OK. The jitter was my fault. I wasn't using all of the windings on the uptake reel. After threading the file properly, it is working very well. Thanks.
Hacking the Kodak Reels 8mm Film Digitizer (New Thread)
- Thread starter Mac84
- Start date
1. I'm going to be busy at work for the next week and a half so my chances t play with this are slowing down again, right after I got it modded 
Going to dump all my thoughts and posts at once.
2. FYI Davinci Resolve 20 is out now, if you started with the start of the mods you're probably still on v19. IDK how different it is, but at least v20 seems to install properly on Windows!
3. Bug? How does the film runout auto-stop sensing work? I scanned the same role of film three times, the first time it worked, the second and third times the film ended so there was just a white screen but it kept recording. My filmstrip has a few seconds of blank film at the end (dark brown). I noticed on the two times it failed I was zoomed out more so there was still a black strip of the Reels frame on the right side of the image.
4. Can someone sticky the User Guide to the top of the thread or pages so it's easier to find?
5. One thing I think those of us not rewriting the code can do to continue to improve things is working more on the user guide and workflow. It's good for someone with a bit of experience and patience but there's a lot of interpretation still left. Considering the target audience is probably not video processing minded I think more clarity and detail would be excellent. I've done tech writing in the past so I can do something as long as I know the right content.
5.a. Ideas for updating the mod:
How do you focus the lens? e.g. what are you using to focus it? The best piece of film you have? It's really hard to get a good focus with the screen the device has and using questionable film.
5.b (New Document) User Workflow:
Describe step by step what menu things to do before scanning (or during now) a reel of film to obtain the highest quality capture before refining it with editing tools.
Pre-Recording:
Exposure - how to set a good value
Sharpness -what is the recommended value/how to tell if it needs adjusting
Framing - How this should be set, zoomed all the way out or in, partially, should you see the sprockets in the film, etc.
During Recording:
as mentioned in userguide, but possibly add more detail, how to adjust, button presses, what you're looking for.
6. I'm out of time but I am still working on my plan to integrate the relocated SD card slot using the extension ribbon cable and the bare housing with ears. The idea is you will cut the existing SD external slot a little larger to enable looping the ribbon back inside the case then reroute the cable internally to where you want the new SD slot. There is a template you print and put on the rear to first guide you in cutting the larger hole and then in drilling the holes for the screws. The cover mounts to the outside to protect the exposed ribbon/card and screws from the inside with two #4 x 1/2" or similar sheet metal screws. Where the new SD card slot mounts is up to you, but there is also a drill template you put on the cover, drill two holes and cut a slot, then you will sandwich the case with a faceplate outside the case and the bracket/new card holder inside. This bracket uses two #4 x 1/2" or shorter sheet metal screws, pan head to mount to the body. The SD slot attaches to the bracket using the same M1.7 or similar screws used elsewhere for the lens mod. WARNING I pushed these files out fast this morning so I have not done final fit checks with screws so I may need to tweak tolerances for them to fit.
For the flex, drill template and slot cutter.
And cover installed. You'll have to install the cover, then put the extension in the SD slot before reassembling the unit.
To relocate the SD slot, find wherever you like then use the drill and slot cut template (look at front and back sides!):
Then assemble!
7. If anyone wants to do the nylon roller mod or similar I've attached a dimensioned drawing of the stock fixed posts. You have to open the case to unscrew them.
Going to dump all my thoughts and posts at once.2. FYI Davinci Resolve 20 is out now, if you started with the start of the mods you're probably still on v19. IDK how different it is, but at least v20 seems to install properly on Windows!
3. Bug? How does the film runout auto-stop sensing work? I scanned the same role of film three times, the first time it worked, the second and third times the film ended so there was just a white screen but it kept recording. My filmstrip has a few seconds of blank film at the end (dark brown). I noticed on the two times it failed I was zoomed out more so there was still a black strip of the Reels frame on the right side of the image.
