 8 digital cartridge that is able to revive almost any of the old Super 8mm cameras.
Source code: gist.github.com/befinitiv/fd4...
CAD model: cad.onshape.com/documents/64a...
(Click on "Part Studio 1" on the bottom tabs; Account has to be created to copy, modify and download the design)
Circuit: White LED with 1k resistor to 5V, Photoresistor with 10k resistor in series to 5V, GPIO18 connected to joint of photoresistor and 10k resistor.
Parts list (Amazon affiliate links):
* Camera: amzn.to/3u5obks
* Raspberry PI Zero W 
Наука
The way the video's white balance changes so drastically when blooming from light changes is what really sells it to me.
The shakiness, low frame rate and some of the shadow effect is a result of the mechanical shutter in the camera. This is required on film cameras to ensure that each frame/cell of the film is exposed one at a time, instead of streaking the film in front of the image projected by the lens/prism assembly.
*The shakiness, low frame rate and some of the shadow effect is the result of a LOW QUALITY mechanical shutter in the camera. Professional 35mm film cameras obviously have mechanical shutters too.
@@kconrad5893 As do professional 16mm cameras. There were many consumer grade 8mm cameras that had better shutter mechanisms than this one.
Phenomenal! I have been avoiding buying a 3D printer, but now I have no excuse. Great work! This is a profound contribution to the Super 8 community.
Nice work. If Kodak would have manufactured a cartridge like the one you developed, I feel that many of us who still have our super 8 cameras would be in heaven. I'd pay $400 for a cartridge like this one. Thanks again for your effort in doing this.
I'd buy that for 500
Agreed!
Yeah, unfortunately Kodak decided to focus on the consumer point n’ shoot market and got away from professional cameras and movie cameras. So when smartphones came along with their included cameras, Kodak nearly went bankrupt.
Well done. The crappy 8mm footage is beautiful and nostalgic it's so realistic and I love it. The only thing missing is the sound of the projector at the back.
This is really nice work. I would say that there is definitely a market for this among the "bespoke" crowd, especially if it had sound. It's very nice that you shared your work! I'm not even a film fanatic, but I'm old enough to remember watching movie playback from the developed film cartridges, and the film quality hits me right in the nostalgia. It's a nice change from the sterile quality of existing cameras, even with the lens aberrations. You get the feel of Super 8 film, and the convenience of SD cards. Hard to beat, if you ask me.
Great technique! I am one of the people who use 8mm cameras in Japan. This video has become a hot topic in Japan as well. I definitely want to see a video of making this device from scratch. With love from Japan.
Would you ever been willing to make a tutorial on how to build this?
I can’t wait for the tutorial! Me and my friends are really into film cameras and I’m an engineering student with a ton of free time.
Hey have you been playing around with this at all?
This is such a cool project!
I love how the footage looks like.
Thanks a lot for making this open source.
Fantastic project! Wish I had the skills to pull off something like this. Thank you for making it, and sharing your code and CAD file.
This is great! I always wanted to re-purpose a 8mm camera, with out modification. Fantastic job.
Hopefully the full step by step video releases soon! Guess I'll be subbing to stay updated!
Wow this looks SO cool! Looking forward to a tutorial!
it brings back old video quality... it's really classic...you feel the different genre..nice project
Genious! You seem to be the first one who was successfull with that. I've watched 3-4 other vids and all of them had problems with focusing or powering. Your setup looks also quite simple. I watched the video in 1.25 x speed by accident and it gave the super-8 footage some more vintage style (like the videos you know from the 50s maybe).
I think this is awesome. I look forward to trying this. I have an old super8 camera. This looks so much fun. I actually like the vintage look of the footage.
Surprised how much of the Super 8 look these captures actually have. Very well done.
So nice. I have to do it too. But I need a shopping list for all the parts.
And a tutorial video would be great too.
Good job!
The footage looks authentic to me. I like this quite a bit. 👍🏻
8mm movies, not "videos" :) Super 8mm lasted decades, "regular" 8mm went back to the 40s. In it's last throws, one word: Fotomat! I mean, you could get your roll back _in_ _the_ _same_ _week!_ Cheap carts too, unfortunately nothing ever captured the beauty of the Kodak low ASA reversal (Kodachrome).
