Makeshift Telecine using D-SLR

[kinkersnick]

Hello,

I'm just starting to get into Super8 filming, and being trained in Final Cut Pro, I'm looking into different ways of digitising the film into my computer other than paying a lot of money for the professional services available.
I've looked at quite a few possibilities, most of which involve some fairly archaic constructions, so I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried just using a projector to throw the image up on a white screen and photographing each frame with a reasonably good D-SLR? I have the 10 megapixel Nikon D80, which seems to me would provide enough quality. I know there could be a tiny problem of the difference in angle between projector and camera, but I can't see it being a massive difference if positioned right.
Anyone see anything wrong with this idea?
Also, can anyone recommend a projector as I know nothing about them - at least what kind of features I should look for? Maybe which makes to look for or avoid?
Thanks for any help!

Steve

[MoonstruckProductions]

Sorry to say but it won't work. Multiple people have tried. Do a search on this forum for your ideas. There have been half a dozen new posts in the last few months.

-Scott

[pinetar]

I would like to think that a mini firewire dv camera at the projector lens would work or rigged at the rear for that matter.

[MoonstruckProductions]

I would like to think that a mini firewire dv camera at the projector lens would work or rigged at the rear for that matter.

yes, that will work. DSLR's will not. Anything with a shutter will wear out and break.

-Scott

[fogo]

Hi Steve, welcome to the forum. To be fair to both you and the other posters, I dont think its right to say that such a system will not work. Using a digital camera with suitable pixel count and bit depth is a possible solution (tho shooting film directly, as when it is 'static' in the projector gate, and not off the wall, is likely to yield better results). But just because this is ONLY a super8 forum don't fall into the trap of thinking that there arent some members who have spent YEARS investigating how to try and do the DIY telecine thing practically and efficiently, in a cost effective way that produces results comparable to, and if not in certain cases, exceeding, the product produced by the accepted industry 'standards' (if indeed, such a thing exists in this time of HD infused confusion). The much touted argument against using a DSLR is the lifespan of the shutter, when this is set against the sheer number of frames that even a single cartridge of super8 contains. Some argue that shutter performance will be impaired at less than 200,000 frames....and believe me it may well take this many just to set up and prove your system....
Having said all of this, if this is your way into the diy digitising community then why not give it a go....read what others have experimented with and construct a system and report back.
For what its worth, most of the guys who are serious about this work are now experimenting with firewire machine vision type cameras to collect hi-res images straight off the film gate using a high quality lens...
Others gain excellent results using one of the Moviestuff or Tobin units advertised on the homepage...
Let us know how you get on, homebrew rules!
Ade

[themagickite]

another issue is that the exposure of each frame can vary slightly, so when you watch the movie back it kinda pulses (or at least so i hear)
apparently this has something to do with the aperture, and can be remedied by using an all manual lens or by tricking the camera by obstructing the contacts between lens and camera.

how bout using some of the digital still cameras that don't use a real shutter, digital compact cameras or whatever they are called. but they'd probably have that same aperture problem with no remedy right?

[Mitch Perkins]

I'm looking into different ways of digitising the film into my computer other than paying a lot of money for the professional services available.

About $10.00 per 50' roll [3600 frames] at just about any facility here in T.O. Canada [excluding the ones using ranks etc] will yield better results than shooting off the wall, and of course the cost goes down with increased volume of footage.

Mitch

[BK]

Here's an experiment with a Canon A70 digital camera snapping frames directly off a 16mm projector gate on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxC3zHKc7Vc

You wouldn't save yourself an awful lot than paying for a real good quality telecine. Time is money.

Bill

[jaxshooter]

Here's a system like what you're describing.

http://www.jkcamera.com/digital_printer.htm

I would like to hear from people who are using this method.

[VideoFred]

We do not need a DSLR....

Get yourself a 700 Euro machine vision camera with trigger and a decent lens and you will have results like this:

This summer, my garden on E64T, Canon 814 XL-S:







In 720x756, I can capture at 20fps without missing a single frame.
In 1024x768, I can capture at 10fps.
I have full control over white balance, shutter speed etc...
Nothing automatic.. everything manual like it should be for telecine.

Here's an original 1024x768 frame:
http://users.pandora.be/ho-slotcars/Lin ... 4T_007.bmp

With some minor corrections in post, it looks very fine....

Fred.

[AxisCat]

I agree you should give it a go. I am embarking on the same project and have found a dslr which might be better than most. It is a kodak model based on a Nikon F5 body which has a true mirror lockup. And I have a backup shutter incase it fails. I will post back as the project progresses.