|
Author
|
Topic: Aside from a Telecine Machine
|
|
|
|
|
Maurizio Di Cintio
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 977
From: Ortona, Italy
Registered: Jan 2004
|
posted August 10, 2013 01:24 PM
Hi, Craig.
What you do is pretty straightforward for a home-made telecine. Depending on the projector/lens used you are losing at least 20-30% of what the format is capable to deliver in terms of sharpness and exposure latitude. In fact there are much more professional ways to do this process, the industrial standard being a Rank Cintel which has been available in HD version too, for several years now. The next best thing is a Philips Spirit: unlike the Cintel, this machine uses CCD instead of scanning tubes (which are a sort of reverse-working CRT's). Uprunner is the machine manufactured by German company MWA Nova. Then there is a number of semi-professional, "handmade" systems, all based on projectors more or less deeply modified in order to allow frame accurate transfer with even illumination and edge to edge focusing. The forerunner for systems like this is Moviestuff's "Workprinter" which was introduced circa 2001 and proved very popular; in fact there are now several versions. And imitations as well. These machines in the last group are probably the best value you can get, around 1000-2000 $ for a professional-like result; certainly better than your current set-up.
Of course if the material you need to transfer is of very poor quality, there is no point in using a different system, anyway.
Hope this helps
--------------------
Maurizio
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike McCord
Film Handler
Posts: 36
From: Birmingham, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2013
|
posted August 11, 2013 08:24 PM
Craig - Thanks for opening this thread. For the past 3 months I have been playing with 8mm film to DVD conversion. My background is electronics/computers. I have no experience with film, projectors, optics, lighting, etc. I am, however, an old retired tech that too often refuses to give up and pay retail - when I know I can do it myself!
I have been playing with a "box" like the one listed here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMBICO-V-0650-Deluxe-Video-Telecine-Transfer-System-8MM-16MM-/230994476612?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c857fe44
This is not my eBay listing, just used it to show my approach. I have built a solid wood set of adjustable 3 platforms. One each for the projector, the telecine box, and the camera. So far, I am not overly happy with my results. Blooming, alignment, focus... are just a few of my challenges. I have been experimenting with lamp brilliance, distances, video cameras (I have 4 different VHS and VHS-C camcorders that I just pass the video thru to a monitor and ultimately to a computer. Working focus, white balance, projector speed, alignment, etc., is far from trivial...
I just noticed that Carl's post shows his homemade "box" with the projector and camera reversed. He aims his projector into the box (mirror) and acquires his video from the screen. I have never seen this stuff, so the picture on the side of the cardboard box has been my guide, so far.
Tomorrow, I am going to re-do my platform to try his way. I will post my results. In the meantime, I would love to hear some of the experiences, (successes and failures) of the other fine folks on this forum.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God
Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012
|
posted August 13, 2013 03:18 PM
I've never been into the video/digital scene, but I would have
thought a darkened room, which no one has mentioned, is going
to make a lot of difference to contrast, as is a prime lens on the
projector, plus black masking around the picture area.It has been
suggested by the likes of Francis Williams in "Movie Maker", when
copying film, that a screen size 12'' wide was adequate for brightness & contrast.
Although that advice from Brad, sounds like a man who knows.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic
