Digital Super 8 Cartridge, part 6: What's On Jenny's Bench

[@dewskyroy3445]

HI Jenny , I'm currently in Tenerife and I just saw this wonderful video that filled me with joy,I don't know how much you realize the happiness you give ?I'm already looking forward to the next episode and I'm sure I'm not the only one. cla clap clap clap Bravo Jenny .

[@jennylist]

Thanks so much! Sorry it's not the fastest moving project - I have a day job - but I certainly have more entertainment to come before it's finished.

[@Not-Only-Reaper-Tutorials]

nice idea and proof of concept. For the battery, just as idea: weld wires on it. A connector to the other side will join the PCB. At the same time, you can foreseen a recharger socket, so you don't have to open the cartridge each time.

[@jennylist]

I have been wondering about that, I have access to a spot welder and could do it. I like the idea of a removable battery though, in any camera.

[@Not-Only-Reaper-Tutorials]

@@jennylist you can still remove the battery by using the connector. So the wires are directly welded to the battery. The other wires' heads are going to a female connector. The male connector is on the PCB. You can use pins connectors indeed (striplines) for this purpose

[@nsriv225]

Been following along with keen interest from Rochester, NY! This is amazing process and wish you good luck with integrating the battery and making improvements on focus and highlight peaking. Absolutely agree on approach of using a photodiode trigger, but it may also be possible to have a software trigger to "trim" the video when all black is detected for a time threshold.

[@jennylist]

Thanks! I'm no software wizard, but it's true, getting it to trigger from the camera itself would be the obvious way to do it.

[@monopoly2170]

Just found this channel and this project. Fantastic job so far!

[@jennylist]

Thank you!

[@DylanPackard]

Oh this would be wonderful, I do love my super 8 cam but trying to hand-process is such an incredible pain in the ass and hone scanning is even more so haha! A drop in digital sensor essentially is such a clever idea, excellent work!

[@jennylist]

I'd say it's not a replacement for film as it can't do what film can. But it does allow you to test and set up shots without wasting any film.

[@pvillez]

Amazing work. Really impressive. Thank you so much for disseminating this knowledge

[@jennylist]

Thanks!

[@BradMurray]

Brilliant progress Jenny! Love this series -- I have a soft spot in my heart for 8mm and super-8 as we used to do a lot of stop-motion animation with my friend's cameras when I was 11 or 12.

[@jennylist]

Thanks!

[@spatialtests]

Subscribed. Can't wait to see more. Would love to buy the 3D printed bits once you get things dialed in. It's projects like these that might have me buying a printer myself. Exciting stuff! Imagine once a high res tiny sensor is installed

[@jennylist]

Thanks for that! It's always worth looking for a hackerspace if there's one within reach, it's a good way to get access to a 3D printer.

[@dewexdewex]

You may consider making a parallel pack from vape batteries to get the charged capacity you need. They may have a form factor which would suit your internal volume requirement. There are multiple types, but the common ones are around 11mm dia by around 28mm long and have spot welded tags/wire already on them. These can be had from battery recycling bins in supermarkets.

[@jennylist]

It's a possibility, yes.

[@Ni5ei]

You can still wiggle the 18650 sideways a bit so it looks like there's enough space to put battery contacts directly to the inside of the cartridge.

[@jennylist]

They're surprisingly big. But yes, there's a good chance.

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

I'd highly recommend getting in contact with Hack-a-day, they're always up for publishing articles on projects like yours! Also, you could use a 18650 with a cable and connector instead of using spring contacts. They're just as common as regular 18650s

[@jennylist]

Chech out my bio. I'm one of Hackaday's editorial team :) It's not good form to write up your own stuff.

[@NeillRobinson]

If only kodak had hired you and given you budget and staff to bring this thing to its full potential instead of releasing that $5k piece of crap 8mm camera they tried to foist on us. THIS has actual potential, is actually innovative, THIS is cool.. what Kodak decided to do instead is insult us while embarrassing themselves...

