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

[PaulOckenden]

Looks like the overexposed fames have a significant blue shift in the left hand capture.

 

[0dan0]

Here is my side by side. The 0dan0 custom FW recording is on left and the MAC84 FW on the right, I feel that this is the closest i was able to getting color in these overexposed frames. You can see later in the video it does a much better job with the color and matches the right side more. With the MAC84 firmware, I am able to see more color in the overexposed frames. Maybe i'm just not cut out for all the manual settings in the custom fw lol. There are some nice frames at the very end you can compare

You just have the white balance wrong. You have the White Balance at 0, is should be +1.5 or +2.0 for this film. The white balance is reset with each firmware update.

 

[jackmonte1987]

You just have the white balance wrong. You have the White Balance at 0, is should be +1.5 or +2.0 for this film. The white balance is reset with each firmware update.

I will try it again when I get home, but I messed with the settings for about 10 or 15 minutes and that was the best I could get.

 

[0dan0]

I will try it again when I get home, but I messed with the settings for about 10 or 15 minutes and that was the best I could get.

If you still have a blue shift when you set a +2.0 WB, that would mean I have to increase the range in the firmware. So that would be useful feedback.

 

[rdesros]

Sometimes, people used tungsten film outdoors, and if they forgot to use the orange filter, it caused a strong blue tint. My father has some footage with that noticeable blue tint, and the white balance setting can't fix it. Some cameras automatically applied the orange filter, while with others, it had to be done manually.

 

[jackmonte1987]

If you still have a blue shift when you set a +2.0 WB, that would mean I have to increase the range in the firmware. So that would be useful feedback.

Okay back with an update, I (unfortunately) think i may be on to something here.

 

[0dan0]

Set the white balance to +2 and start recording. The auto exposure is not running during preview on any of my firmware. It will start to correct for the exposure once recording. Then share the recorded file.

 

[sheider]

I never found this lens from a US supplier. It likely does exist here, but I not found it.

Many thanks to @Mac84 for starting this effort and to @0dan0 for the incredible firmware improvements that I can't wait to try when my Reels arrives next week. I have no knowledge / experience to share on the firmware front, but I think that I have located a US supplier for the 12mm macro lens recommended by @0dan0. RMA Electronics is currently selling the Azure Photonic AZURE-1228MAC for $84 here:
https://www.rmaelectronics.com/azure-photonics-azure-1228mac

If I'm not mistaken, all of the specs for this AZURE-1228MAC lens are identical to those for the Scorpion Vision SVL-1228MAC lens.

RMA Electronics is quoting me a price around $14 to ship the lens to my Midwest US address via UPS ground, resulting in a total cost of around $100.

I hope this info proves helpful to some of us US tinkerers.

 

[0dan0]

Many thanks to @Mac84 for starting this effort and to @0dan0 for the incredible firmware improvements that I can't wait to try when my Reels arrives next week. I have no knowledge / experience to share on the firmware front, but I think that I have located a US supplier for the 12mm macro lens recommended by @0dan0. RMA Electronics is currently selling the Azure Photonic AZURE-1228MAC for $84 here:
https://www.rmaelectronics.com/azure-photonics-azure-1228mac

If I'm not mistaken, all of the specs for this AZURE-1228MAC lens are identical to those for the Scorpion Vision SVL-1228MAC lens.

RMA Electronics is quoting me a price around $14 to ship the lens to my Midwest US address via UPS ground, resulting in a total cost of around $100.

I hope this info proves helpful to some of us US tinkerers.

You have found it. That totally looks like the correct lens. And it's priced correctly, it's a nice lens, quality glass.

 

[TheElk]

At frame 16385 the black stripes appear. Not on display but in the file.
16385 the first of 5 stripes, then 10 frames without, then another 5 with stripes, 10 without, 5 with and so on ...