In the 90s and 2000's, a company in L.A. called "Super-8 Sound" thrived. They cut negative (not reversal) from 35mm film stocks and sold to professionals for commercials, music videos, creative works. I believe they also leased cameras with large mags (not carts) that worked with timecode and double-system sound. Being negative film as well as higher end cameras, the look was much denser with good color balance and saturation, no blow-outs. The grain and resolution were better than the reversal carts, but still obviously (pleasingly) low resolution.
Brilliant RazPi invention. You're right that the emulation you've achieved is uncanny. Good lord. 18fps video would not look like that "out of the box". You mention prism, optics, shake, white balance. Is the shutter in the camera still spinning? Is the rate of capture in any way synced to the shutter? Just wild. I definitely want to make this cartridge. (I've got my share of regular and super 8mm cameras -- to think that digital film could actually capture so much of the characteristics, never would have expected it....) Nice work.
That footage looks Amazing! 🤩
I love just how much it resembles film... I want one.
But I don't have 3d printing, or the Raspberry Pi skills
Sehr interessant! Die Idee wurde in der Vergangenheit schon öfters versucht zu vermarkten, aber aus irgendeinem Grund gab es nie ein fertiges Produkt. Aber ich habe noch nie eine Lösung mit so guten Ergebnis gesehen!
You are sitting on a hella kickstarter success 🤯
This is awesome. I would love to se a detailed video on the build.
This is awesome man! I've been watching these videos with people doing similar. You, however, walk through creating the cartridge. Great work!
I love this to bits. I have a few 8mm cameras, and I would love to do that digital conversion as well for them
WOW!!! That one is new enough to not use a clockwork to drive the film. Cool.
I remember making stop-motion films on older 8mm cameras when I was in High School.
This is so awesome. Thank you!!
This is great! I want to try this with the guts of a GoPro, we'll see how it goes x3
Fantastic! I world love to be able to buty the ready cartridge like that.
Same!!!
Wow! Someone or you should produce these, there'd be a market for sure. Footage looks quite close to Mini DV/VHS, I think
This is so friggin awesome!!! This truly what I would call “digital film”.
To me, the simple solution to making digital look like film boils down to one thing-a mechanic shutter. Why people don’t think about that blows my mind. Think about what film is. Individual images capture frame by frame. It’s not that difficult. The biggest thing that makes film look like film is the physical and mechanical way it’s recorded.
I wonder though, Is the frame rate of this footage perhaps a bit slower that the real thing? I can’t tell.
Great work. I want One!!!!
Wow what a fascinating project with such lovely results, especially that the camera remains mostly in tact! After watching the video and reading all of the comments, I've spent some time learning about Raspberry Pi and have ordered all of the parts I think I will need. A friend is 3d printing the housing, but I have disassembled an old Ektachrome Super 8 cartridge to use as a chassis for now. I also like the idea of employing the pressure plate as a mounting point for the sensor, perhaps even leaving it spring loaded. I have several super 8 cameras, but the one I am working with is a Bell&Howell T20XL with fixed focus and a 10-20mm zoom. Very simple and just right for this. HOWEVER, I do not want to permanently damage the shutter as this is still a functioning camera I still like to use with film so I'm going to try it with the shutter first. If this goes well, I will purchase a camera specifically to remove the shutter and have as a dedicated conversion. My goal with all of this is to digitize a Fujica Single-8 P1, which is a virtually obsolete format, but the camera itself was a gift and is such a beautiful object that I would love to put to use in this way. I've ordered a long expired Single-8 cartridge to see if it could possibly contain all of these components as neatly as a Super-8 cartridge. One of the things I love about this build is the clever motion sensor triggered by the motor movement to begin recording. Such an elegant solution! Well done @befinitiv !!!
Thanks a lot and I wish you all the best for your rebuild! Very nice to hear that you are motivated to redo/improve this digital cartridge!
@@kassenbon Eventually I would like to create a self-contained cartridge inspired by your prototype but with a way to adjust ISO/gain and color temp on the cartridge all hidden beneath the door. I very much enjoy NOT having a monitor and just using the optical finder in the spirit of Super 8 so that you see what you got later.