[@jennylist]

I should have been so lucky :) I'm with you on the price of the Kodak camera, it's crazy profiteering. But I think the camera itself isn't so bad, at $400 it would be quite desirable. Just not at 5k.

[@Nightsbringer1]

I'm still interested in this! The progress is really great to see! As far as triggering the recording with the shutter button, your idea of a photodiode is probably the best bet. With your current setup, it'll be impossible to get anything mechanical to interact with the winder. A little photodiode in the extender for the lens would probably be fine! I have a couple of questions though: 1) What happens when you zoom in and out? Will the focus wonder about/would you have to stay at a fixed amount of zoom? 2) where are you getting the large bottles of Club mate in the UK?????

[@jennylist]

If the focus is set up correctly, it will remain in focus throughout the zoom range. I have not got it right, the camera focus wasn't set to the right distance for the Tux when I set the M12 focus. I need to revisit this.

[@jennylist]

As to Club-Mate, www.club-mate.uk/ That one's a personal import from Germany though. No sense not throwing a load in the car on your way back home, is there!

[@Nightsbringer1]

@@jennylist I found club mate UK the other day and ordered a box! I was wondering if there were other suppliers! I live in Berlin now and I dread visiting the family back home without my morning club 😂

[@a_random_-guy]

When you finish this project, do you plan on uploading the 3D files/make a shopping list so other people can follow in your example?

[@jennylist]

Yes. Very much so.

[@R.C19668]

Great advance... , looking forward to see what is coming next!!!

[@jennylist]

Thanks! As I said the next video will be one of my other projects, but watch this space.

[@WorldInThe]

The 18650 doesn't allow much space but what about looking into 14500 cells? They're about the size of a AA battery so you may even be able to just use a simple AA holder if it's small enough. Great videos! I'm looking forward to seeing more!

[@jennylist]

Interesting idea. 18650s are ubiquitous so are the easiest choice, but yes. A 14500 makes far better use of space.

[@jacksonwazny]

Very neat project! I enjoyed the video

[@jennylist]

Thanks!

[@brandonthetinkerer]

so awesome! congrats on all the progress. re: start/stop -- light sensor could be cool. I wonder if a mic/audio sensor of some kind might be something to consider? just a thought.

[@jennylist]

That's an interesting idea, after all the inside of a Super 8 camera can be a bit noisy. It might be set off by external noises some time though. There is the advantage that preset noise level boards are an off the shelf item.

[@spatialtests]

@@jennylist some camera noise in the shot is a must :)

[@jennylist]

@@spatialtests Can't argue there.

[@MrPaultheguitar]

Great Idea if you can pull this off it could be used for practice shots before using actual super 8 film

[@jennylist]

I hope so. I really do not want to supplant real film.

[@TheSecondSomething]

Very excited about your progress on this! Couple thoughts.. Re light metering, what about having it based on hw? A static gain might feel more 'authentic' to the super 8 experience and would make your life a whole lot easier too! Maybe some dip switches? ISO 50-400 fits nicely in 2 bits. I wonder if having a ground glass at the front of the cartridge will resolve the issue of the dynamic focal length? Since the m12 lens will only be focussed on the projected image plane. Take a look at the f0.3 video by Media Division to see this in action in a larger format. Good luck! I'll be keenly following on :)

[@jennylist]

Oddly I was thinking of a lower-tech alternative, namely a set of neutral density filters for the front of the cartridge. But yes, something is required. I've seen some of the large-format projection cameras and they deliver an amazing result. I tried it with a Super8 and had disappointing results though. I think it may just be that there's very little light to play with coming through the lens system compared to the large cameras.

[@jayhannah2011]

Thank you for the video jen do you have time to build any of these

[@jennylist]

It's taking me a while to even finish the project at the moment :) I'll see how it pans out. I'll eventually make all the files available anyway.

