One idea to do slow motion with super 8

[Guest]

As some of you already know, I have Workprinter-transfer unit and I use my own method (I don't know, is anybody out there doing the same way?) how to transfer 8 material with it to computer. My method is to capture all frames at the first individual bmp-files (uncompressed ones) and then import them using Raptoredit-software to timeline and make them one avi-file.

Because I have these frames in bmp-files I found out, that I can make an slow motion effect with them simply giving the lenght of one frame longer than one frame!

It's the same method, you can use with animation, if you shoot 12 fps and double every frames.

Here is one example mpg-file of that test:

http://www.sorb-i-tol.com/slowmotiontest.mpg

The 1st clip is 18 fps shot footage playing in 25 fps speed, 2nd one is the same clip with 3 times longer frame lenght (same like footage shot with 72 fps), 3rd one is the same clip with 5 times longer frame lenght (same like footage shot with 90 fps).

OK, that result isn't the same if you have originally shot with 72 fps or 90 fps speed, but for my taste that test result looks anyway very nice.
And you don't have to shot with faster speed, you can use old whatever material to get that effect. If I compare the result to my Canopus speed control quality, that test result is better.

I use also very normal old handheld shot super 8 footage to get all possible problems to that test. I f you have shot with tripod, the quality is much better.

OK, let me know, what do you think.

[jukkasil]

That post was from me.

[Carlos 8mm]

Guest,

Yep, your metod is the best to recreate slow motion efects, because you have transfered each S8 frame into a complete Video frame, so there´s no mixed frames in the clip (whith normal trasfers at 17-18 fps, some frames are repeat and others are mixed ( in a intrlace video frame you can see sometimes in both fiels a portion of two differents S8 frames) All this happen to complete the 25 fps (PAL) with an aproximate normal 18 fps without flickering.
If i try to get slow motion (with Adobe Premiere) with a video transfer like the mentioned above, Premiere deinterlace and make frame interpolation when the speed is reduced. So the image quality gets down.

Cheers,

Carlos. 8)
( Yes, the summer is coming soon here!!)

[jukkasil]

Guest,
Yep, your metod is the best to recreate slow motion efects, because you have transfered each S8 frame into a complete Video frame, so there´s no mixed frames in the clip (whith normal trasfers at 17-18 fps, some frames are repeat and others are mixed ( in a intrlace video frame you can see sometimes in both fiels a portion of two differents S8 frames) All this happen to complete the 25 fps (PAL) with an aproximate normal 18 fps without flickering.
If i try to get slow motion (with Adobe Premiere) with a video transfer like the mentioned above, Premiere deinterlace and make frame interpolation when the speed is reduced. So the image quality gets down.

Yes, that was my main point show you. So, if you'll transfer super 8 material with Workprinter using still frame capture possibility of one of these programs and save frames as still images, you can make progressive scan video-files of it and also use these kind of slow motion possibilities.

Let say, you have shot slow motion material with 54 fps. Then you'll put the frames then to the timeline with lenght of for example 5 frames, you'll get very slow, but still good looking slow motion effect!

It would be like shot with 125 fps speed, when showing the final result with 25 fps PAL speed.

[Carlos 8mm]

In another post I propose to use a digital photo camera with at least 2.1 Megapixels instad a Video camera. Just capturig each S8 frames at 1600 x 1200 pixels and then edit and reduce the size at I.E. 768 X 576 (pal). This way we can make HQ transfers , since the pixel matrix is superior and allows "to suck all the juice" to a S8 frame. (more sharp image and less video noise and distortion, due all the process is made digitally ).

Carlos.
Jeez, too much hot! 8)

[mattias]

less video noise

which can also be obtained by capturing the same frame twice or more and blending them to one. by exposing them differently you can even increase the latitude, as i wrote in another thread. somebody with a workprinter should really test both these ideas. i can guarantee you that they work (they are well known and century old still photography darkroom techniques), but i don't know how big the improvement would be and if it would be worthwhile.

/matt

[mattias]

bump.

why does a thread die as soon as i post this idea? :-) i has happened three times now. sure, there was some respons the last time, but it would be so cool if somebody who actaully owned a workprinter would try it and tell us the results...

/matt