4. Can someone sticky the User Guide to the top of the thread or pages so it's easier to find?
5. One thing I think those of us not rewriting the code can do to continue to improve things is working more on the user guide and workflow. It's good for someone with a bit of experience and patience but there's a lot of interpretation still left. Considering the target audience is probably not video processing minded I think more clarity and detail would be excellent. I've done tech writing in the past so I can do something as long as I know the right content.
5.a. Ideas for updating the mod:
How do you focus the lens? e.g. what are you using to focus it? The best piece of film you have? It's really hard to get a good focus with the screen the device has and using questionable film.
5.b (New Document) User Workflow:
Describe step by step what menu things to do before scanning (or during now) a reel of film to obtain the highest quality capture before refining it with editing tools.
Pre-Recording:
Exposure - how to set a good value
Sharpness -what is the recommended value/how to tell if it needs adjusting
Framing - How this should be set, zoomed all the way out or in, partially, should you see the sprockets in the film, etc.
During Recording:
as mentioned in userguide, but possibly add more detail, how to adjust, button presses, what you're looking for.
6. I'm out of time but I am still working on my plan to integrate the relocated SD card slot using the extension ribbon cable and the bare housing with ears. The idea is you will cut the existing SD external slot a little larger to enable looping the ribbon back inside the case then reroute the cable internally to where you want the new SD slot. There is a template you print and put on the rear to first guide you in cutting the larger hole and then in drilling the holes for the screws. The cover mounts to the outside to protect the exposed ribbon/card and screws from the inside with two #4 x 1/2" or similar sheet metal screws. Where the new SD card slot mounts is up to you, but there is also a drill template you put on the cover, drill two holes and cut a slot, then you will sandwich the case with a faceplate outside the case and the bracket/new card holder inside. This bracket uses two #4 x 1/2" or shorter sheet metal screws, pan head to mount to the body. The SD slot attaches to the bracket using the same M1.7 or similar screws used elsewhere for the lens mod. WARNING I pushed these files out fast this morning so I have not done final fit checks with screws so I may need to tweak tolerances for them to fit.
For the flex, drill template and slot cutter.
And cover installed. You'll have to install the cover, then put the extension in the SD slot before reassembling the unit.
To relocate the SD slot, find wherever you like then use the drill and slot cut template (look at front and back sides!):
Then assemble!
7. If anyone wants to do the nylon roller mod or similar I've attached a dimensioned drawing of the stock fixed posts. You have to open the case to unscrew them.
In case I run out, or am not able to send out screws to those who request it, here is the eBay listing I used to purchase: https://ebay.us/m/vcuELd
Be sure to select the M1.7 x 12mm size option in whatever quantity suits your need: 100 or 500
Hi, first of all, thank you for all the great job and all the info you have provided.
I was looking around for a affordable way of digitizing my grandmothers old super 8 films and stumbled over this thread, so I decided to buy the Kodak Reels.
I have just received it in the mail and it is the D type (H2825148BKxxxxx).
At this time what are your recommendations of where to start.
I kind of want to start digitizing as soon as possible since my grandmother is 92 years old and I really want to watch these films with her.
I have bought the new lens and printed all the parts. Should I go with the stock firmware or should I try some of yours?
Best regards
Stellan
I was looking around for a affordable way of digitizing my grandmothers old super 8 films and stumbled over this thread, so I decided to buy the Kodak Reels.
I have just received it in the mail and it is the D type (H2825148BKxxxxx).
At this time what are your recommendations of where to start.
I kind of want to start digitizing as soon as possible since my grandmother is 92 years old and I really want to watch these films with her.
I have bought the new lens and printed all the parts. Should I go with the stock firmware or should I try some of yours?
Best regards
Stellan
Hi Stellan. My 2 cents is to scan a reel or two with the stock lens & firmware so you can get comfortable with the basics of scanning (especially handling the film, and any gentle physical cleaning you may need to do). Some of that knowledge will carry over to an eventual modified hardware and firmware. You can even play with the footage a little bit in your editing software, but know that a modified scanner will have different results (color, exposure, resolution). Hopefully, that buys the team here some additional time to develop a D type firmware.