[@mikeayres7065]

I just found your channel and this project. Fantastic job so far! Can you explain a little bit about how the raspberry pie is set up? Does it have an operating system or is it something you programmed yourself? I’ve heard of the raspberry pi for years, I just never learned anything about them. This project has sparked my interest in learning more about them. Keep up the good work!

[@jennylist]

Hi, and thanks! The Pi is a fully -featured computer that can run the Linux operating system. This means it's roughly equivalent in power to the desktop PC you had a decade ago, and it's OS is the same as the one running most of the Internet, and can run a desktop similar to Windows or MacOS. I'm just running the Raspberry Pi provided camera software on Linux at the moment. Eventually I may write my own wrapper around it.

[@iKokomo]

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. Unfortunately, I do not have a 3d printer. :(

[@jennylist]

It's still an ongoing project, don't worry! As to selling them, I'm not in the business of selling hardware. However if I get it working to an acceptable level i will publish full project details to build your own.

[@iKokomo]

Thanks! Love the work you are doing. :) @@jennylist

[@mrzyio77]

Jenny, about the focus issue...are you using the same camera. The reason i say this is because every camera manufacturer has a different focal plane....its just a bit tho..that is why there is flex plate on the cassette for this..ideal is 1.90mm from cassette case to film SURFACE. I have been on and of of doing this for about 7 years..even b4 the pi zero...have not tried that yet.i have had the same problem with the lens and lighting..i got the focus down..but its the imager that needs to be filled almost cropping..this cuts out the flickering of light. I have not had the time to post a video on some of my findings and the kodak cartridges that i use. The printer that i have cant print a cassette on the flat side...but can on the edge ..but does not cut it at the top....lol. I am in agreement with you as to NOT mess up the camera and keep it original..that has been my goal for a long time.

[@jennylist]

Yes I am. I'm confident that in this case I've just done a bad job of setting it up.

[@mrzyio77]

@jennylist no Jen, it's called prototype...I have had many messups...its all in the name of frustrating fun! Keep it up! Your doing a fantastic job in my eyes...

[@diegogarciamedina6363]

I hope I will see Digital Super 8 cartridges soon on ebay to sell

[@jennylist]

Sadly if you do, they won't be from me.

[@PascalScheffers]

Nice progress!

[@jennylist]

Thanks! :)

[@NortheasternATV]

Any chance you’ll sell these?

[@jennylist]

It's not why I am making them but there's a remote chance it will happen. What I will do is release all the relevant build files as open source. Then anyone else can make one or improve the design.

[@jannie2500]

Where can I buy thissss😢😢I need one plzzz…can you give me a price?😂

[@jennylist]

Sadly you can't buy one, it's a work in progress project at the moment. I'm not in the business of selling hardware, but if I get it working I'll certainly publish full how to details to make your own.

[@generichouse]

I’m serious when I say this. But if you’re able to figure it out and refine this further. I’d pay you to remake another. I’m so interested in this project but just don’t have the knowledge or means to make one myself. But I can pay for one!

[@jennylist]

Wait and see whether it works first :)

[@generichouse]

@@jennylisttrust me I’ll be watching! 😊

[@markusm.lambers8893]

Have you read my previous comments I wrote? Be aware, that the 'camera' has a own 'AGC' of the amount of light, comming through the lens, and 'driving the stop of the lens, from 1:2 up to 1: 16, by example? And the raspi-camera will do the same? (only with an electronic shutter instead of the mechanical) And also the artefactes of the shutter? This all together made the 'juming up and down pictures' you would have here! Think about a radio and the AGC/ALC inside, when it is mismatched/missanglead, it will sound very distorted and horrible! 73 de Markus - db9pz - (my Ham radio call)

[@jennylist]

Exactly, it's the AGC kicking in that's causing that flashing. In radio terms i need to put a longer time constant on the AGC line.