Presumably if you just upped the frame rate of the capture that would solve the shutter sync issue?
If you can make a working one would you consider making another & selling??
Hi! great solution. I developed the 'Digital Super8 Cartridge' and it is somewhat more complex, using synchronized frame capturing and global reset release. Your solution provides a cheaper solution and easier for people to self-build. I did all my software coding in C++ and I use an industry grade subminiature camera which is quite expensive but very programmable. Using OpenCV libraries to handle the 12 bit RAW images.
Would you be willing to chat about this?
@@nickkalisz8178 Sure! what is it you want to talk about? You can find me on FB and PM me.
How much would buying one from you cost??
@@ryan_stovall_ Hi! So far it’s not for sale and there are only two prototypes. Not perfect because you have to remove the film gate from your camera. Once I perfect it (if ever) it would go for at least €999,- because of the expensive subminiature camera (12 bit resolution and global reset release shutter).
This man has been trusted by the power of the Retro Gods!
Could you make a tutorial to build yours?
Why would he do that? This could be a million dollar idea.
@@totallyfrozen a million dollars isn't very much money... you could maybe buy a small starter home in a city for that.
If you searxh the internet you'll find a build.
Bro he literally posted the source code and CAD design of the thing in the description.
@@spacemansabsits a common saying 😂 not a literal sentence
Ur the best! As always
Great one, lad. I knew you did very well. That is something great making these kinds of videos, including long ones with a 128 to 256 GB storage card. Hope you might try a new plug in comversion making long videos from this camera.
Damn I'd love to make one of those for a vintage super 8 camera that I have (it doesn't even use batteries, so imagine how old it is) and to use my grandpa's camera again. I'll definitely try to do it, thanks for everything!!!
Very nice! 👌🏼
To bring this project to the next level you could build in a switch to manually set white balance to avoid the wb shift.
To avoid the jello/rolling shutter you could use a pi cam with a global shutter. Then it would be perfect 😊
Nice idea 👍
Has anyone been able to re-create this with success? Also, thank you befinitiv. This is amazing. Would love to see a tutorial! :)
Coole Sache...aber auch cool, dass du in Mölln gefilmt hast.
LG
image stabilization and your set. onboard recording or usb connection. very nice concept.
Very nice project! I am very intersted in building this myself, but Im still a bit lost on what parts are needed. When will you be able to post a tutorial or at least a full part list?
This is sooo cool!! I absolutely love the vintage look, can you please share the DIY parts list? And how to build one? Would love to try it out and integrate it into my videos!
Just saw you had it all in your video description! Bless you!
It looks very decent , indeed.
Rather interesting!
Congrats on this. Wonderful project. I agree that it looks very similar to some Super 8 with auto aperture control. Something I wonder with the power of the latest Pi is whether higher quality camera sensors may become available - and in different sizes. This would greatly elevate the kind of DIY camera projects a person could do. For example, you don't say exactly how big the sensor is, but it looks like it would cover the whole super 8 frame.
How wonderful if there was a sensor for the Pi that could cover Super16 for cameras like the Bolex (although the modifications may be considerably more complex given that they didn't operate on cartridges - meaning there's like little space for the sensor behind the film gate). And when I say higher quality sensors... the readout speed on this sensor is comparitively slow for such a small sensor compared to consumer cameras. So there's a lot of wobble (rolling-shutter) which you wouldn't see on Super 8 film.
Really nice! Can we do this conversion to any old camera? Like the ones 16mm film?
For what it's worth, I have many rolls of Super 8 film that I shot in the 1990s with a GOOD camera, and I would not even consider exchanging them for 1990s video, which looks terrible today. However, this is a cool project!
That's unbelievable.!
Thanks for this! I'm curious how one of the more pro Canon Super 8 would fare having better lenses. Maybe it would stoll capture the beauty of 8mm but more of a higher end film look?
I have a new in box 8mm here somewhere... tearing up the house!
LOVE this! Hey, I know this is an older project, but I would love to use my Grandpa's old camera again. Do you sell these Digital Super 8 Cartridges that I can put my own Raspberry Pi and Camera into? Thanks.
