PJD
Well-Known Member
I’ve set up a makeshift mini rear-screen projection system in my home office. I hoping I’ll be able to use it to transfer some of my family's old home movies to video.
I recently un-boxed my Dad’s ancient Kodak model A-30 8mm film projector. It's been in storage for decades. It seems to run perfectly (mechanically). Unfortunately the bulb inside was smashed, and replacement 250-w and 500-w bulbs are expensive.
So, I improvised using a 25-watt halogen light I used with video cameras years ago. It’s obviously much dimmer than the projector's original bulb, but because the screen I made is so close to the projector the image is bright enough for my S5iiX. The projector lens is able to focus sharply on the screen, even at the short distance. I made the screen from a 6”x8” piece of translucent plastic diffusion material I use with video lights.
Because the S5iiX is aligned so it aims straight back towards the projector lens, the image should be “square” (not skewed/keystoned) as it would be if I were to instead project the film normally and place my video camera off to the side of the projector lens. Shooting rear screen (aimed at the light source) should also help make the image relatively bright.
Oh, and yes: There are commercial services that do this kind of thing for a fee. But this is a no-budget personal project, and there’s no guarantee they’d have any better luck than me. Plus this is more fun.
Anyway, that’s the theory. It remains to be seen whether the old films are too brittle to make it through the projector without breaking. I’ll let you know how it goes.
I recently un-boxed my Dad’s ancient Kodak model A-30 8mm film projector. It's been in storage for decades. It seems to run perfectly (mechanically). Unfortunately the bulb inside was smashed, and replacement 250-w and 500-w bulbs are expensive.
So, I improvised using a 25-watt halogen light I used with video cameras years ago. It’s obviously much dimmer than the projector's original bulb, but because the screen I made is so close to the projector the image is bright enough for my S5iiX. The projector lens is able to focus sharply on the screen, even at the short distance. I made the screen from a 6”x8” piece of translucent plastic diffusion material I use with video lights.
Because the S5iiX is aligned so it aims straight back towards the projector lens, the image should be “square” (not skewed/keystoned) as it would be if I were to instead project the film normally and place my video camera off to the side of the projector lens. Shooting rear screen (aimed at the light source) should also help make the image relatively bright.
Oh, and yes: There are commercial services that do this kind of thing for a fee. But this is a no-budget personal project, and there’s no guarantee they’d have any better luck than me. Plus this is more fun.
Anyway, that’s the theory. It remains to be seen whether the old films are too brittle to make it through the projector without breaking. I’ll let you know how it goes.
