[Frameworks] DSLR telecine on a JK printer

Fri Dec 10 18:05:30 CST 2010

At the Winnipeg Film Group we have modified our JK to transfer film using a
DSLR.  Originally we just tested it by hand, one frame at a time.  But now
we've built a mechanism that auto-fires the camera so the process is
automated and you can walk away for a while.  To automate the shutter
release on our Canon DSLR, we've created a mechanism that locks into the
original piece that fired the Bolex one frame at a time.  On the original
setup, the JK bolex "motor" would turn 360 degrees to fire one 16mm shot.
Now, we have it hooked up to a mechanism that completes a circuit with a
remote shutter cable (wired, not wireless).  If anyone is interested I can
send some photos around next week if you want to see closer how this
mechanism works. it's kind of hard to describe.

A couple problems with this method though:

1)      I've had to replace the shutter on my 40D after transferring a few
films.  It was just over $100 to fix the shutter I believe, so that's
nothing compared to the costs of HD transfers.

2)      The bulb in the JK light that we have only lasts for something like
10 hours, so we've gone through countless bulbs.  That was, until I realized
that we could just use a 300 watt Arri instead, which seems to have a longer
bulb life.  And since we're working digital and the light doesn't have to be
measurable this method has worked great.

The benefits:

1)      Upwards of 5K image on your transfer.  FCP kind of freaks when you
throw all the photos into it at first, but it gives you a great quality
image to work with, and export as video.

2)      You can capture the FULL frame of film and decide yourself how to
frame it, which often is not the case when getting traditional transfers.

3)      Cheap as borsht.

If anyone has questions, feel free to ask.  I'll try to upload photos of our
automated mechanism on Monday.

-Aaron Zeghers-

From: frameworks-bounces at jonasmekasfilms.com
[mailto:frameworks-bounces at jonasmekasfilms.com] On Behalf Of George
Monteleone
Sent: December 8, 2010 4:07 PM
To: Experimental Film Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Frameworks] DSLR telecine on a JK printer

I can't speak for JK to DSLR, but and friend and I built a variant of the
workprinter, but with better optics.  We capture directly off the frame, and
the only glass in the optical path is a high-resolution rodenstock
apo-rodagon enlarging lens to Sony EX1 camera with an HD-SDI out,
uncompressed 1080 signal to blackmagic caputre card.  It's basically a
Moviestuff workprinter setup with better optics.

Our transport is just a modified Eiki with a adjustable speed control,
low-wattage bulb, and variable aperture electronically controlled.  We
capture using CaptureMate, the same thing the workprinter is designed to
use, frame captures triggered with an opto-resistor triggered by the motor
rotation.  It's quite reliable; the only thing to watch for is dust or
occasional jump if the film has bad splices or damaged sprockets.  A JK
transport would be ideal, or some kind of pin-registered transport, though
registration on the Eiki at 8fps is ok.  Theoretically, and upgrade to
higher quality capture mechanisms (i.e. Red cameras) wouldn't be too tough,
as long as the optics are appropriate for the chip size.    

The quality is better than the workprinter.  We've been running it as and
affordable DIY telecine business, but might be planning to sell the system
in the near future.  Email me if you're interested in hearing more,
arranging to see some samples, a quick cheap demo transfer, etc.

-George
georgemonteleone at gmail.com

On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 4:04 AM, <paul at krimmer.at> wrote:

 i have done that several times a longer time ago, but you never know
 when the shutter rips off, so if you calculate yourself after 20000
 clicks about the possibility the in the middle of the project it kills
 itself you can do that very easily. you have to have a replace-camera in
 your repertoire and looking forward for replacement costs of 100-200
 bucks each time ... and a lot of nerves ;)  but then it works. of course
 a 5d will stay longer as a 500d, but i would rather use the cheap one
 for that job ... nowadays i only use that for making telecine of
 finished works and not for production process anymore...

 On Sun, 5 Dec 2010 22:36:41 -0700, jeanne LIOTTA <jeanli515 at gmail.com>
 wrote:
> they are doing that at my school. But you have to watch
> out--perhpasreplace the camera fairly regularly since they werent
> really made for that kind of frame-clicking volume. Its tedious, just
> like any optical printing, no?  but with a controller interface you
> trust maybe you can just go out for coffee or take  a nap.
>  another one of the million workflows....
>

> On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 6:04 PM, John Woods  wrote:
>  Anyone doing film transfers on a JK optical printer with a DSLR?
> Particularly of
>  S8 or 16mm colour negative? Seems like the most tedious way to
>
>  transfer film but the potential quality it presents intrigues me.
> Thx.
>
>  John Woods
>
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>  FrameWorks mailing list

>  FrameWorks at jonasmekasfilms.com [2]
>  http://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks [3]

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