I was reading the sound section on this web site, saw the PC flash sync signal drawing & got an idea. Since "It actually opens and closes the shutter one time for every frame that passes through the filmgate", I though I could bild a cheap light precise digital frame/meter/inch counter connected to PC flash sync socket. With "reset" "advance" "rewind" buttons, this would allow us to do precise surrimpress. With a memory cartdridge selector ( "S8 cartridge no1", "no2" ect...), we could manage more easily our film stock during shoots, ect...
I would have been pleased to build it myself but I'm an ass on electronic.
What do you think of it ?
matt
Roger (aka moviestuff), got a idea for new S8 cheap product
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MovieStuff
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A digital frame counter would be handy for some special effects applications. However, the one thing that I think very nice to have would simply be a countdown timer that starts and stops along with your camera. If you are shooting at 24fps, simply set the timer to 2:30 and it will run each time you start the camera. I did that for all my 16mm equipment and it's certainly more convenient than doing footage/time conversions. All you have to do is look at the counter and it will tell you exactly how much time you have left on the cart which is really more information than the number of frames or feet, I think. Such a counter could be designed very simply to start when the camera starts and stop when the camera stops, either by way of the synch socket or the remote socket.
Hmmm. I know. I've got a circuit I built that detects the motor vibrations using a phono pickup. I could make a tiny LCD counter than sticks onto any camera with foam tape and will start only when the motor is running and will stop when the motor stops. I would think that'd be as simple as it could get.
Roger
Hmmm. I know. I've got a circuit I built that detects the motor vibrations using a phono pickup. I could make a tiny LCD counter than sticks onto any camera with foam tape and will start only when the motor is running and will stop when the motor stops. I would think that'd be as simple as it could get.
Roger
sounds cool, wanna post some schematics?
The idea of a countdown counter is nice, would be nice if it could use the flash sync socket and do a countdown based on actual frames, for acuracies sake, but what you are describing would be almost as good, and one that could be used on any camera would be a nice thing to have around.
~Jess
The idea of a countdown counter is nice, would be nice if it could use the flash sync socket and do a countdown based on actual frames, for acuracies sake, but what you are describing would be almost as good, and one that could be used on any camera would be a nice thing to have around.
~Jess
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mike
confusion
I'm confused over the pc contact switch. I thoght it sent a signal to what ever device was connected to it when the shutter opens and closes, and not the other way around as it is stated in the sound section. I understood the pc contact swicth as accepting singnals, not controlling the frame rate or shutter.
As far as a frame counter goes, the beaulieu 6008 has a built in digital counter.
As far as a frame counter goes, the beaulieu 6008 has a built in digital counter.
The flash contact or PC socket is nothing else that a simple interruptor switch that closes once a frame and may control any equipment connected to it (counters, flash light for single frame animation lightening, double system sound equipment...). It does not output any signal, nor accept. It is only a interruptor.
The counter applicaton is very intelligent and I am using it every time making frame accurate titles, superimposion or lap dissolves. But I never designed a special camera frame counter, as my camera just came with such a digital framecounter, counting in both directions and resetting automatically when iniciating a shutter dissolve.
But you can VERY EASYLY realize such a device, using the Intersil circuit ICL 7217A and 4x 7segment digits with common cathodes. Only follow the standard application in the application sheet.
The timer application may serve for helping to estimate the how many film is left in the cardriges. But I would avoid coupling it acustically. Every beat or blop may cause the timer to run. Better trigger it over the flash socket, using a monoflop circuit that is retriggerd by the flash and only keeps off after the last flash impulse of a seria of frames. This way I remote control tape recorders during shooting, while recording audio & flash impulses for later sync to the sound tracks.
Pedro
The counter applicaton is very intelligent and I am using it every time making frame accurate titles, superimposion or lap dissolves. But I never designed a special camera frame counter, as my camera just came with such a digital framecounter, counting in both directions and resetting automatically when iniciating a shutter dissolve.
But you can VERY EASYLY realize such a device, using the Intersil circuit ICL 7217A and 4x 7segment digits with common cathodes. Only follow the standard application in the application sheet.
The timer application may serve for helping to estimate the how many film is left in the cardriges. But I would avoid coupling it acustically. Every beat or blop may cause the timer to run. Better trigger it over the flash socket, using a monoflop circuit that is retriggerd by the flash and only keeps off after the last flash impulse of a seria of frames. This way I remote control tape recorders during shooting, while recording audio & flash impulses for later sync to the sound tracks.
Pedro