The new Retro scanners from MovieStuff

Forum covering all aspects of small gauge cinematography! This is the main discussion forum.

Moderator: Andreas Wideroe

Post Reply
prtprt
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:28 pm
Real name: Charlie Dela
Contact:

The new Retro scanners from MovieStuff

Post by prtprt »

On the MovieStuff web you can now see the Roger has released the 9,5 and 16 mm versions of the Retro scanner. Looks really great!! :D

You can see that the 16 mm version can have larger reels than the 8mm version. (The 8mm version can have maximum 400 feet reels.)

A question to Roger: Will it be possible to order a 8mm version of the Retro scanner that can have larger reels? I have most of my films on 800 feet (240 meter) reels...

Another thing: On the web entry page it says "Intermix S8 and N8 film on the same roll", but in the video clip it seems like you have to choose between S8 and N8. Maybe that have been changed?

Charlie
User avatar
MovieStuff
Posts: 6135
Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 1:07 am
Real name: Roger Evans
Location: Kerrville, Texas
Contact:

Re: The new Retro scanners from MovieStuff

Post by MovieStuff »

prtprt wrote:On the MovieStuff web you can now see the Roger has released the 9,5 and 16 mm versions of the Retro scanner. Looks really great!! :D
Thanks!
prtprt wrote: You can see that the 16 mm version can have larger reels than the 8mm version. (The 8mm version can have maximum 400 feet reels.)

A question to Roger: Will it be possible to order a 8mm version of the Retro scanner that can have larger reels? I have most of my films on 800 feet (240 meter) reels...
We may offer an outrigger add-on to handle larger reels.
prtprt wrote: Another thing: On the web entry page it says "Intermix S8 and N8 film on the same roll", but in the video clip it seems like you have to choose between S8 and N8. Maybe that have been changed?
The software originally switched between the two formats automatically. It was very slick. Worked great but created some logic issues that slowed things down under the hood of the software. We wanted to add some things like gamma correction and color correction, etc and it became apparent that the number of people actually needing to combine regular 8 and super 8 on the same transfer run would be far fewer than the number of people that would benefit from built in color and gamma correction. So we dropped the auto-detect on the format to give the software's internal processing some breathing room for the other features. You can still put super 8 and regular 8 on the same reel, if you needed to for some reason, but you would have to make the change from one format to the other manually in the software. There is a possibility we might put it back as we refine the software but not any time soon.

Roger
Tscan
Posts: 548
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:44 pm
Real name: Anthony Schilling
Contact:

Re: The new Retro scanners from MovieStuff

Post by Tscan »

It's great that you can choose between reg 8mm or S8mm on the same unit, but don't really see a need for auto-detect or the two formats existing on the same reel for anyone but in rare exceptions. I'm curious if the 16mm unit has the ability to choose between reg 16, S16, or even ultra 16mm? Anyway that's great news! I'd like to send in some 16mm for a transfer on the new unit if it's running?
Reborn member since Sept 2003
Will2
Senior member
Posts: 1983
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:18 am
Real name: Will Montgomery
Location: Dallas, TX
Contact:

Re: The new Retro scanners from MovieStuff

Post by Will2 »

Very cool that you are supporting 9.5; I'd love to know how many orders you get for that...seems kinda niche but I'm sure anyone with those films will extremely grateful.
prtprt
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:28 pm
Real name: Charlie Dela
Contact:

Re: The new Retro scanners from MovieStuff

Post by prtprt »

MovieStuff wrote:
We may offer an outrigger add-on to handle larger reels.
That sounds good!

Another question: How is the film pulled forward in the Retro scanners? Is it only by letting a motor turn the right film reel, or are the smaller wheels on the sides of the gate also pulling the film forward?

Charlie
User avatar
MovieStuff
Posts: 6135
Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 1:07 am
Real name: Roger Evans
Location: Kerrville, Texas
Contact:

Re: The new Retro scanners from MovieStuff

Post by MovieStuff »

prtprt wrote:
Another question: How is the film pulled forward in the Retro scanners?

Ultra simple: The take up reel pulls the film through via a microprocessor controlled motor. In all reality, there are only four moving parts on the entire thing. The rewind motor, take up motor and the two guide rollers, which are passive. There are no belts, pulleys, gears, slip clutches, sprockets, capstans, pinch rollers, levers, springs, etc. The gates are open air and handle the film only by the edges and the screw-on retainers for the reels will never wear out. These things are designed to run almost forever with little or no maintenance. Very quiet, too.

Roger
prtprt
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:28 pm
Real name: Charlie Dela
Contact:

Re: The new Retro scanners from MovieStuff

Post by prtprt »

Ultra simple = Ultra genius ! :D

Charlie
studiocarter2
Posts: 170
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2013 4:09 pm
Real name: Michael A Carter
Contact:

Re: The new Retro scanners from MovieStuff

Post by studiocarter2 »

That is really really cool. My credit card may not go that high. Hmmm. Is the sale still on?
hirudin
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:58 am
Real name: Jesse Andrewartha
Contact:

Re: The new Retro scanners from MovieStuff

Post by hirudin »

Looking good.

Does the new 16mm unit scan ultrapan8? Also, I assume it uses the same camera as the 8mm version.

Thanks!

-Jesse-
Post Reply