While you could do the lens replacement now, I'm not sure that the stock firmware will let you Zoom wide enough to capture the entire S8 frame that the 12mm lens (properly mounted) can image. So you wouldn't even be able to do no-frills stock firmware scanning. Others may chime in to correct my understanding.
Hi Larry,1. I'm going to be busy at work for the next week and a half so my chances t play with this are slowing down again, right after I got it modded
2. FYI Davinci Resolve 20 is out now, if you started with the start of the mods you're probably still on v19. IDK how different it is, but at least v20 seems to install properly on Windows!
3. Bug? How does the film runout auto-stop sensing work? I scanned the same role of film three times, the first time it worked, the second and third times the film ended so there was just a white screen but it kept recording. My filmstrip has a few seconds of blank film at the end (dark brown). I noticed on the two times it failed I was zoomed out more so there was still a black strip of the Reels frame on the right side of the image.
4. Can someone sticky the User Guide to the top of the thread or pages so it's easier to find?
5. One thing I think those of us not rewriting the code can do to continue to improve things is working more on the user guide and workflow. It's good for someone with a bit of experience and patience but there's a lot of interpretation still left. Considering the target audience is probably not video processing minded I think more clarity and detail would be excellent. I've done tech writing in the past so I can do something as long as I know the right content.
5.a. Ideas for updating the mod:
How do you focus the lens? e.g. what are you using to focus it? The best piece of film you have? It's really hard to get a good focus with the screen the device has and using questionable film.
5.b (New Document) User Workflow:
Describe step by step what menu things to do before scanning (or during now) a reel of film to obtain the highest quality capture before refining it with editing tools.
Pre-Recording:
Exposure - how to set a good value
Sharpness -what is the recommended value/how to tell if it needs adjusting
Framing - How this should be set, zoomed all the way out or in, partially, should you see the sprockets in the film, etc.
During Recording:
as mentioned in userguide, but possibly add more detail, how to adjust, button presses, what you're looking for.
6. I'm out of time but I am still working on my plan to integrate the relocated SD card slot using the extension ribbon cable and the bare housing with ears. The idea is you will cut the existing SD external slot a little larger to enable looping the ribbon back inside the case then reroute the cable internally to where you want the new SD slot. There is a template you print and put on the rear to first guide you in cutting the larger hole and then in drilling the holes for the screws. The cover mounts to the outside to protect the exposed ribbon/card and screws from the inside with two #4 x 1/2" or similar sheet metal screws. Where the new SD card slot mounts is up to you, but there is also a drill template you put on the cover, drill two holes and cut a slot, then you will sandwich the case with a faceplate outside the case and the bracket/new card holder inside. This bracket uses two #4 x 1/2" or shorter sheet metal screws, pan head to mount to the body. The SD slot attaches to the bracket using the same M1.7 or similar screws used elsewhere for the lens mod. WARNING I pushed these files out fast this morning so I have not done final fit checks with screws so I may need to tweak tolerances for them to fit.
For the flex, drill template and slot cutter.
Here are some of my thoughts regarding a few of your bullet points:
2. Davinci Resolve does bug me almost everytime I open it up that a new update is available. (20.3.2 as of this post). I keep old versions of the installer available just in case there's a significant flaw.
4. @Mac84, does this platform support sticky posts?
5. The Firmware User Guide could certainly be expanded with deeper explanation as to firmware features/operation and explain "why" and "when" to adjust settings, but I'm concerned it could get too wordy/dense. Fortunately, for video novices, leaving the new features/settings at their default values will typically yield really solid results.
That being said, I like your idea of providing a separate User Workflow document for the scanning process that is a little more geared toward novices. Now that developement of the custom firmware has slowed a bit, this could be a good time to build that out. But it would also need a degree of nuance: what I have found as best practices isn't a defacto standard that EVERYONE should feel beholden to. There is plenty of subjectivity in this process.