Modding the Kodak Reels 8mm Film Digitizer (Firmware Hack)

[rms337]

@0dan0 I was able to get the capture to work without the darkening that I experienced in the last version. I was able to adjust white balance to get peaks to line up, and then while capturing, adjusted the EV up to 0 as the default was at -7. It brightened it up! While I am no color expert, I feel like the capture looks flat. Can you tell me what you see in these two test clips? You should be able to download them.

Thank you again for your efforts on this!

Two test 8MM captures

 

[0dan0]

The default of -7 explains why some units went dark. Now that we can see the EV level it is easier to fix. I will find a way to reset any out of range value in the next build.

Those two clips look great, and well exposed. There is not flat or log curves in the Reels scanner, this is likely a standard 2.2 gamma curve. I have yet to find any way to modify the curves. The clips look a tad desaturated, I'm not sure if that is the film stock/age, or you have a negative tint setting.

 

[jackmonte1987]

So I've disappeared for a few days as i was busy scanning some reels, but I want to say that some of the results i've gotten are fantastic! Very happy with the quality and colors I have been able to get. Thank you so much @0dan0 for all your work with this!

I also would like to report that I think I may have found a bug and am now in the weeds with my scanner. I was a little confused by the functionality of the green tint but was using it a lot and it was very helpful. If i understood the post correctly it says you can adjust the tint 9 clicks in either direction from center or default. At some point I lost track of where I was so I figure I will just go all the way to one side and then click back 9 clicks to be back at default. What wound up happening was I clicked around 30 clicks to one side and the histogram kept moving so i assumed changes were happening. At one point the color within 3 clicks went from heavy blue, to heavy purple, back to normal. The buttons to control the tint are now non functional and it is stuck in a weird place. I was looking for a way to reset the value and hopes that pressing both the left and right buttons would have that effect but wishful thinking i suppose.

I then just tried to get the picture as close as i could to "correct" and noticed that the image on the LCD during preview was much brighter than when the actual recording starts. It seems to get darker once recording starts. I have taken video of all of this and will get it uploaded shortly

 

[jackmonte1987]

Here is a video of me describing and showing where I am stuck.

I also wanted to include a link to a video I thought turned out really nice. (no post work)

I have also attached a short video of what the captures currently look like. Very green tinted.

 

[0dan0]

@jackmonte1987 This is all addressed in the V6.9 build I posted yesterday. Only for Type B, as I wanted a few testers, but I will create Type A and C builds shortly.

 

[jackmonte1987]

Thank you so much @0dan0 . I would not have the confidence to do any of this without your enhancements. I never used a histogram before in my life until now and it's been very helpful. Although I am finding A lot of my footage the color has severely faded and almost looks B+W now.

 

[TheElk]

View attachment 23798

Added EV Bias control + / - key during record only.

View attachment 23800

Still v6.9 Type B only.

Many tests. Minimal EV starts at my scanner at -6. I tested with my normal film. I found ev 1 is sufficent for me. I will tomorrow take a look how to adjust the brightness in vegas. EV1 is a little to dark, ev 2 is too bright, but no complain about this. I can adjust this. I don't know yet if the "double exposure flashes" you experienced yestarday have changed. For that I attach the new scenes with White bal 1.5, Sharp -1.5, Tint -0.5, EV 1 and green fits best on an empty film.
In addition a scene with EV 2
Thank you so much @0dan0 for your effort on this.

 

[jackmonte1987]

Also , all the black dots showing up on my film, is it dirt/dust/grime? Or just emulsion decay from old age. I have 30 or so reels to scan and the thought of having to manually clean them all with pec pads seems incredibly daunting lol. Can you guys also tell me what is the flow you're using? Do you set all the color settings for the scene and then stop recording when the scene changes to change the settings and then stitch together in post? Or do you just set it and let it ride. I apologize for my ignorance on the topic, i'm very new to film reels.

 

[0dan0]

I don't know about film cleaning. I leave that to others more experienced, as I've mostly been scanning my own shot film more recently.

You should set color settings once per reel, as the tint of the aged film should be constant for the reel. There will be some white balance variations, scene to scene, but that is how it would have projected. You can make those correction if needed in post.

 

[jackmonte1987]

I don't know about film cleaning. I leave that to others more experienced, as I've mostly been scanning my own shot film more recently.

You should set color settings once per reel, as the tint of the aged film should be constant for the reel. There will be some white balance variations, scene to scene, but that is how it would have projected. You can make those correction if needed in post.

Once I started digitizing these old family films I immediately turned to my wife and said "we need to buy an 8mm camera and some film, this is too cool!"