This is awesome! Any chance of a build video?
Thank you for sharing Befinitiv, really cool project. I went out and found the same camera on ebay to do the same. Do you think you will end up doing a more in depth video on how to do it? Still waiting for all my parts to arrive.
Hey, awesome project! What are you using to view the stream on the laptop?
I love your project, thanks a lot for sharing it. I’m looking forward to rebuild it. Are you going to do a detailed video about how to build the device as you did with the 35 mm cartridge?
Thanks :) Yes, I am thinking about doing this. But unfortunately I am quite busy with other things so I cannot make estimations when it will be finished. Best would be to subscribe and hit the bell so that you will be notified.
Thanks, I’ll be following it
@@kassenbon sure as hell I’ll do that 🙂🙂
@@kassenbon Dude that would be great! very cool project. Just brought the same camera on ebay :) :) Thank you for sharing :)
this is brilliant, I'm defiantly gonna try and make my own. I have a few questions though,
1, once you've recorded a video how do you retrieve it from the SD card?
2, what program are you using on your laptop to view the live video feed?
thanks for making this project, it's really inspiring and i can't wait to give it a go.
Thanks :)
I simply download the files via SCP.
To view the live stream I use gstreamer.
@@kassenbon thanks for the info. It’s very helpful.
Hope you have a great day.👍
Would love info on how to do the electronics for this.
New super 8 stock isn’t hard to come across, it’s expensive yeah but it’s very doable and with sharp results using a nice camera.
I’ve been shooting super 8 now about about 6 years, I’m only 22.
hi, there's a list of the component that we need to create it and the circuit?
(battery, motion sensor, usb port... ?)
Great project! Could we have some more information about the build? In particular, how did you modify the Pi camera to expose the sensor? And how did you disable the movie camera’s mechanical shutter? Thanks!
Thanks! For the camera I used an exactor knife to cut away the front plastics. The mechanical shutter depends a lot on the camera model. I my case I could simply bend a thin gear of the shutter so that it disengages from the driving gear. And it also jams the shutter. But this will likely be very different on another camera model.
Do you have any videos showing the build step by step? Or the exact parts list? I really want to do this but have literally no experience messing around with soldering or electronics. It seems like this would be a good first project but having the video would be really nice same goes for your other film camera video. Thx and Great Job! You earned another sub!
Wow that’s a cool project I wonder if an old film cartridge could be reused to house the project as I don’t have a 3d printer. There’s a good selection of cameras just laying around you should market this I think you will be surprised at how many would sell
This is really incredible and fun! I was surprised at the authentic super 8 colour. Did you grade the footage in any way? Or is that all inherent in the glass of the lens? Do you think this would be possible with a Bolex 16mm film camera?
I was also quite surprised. The footage is completely unedited. 16mm would be doable but with twice the crop factor, unfortunately.
16mm film is loaded differently. You would need a larger sensor and a totally different solution for the housing to pull it off. The 8mm cartridge is brilliant for this.
the video has some unexpected soothing vibe.... make digital film for other camera...
I found myself the same camera, 'cause I love how it looks, but now... I only know how to copy people smarter than me, so please, could you shoot a short tutorial of the creation process? Thanks in advance, you're awesome!
I like this 👍
Awesome idea. Which camera model are you using? This one looks pretty good
This one: www.filmkorn.org/super8data/database/cameras_list/cameras_agfa/agfa_microflex_sensor.htm
As far as I see the sensor you are using is having a size of 3.7x2.7mm, while the original Super8 film has 5.8x4mm. That might also magnify some artifact. Ideal would be a more closer match, but we also need to fit in the place. Some details would be nice, e.g. rolling detection. Thanks anyway!
Would you be willing to make a step by step tutorial on how you made this? Also thank you for the open source code !
I would be so interested as well 🙏
Because of the sensor size, is the crop factor from the viewfinder and the recording the same?
Can you maybe make a small list of all the parts, because i dont understand al the parts tou tell in the video.
Hi, did you remove the shutter from the camera? Or how else do you ensure that the videocam exposes exactly when the shutter of the Super8 camera is open? So how do you sync the cmos sensor cam with the Super8 cam?
The shutter wheel is jammed 🤭
Awesome project. Change the thumbnail with consisting both the camera with pi and small part of test footage capture to gain more views.
Before you actually mentioned it, I thought "That footage REALLY looks like 8mm film!" What an awesome way to capture "60s-era" fun video of family and friends without having to fake the effect in post-production!!
I'm wondering if you had to tweak the distance and angle of the Pi sensor to perfectly match the location of the film plane? (Can't tell if that camera was built as fixed-focus.)
Thanks! I am planning to make a "how to" video that explains all the details. Indeed, the camera is fixed focus. Therefore, I stripped the RPI sensor down to the bare chip and this is mounted on an adjustable subcarrier. I adjusted the distance of this carrier using the live stream preview and then fixed it permanently with super glue.
@@kassenbon Brilliant! I applaud all of your efforts to satisfy curiosity AND pioneer ways to bring analog gear back to life. I await the day when I can pop a high-quality digital cartridge device into my old Canon AT-1 SLR.
I tried to make something like this with an ESP32, but the image quality was nowhere near as good as yours. Am looking forward to more details of how you did it? I'm especially interested to hear how you prevented the camera's frame rate (18fps) from interfering with the sensor's framing rate (30fps?)
The RPI camera runs at 18fps. I disengaged the mechanical shutter (it is very easy to do on this camera model) but it would also work without this by setting the frame rate higher (with some minor shadow effects)
@@kassenbon This is amazing and you have motivated me to try recreate it. Would be amazing if we could get a tutorial with all your knowledge and issues you found when building this.
im new to using raspberry pi, I've built a couple retro gaming systems with it, but that's as far as my knowledge goes. With that being said, how to I set up my raspberry pi to record like yours is? I found your source codes but I'm not sure what to do with them.
Great thing!, I recently got such a camera and I was wondering if there are any devices that can replace film, but unfortunately there are not, that's how I came across your video, but I don't know how to do it myself, how to connect the resistor, etc.
the question is whether you want to make another video, how exactly do you connect it, etc
Interesting but no, the resolution of Super 8 was far higher than VHS or Beta Max, you can get better than HD video out of a Super 8 scan, somewhere closer to 1440p when scanned at 4k. What killed Super 8 is that you couldn't see what you shot instantly. Then there was the fact that you had to pay for development. Then you could only record on it once.
In fact, VHS is not film, but magnetic tape, which is still used today for recording data backups for server grade computers. The problems with Super 8 are none of the things you mentioned. The problem with Super 8 especially today is the high cost for development. About 2:30 (two and a half minutes) costs you about $100 USD to get developed and scanned at 2.5k.
There were 24 and even 12 and 48fps options on some Super 8 cameras not just 18fps. It's just that 18fps is the default recording speed for 8mm dating back as far as when 8mm cameras were originally released. Although there are plenty of Super 8 cameras that can record at 24fps and even 12fps (as I said for "time lapse" effects) or 48fps (for motion).
When you shoot at 12fps you would play the footage back at 24fps and when you shot at 48fps you would slow the frame rate back down to 24fps so that you could record motion without the stuttering.
These cameras were quite a lot more advanced than you give them credit for, further to the point, many people still use them today, especially if you want to get the true "look" of cinema film.
Super 8 gives you the closest look to authentic cinema film which is why people use it today even if 16mm will give you much more resolution.
You've also seen plenty of people use these types of cameras, even today, because they work in exactly the same way as a 35mm or even 65 or 70mm camera that Wally Pfister used to record many of the scenes of The Dark Knight in 65mm film.
These cameras work in exactly the same way as a 65mm camera actually, they just come with an "idiot proof" cartridge that can be loaded by anyone, in direct sunlight, without ruining the film inside it, as the film is in a light sealed cartridge.
Super 8 was meant to be the answer to 35mm film for photography, as a cheap and affordable home user format, and it was, right up until the 1970s when VHS became a thing. But, Super 8 is a non-linear format, as it records 8mm photos through the gate... It's called a gate not a window.... and because its a picture based format and not a magnetic based format you can keep recording in better quality every time technology improves.
Then there is the advent of AI upscaling meaning the actual quality of Super 8 film is almost limitless.
