8mm Forum: Inaugural test footage from a new variation of the Ultrapan8 system called UP8 3.1

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Posted by Nicholas Kovats (Member # 2622) on July 13, 2012, 07:48 AM:

We have diverged the UltraPan8 system into two systems.

The initial prototype using the full 16mm width of Regular film stock with 8mm pulldown shall be referred to as UltraPan8 2.8 which now includes the specific aspect ratio (2.8) as per the nomenclature. The new variation shall be referred to as UltraPan8 3.1 which utilizes the full 16mm width of Double Super 8 film stock with Super 8mm pulldown.

The imaging area has been increased by 39% due to the smaller Super 8mm perforation dimensions relative to UP8 2.8 R8. The UP8 3.1 DS8 frame width is greater than Super 16mm, i.e.

1. UP8 2.8 (Regular 8) AR = 1:2.8, FRAME = 10.52mm x 3.75mm, AREA = 39.45 square mm
2. UP8 3.1 (Double Super 8) AR = 1:3.1, FRAME = 13.00mm x 4.22mm; AREA = 54.86 square mm

The resultant frameline is thinner. Mechanical interplay between transport components such as claw, pressure plate and sprockets are more critical than UP8 2.8.

The base camera conversion relies on the original JK Camera Double Super 8mm conversions of factory Bolex H8 cameras. Bolex H16 optical components and aperture are also used. A new milled gate is part of the conversion as with UP8 2.8 Bolex cameras.

This is a true hybrid system in the sense that no native 16mm wide Double Super 8 projectors are known to exist with the possible exception of special contact printers. This is a genuine "originate on film and finish on digital" camera system.

Relative to the image sequence JPEG deliverables...actual overscan pixel density has been increased to 2,440 x 880 from 2,080 x 780 (UP8 2.8)

Here is the inaugural scanned test footage with Ektachrome 100D reversal film and a Carl Zeiss 10mm f2.0 Tevidon lens, i.e. https://vimeo.com/45620380

The smaller Double Super 8mm perforations are very evident in the overscan verison, i.e. https://vimeo.com/45622450. Compare this to the UP8 2.8 R8 overscan example,i.e. https://vimeo.com/27492482.

Here are some frameshots for your examination, i.e. http://picasaweb.goo...&psc=G&filter=0

Thanks again to Jean-Louis Seguin (bolextech@gmail) for another excellent implementation and to John Gledhill at bitworks.org for another outstanding scan. Processing was by Niagara Custom Labs here in Toronto.

I would like to point out some key concepts. The UltraPan8 system is about maximizing the image area to provide the best small format experience from our admittedly ultrawide bias. Irrespective of film perforation specifications. A native spherical film format that uses the best part of standard 16mm optics (center) and doubles the magazine run time relative to 16mm. We love large screen cinema and I suspect we have minimally provided an excellent extraction process for the classic and smaller Cinemascope aspect ratio of 1:2.4.

As our beloved Super 8 camera crumble to dust...our decision to use plentiful, all metal and robust Bolex cameras is indicative of our longterm intentions.

Regards,

Nicholas Kovats
Toronto, Canada
0

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on July 13, 2012, 09:08 AM:

Hi Nicholas,

Nice shoot. Using double 8mm in one way shoot, it means you are basically shooting 16mm, right?

BTW, is the beginning footage on https://vimeo.com/45620380 taken from Cabbagetown festival? (for other who don't know, this is a big garage sale/yard sale/car boot sale in Toronto).

Did you ever find films related there? I have been twice there with zero result.

BTW your picasa link does not seem work to me.

cheers,

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on July 13, 2012, 09:27 AM:

I don't like extreme aspect ratios. I think 2.35:1 CinemaScope got it about right and is about as wide as you want to go. Once you get beyond about 2.5:1 you start becoming aware of the restriction in the height of the picture. This is particularly true when showing such films in the home.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 13, 2012, 12:30 PM:

Personally, I like ultra widescreen, nuty you have to know the subjects and how to position them to really make it worth while. It reminds me of some Cinemascoipe films that, since they knew they would be doing pan and scan versions, had both characters right in the middle of the frame almost all the time.

Thanks for that footage, love, to be sure, however, I would point out, as someone who has shot super 8 scope home movies, that you can achieve the same aspect ration, (well, pretty close to it), by shooting with an anamorphic lense on your super 8 camera.

The footage I shot of Yellowstone about 25 years ago was remarkably sharp (I used both Kodachrome and Ektachrome, Kodachrome gave the better results as the Ektachrome was more grainy), and just looked lovely projected on that big screen.

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on July 13, 2012, 06:47 PM:

I must say the footage shot is beautiful,liked the music too, and
in the second piece the dogs looked to be enjoying themselves.
That on a large screen I imagine will simply be stupendous,the
advantage straight away negates the use of anamorphic lenses
so focus advantages straight away and greater depth of field.
If I can sum up, AWESOME!!

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on July 26, 2012, 03:55 PM:

...and much more light through the film. Too bad it's not readily projectable.

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on July 26, 2012, 05:05 PM:

I did put this on the other post,but something similar was done
with 16mm where the frame was halved,I think it was called
PAN 16.

Posted by Nicholas Kovats (Member # 2622) on August 01, 2012, 07:38 PM:

Hi Winbert,

Thank you and yes. Essentially we are using the full 16mm width of Regular 8mm film but with the R8 pulldown...half that of 16mm.

There are interdependent relationships between classic 8mm and 16mm film. For example the perforation are similar dimensionally.

That would be Kensington Market. I am not a film print collector per se.

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on August 01, 2012, 08:10 PM:

That footage is absolutely stunning. I love the music also. Great work. [Wink]

Posted by Nicholas Kovats (Member # 2622) on August 02, 2012, 09:46 AM:

Thank you, Pasquale.

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