 

[0dan0]

Once I started digitizing these old family films I immediately turned to my wife and said "we need to buy an 8mm camera and some film, this is too cool!"

That is what happen to me. I shot my last Maui vacation in Super8

and used Super8 elements in my latest 48 hour competition film

I also develop at home, as have the scanner after all.

 

[TheElk]

Also , all the black dots showing up on my film, is it dirt/dust/grime? Or just emulsion decay from old age. I have 30 or so reels to scan and the thought of having to manually clean them all with pec pads seems incredibly daunting lol. Can you guys also tell me what is the flow you're using? Do you set all the color settings for the scene and then stop recording when the scene changes to change the settings and then stitch together in post? Or do you just set it and let it ride. I apologize for my ignorance on the topic, i'm very new to film reels.

I clean mine with Iso-propanol. I used Kodak films

 

[TheElk]

Once I started digitizing these old family films I immediately turned to my wife and said "we need to buy an 8mm camera and some film, this is too cool!"

What about a 4k Videocamera ? I switched to video in 1996 .... all my Super 8 films are older

 

[0dan0]

Some of us didn't have a past shot in film, or experienced shooting it ourselves. I've always worked in tech related to film and TV production (editing and camera tech), but my first camera was S-VHS-C in 1990. Then this series personally owned camera tech: several MiniDVs, then HDV, then GoPro HD, DSLR HD (many of the Canon 5Ds Mk2/3, 7D, etc.), GoPro 4K cams, Mirrorless 4K (Fijifilm XT-3 first in-camera 10-bit 4K), GoPro 8K 360 (I work at GoPro, so I have a lot of that gear.) Not having instant gratification and the unforgiving resolution is a nice change shooting Super8. The short film above used: Fujifilm XT3, GoPro HERO13, GoPro MAX2 (360°), and Beaulieu 4008 ZM4 (1970s) with Ektachrome film.

 

[jackmonte1987]

Wow that footage of your Vacation to Maui looks incredible. It has so much more feeling to it than a modern home video. My family did not have much growing up so I don't have any old film to digitize at all. I started filming when i was 18 and could afford my own miniDV camcorder in 2004. I've been experimenting using older films for the last year as I think it looks fantastic. My wife and I even started keeping disposable cameras around just for fun. We're going to some markets this weekend where i'll be seeing if i can get an old VHS camcorder somewhere.

My camcorders over the years was a JVC-GRD30u MiniDV cam, then 1080p Flip Camera (absolutely loved this thing!), Samsung HMX-W300, GoPro's, Dji Osmo Pocket etc etc.

I'm currently using a DJI Osmo Pocket 3 which blows me away, and also a Panasonic VX1 4k Camcorder, need that optical zoom! As awesome as the osmo pocket 3 is, I just love the use of a camcorder with optical zoom. I use both frequently.

 

[jackmonte1987]

I clean mine with Iso-propanol. I used Kodak films

Do you run them through a machine or hand crank and just pinch the damp iso-prop pec pad over it? How long does it take for a 3 inch reel? How often are you swapping pec pads? Do you ever accidentally damage the film? I'm just asking because I want my films to look the best they can.

 

[0dan0]

All updated to V6.9, types A, B and C.

I reduced the EV range to be more subtle, so larger values might be required. I was reacting to this comment "EV1 is a little to dark, ev 2 is too bright". EV +2 now more is like the last EV +1. This does not make the scan brighter or darker directly, instead it biases the input to the auto exposure. As the exposure logic tries to limit unnecessary brightness changes, it is more intended for a scene change, some EV values may no appear to change the brightness, this is normal. You can trick the unit into thinking there is a scene change by temporarily placing your finger between the camera and film.

 

[jackmonte1987]

Thank you so much @0dan0 , Now I get back to scanning. I just want to clarify, when you say EV you are talking about the green tint using the left and right arrows correct? Would 0 be considered default or "untouched". Also will this fw update fix my stuck setting? I know you had said that the settings will remain even despite a fw change.

 

[0dan0]

Thank you so much @0dan0 , Now I get back to scanning. I just want to clarify, when you say EV you are talking about the green tint using the left and right arrows correct? Would 0 be considered default or "untouched". Also will this fw update fix my stuck setting? I know you had said that the settings will remain even despite a fw change.

No, green tint for white balance is < and > buttons, EV (exposure bias) is new, and use + and - buttons, but only during capture. These are explained (so briefly) on the boot screen. There is no correct setting, just what looks good to you.

 

[PaulOckenden]

Are there still the SD card size limits with this new version? Someone mentioned that even a 32GB card would only work if formatted with non-standard bigger block sizes for the previous release.