This would be a good video, if anything you said was correct. Also you've basically created a Hi8 camera, it's been done before... The look comes from both the shutter, which is still moving in front of the lens... and the glass... which produces its own optics and colours.
Wow, now that's a game changer. Would this work for Super 16 cameras as well?
Can you possibly show me how you make the sensor to trigger the Raspberry Pi please? I really want to make one as well and I'm ordering all the parts.
Hi! Can I ask what kind of voltage converter did you use between the Raspberry and the 18650 battery?
Hey. It was part of the power bank. I just disassembled one of these very cheap single cell power banks.
Would you mind making a tutorial on how to make this? I would love to turn my videocameras into useful equipment again.
Please!
You can use that without a pc outdoor?
Will this also work with a dismantled USB web camera? Strip away the Lens and Case and use only the camera Sensor from the Webcam in the place of the 8mm frame? I ask because i have 4-5 HD webcams that are Not used anymore and already have a Pi left for experiments. So i dont need new parts for this.
In theory yes but it might be difficult to get the sensor close enough to the lens. This was already challenging with the tiny RPI camera.
Good Job. When you get the grain in it its perfect! Is it possible to buy it directly as a complete camera?
Mh, sorry, unfortunately not from me but I published all info so that someone else might build it for you.
Sad thing, cause we based in Germany as well :)
In which region are you located if I may ask?
NRW
Is there any chance you can update the list on where to purchase some of the items?
Weird that the shutter in the camera isn't making any partial frames in the video. I assume the next revision of the digital cartridge will have a cover? A little OLED display visible through the door window would be nice. Dunno what to show on it other than the storage space remaining.
Other cameras that need digital cartridges are the 110 and 126 and the Kodak Disc. For sensor size the Disc should be the easiest. It would need a custom PCB to mount the sensor, memory, other electronics and have space for a couple of coin cells to power it. The 110 and 126 cartridges would have more room for electronics and power but their larger frame size would be an issue for an affordable digital sensor.
Minolta and Pentax made some quite nice 110 SLR cameras and Kodak made a 126 SLR which was compatible with their Retina 35mm lenses, though not all functions of the Retina lenses would work on the 126 SLR. Other 126 SLRs were the Contaflex 126 and the Rolleiflex SL26. There might be other 110 and 126 SLR cameras. Aside from SLR types, there were various other very nice 110 and 126 cameras with automatic film advance/rewind, range finders, electronic flash and more.
What a cool thing! I've been collecting cameras for years, and would love to try this. I'm a little hazy on the parts, though -- does anyone who has attempted this have a more detailed parts list? I don't want to get the wrong stuff.
Hi, can you do a tutorial on how to do it?
You have gained a new follower
Greetings from Spain
Did you have trouble getting the camera sensor to focus? Does AutoFocus need to be disabled? I am using LibraCamera, any help is appreciated.
It is indeed a bit tricky. The card ridge is designed so that the sensor can move back and forth. I used the live preview to find the best focus and then used super glue to fix it in place.
Hey! Cool project! I'm trying to build one. Which optical sensor did you use to detect the motion of the camera motor? Thanks!!! Robert
Hey. Happy to hear :) It is just a simple photo resistor.
Can anyone explain what the point of all this is when it gives video quality worse than a smartphone?
Auto exposure is by the camera, right?
Where can we buy a ready to use one?
I was going to complain that your initial shots were through the window but looking at the later pictures it sure looks a lot like super 8... Have you color graded these to make them look more like super 8? Or is this straight off of the SD card? I have a camera ready to go and a couple more I'd like to try something similar with. One is a cartridge 8 camera with a three lens turret ... I was able to obtain an 8 mm magazine and I'm planning on putting a system like this inside of it.
Yes, what you see in this video comes directly from the SD card. There was zero processing done on them. It is funny, when I look at it I even think I am seeing the typical dark dust particles, which is of course absolutely impossible. I think my mind paints these into the video :)
You find the full plans in the video description.
I've bought a bell and Howell super 8 as well as an Emdecco which is supposed to be a good camera
Hi @befinitiv Did you make another howto video related to this project?
Do I only need the Part Studio 1 for 3d prining? There are also more parts available...