Hacking the Kodak Reels 8mm Film Digitizer (New Thread)

[fishgee]

If you can only get the top or bottom of the image in focus, it would seem to me that your camera wasn't re-mounted precisely parallel to the film. You may want to try shimming or otherwise adjusting the camera mounting to bring it parallel.

As for scratches, others have wrapped the film guide posts with soft cloth, and even replaced the plastic guides with metal or plastic guides that actually roll as opposed to the stock non-moving ones.

 

[Balto1986]

If you can only get the top or bottom of the image in focus, it would seem to me that your camera wasn't re-mounted precisely parallel to the film. You may want to try shimming or otherwise adjusting the camera mounting to bring it parallel.

As for scratches, others have wrapped the film guide posts with soft cloth, and even replaced the plastic guides with metal or plastic guides that actually roll as opposed to the stock non-moving ones.

i've been trying the adjusting/shimmering the camera, but with no luck so far. but Im gonna try a little more.

I dont use the plastic guides at all. I let it fall into a box. the scratch seems to come from one of the two guides inside the lid. I was thinking about removing one or try to widen the path a little bit. but havent done it yet.

 

[ArgieBargie]

Linking the dissassembly video by Mac84, because it's always a pest to try and find it in the thread, or in my watch history. Also keywords: Livestream, live video, dissassemly guide kodak reels reelz.

Ok. So I got it all apart with no issues.
However I've F'd it up. I managed to lift the RX pad and now I can't attach the lead. Let this be a lesson to me not to use my nice solid core wire, even if it's wonderful to handle.


So now I'm SOL with regards to dumping this firmware. If I can't manage to microsolder a couple of wires without ballsing it up, then I have no chance desoldering the firmware chip for reading.


Mac84. I can disassemble this and send you the board for firmware extraction - that's about my only hope of getting a read from this, now.



Edit: I have reassembled it, and so far it does appear to be working normally.

 

[ArgieBargie]

On a different note, I also have some problems with the kodak making scratches in the film
I've scanned the same movie 3 times now. And noticed that on the last scan, the film has a new line going down vertically on the left side of the frame. See attached picture.

Has anyone had similar issues?
Any help/suggestions on either topic would be appreciated.

A few people here said not to use teflon tape, but I did that anyway (before reading about not doing that).

I still think it's better than using the plastic pegs that the unit comes with. I have instead cut some 10mL syringe barrels to make rollers with, and that at least feels like it takes a lot of the main friction from the roller. I put it over the top peg, and just used the teflon tape on the others.

I am using blue teflon tape, which is firmer than the usual white. As far as I can tell, no scratches yet.