transfer to video

[Geronimouse]

I have 80-90 50ft rolls of super 8 that I would like to transfer to vhs (later to dvd). I have two projectors a Chinon 7500 sound that does 18 and 24 fps, also Yashica 8P3-RS which is adjustable fps! My camcorder is a Sony TRV-18E (mini DV). I have tried to convert but have problems with flicker. My question is where can I buy the brand new device made by Moviestuff called Video Workprinter. Alternatively would a Bauer T5 projector or a Panasonic WV-J20N, Goko TC-20, Elmo TRV-S8, Fumeo 9131, Sony BM2100 be a better buy for me, as I have several friends interested in transfering their movies. G'day from Australia Geronimouse

[digvid]

Hello Geronimouse -

Sounds like you have a lot of film to xfer! I have four questions for you:

1) How picky are you about the quality of your transfer?
2) Are you a do-it-yourself kind of person?
3) How budget-conscious are you?
4) Do your films have sound?

I think the answer to these questions could determine what transfer method is best for you.

If you are interested in MovieStuff's WorkPrinters, you can find them at http://www.moviestuff.tv.

- digvid

[wahiba]

There is a link to the work printer on the front page of this forum.

The flicker is probably due to the 'shutter' speed of the camcorder. I do not get this with my Hi-8 camcorder as the 1/50 'shutter' speed matches nicely the 18fps of the projector, which with a three bladed shutter means one picture around every 1/50 second.

It really depends on your pocket and the value of the films. Using an Eumig projector and a Canon Hi-8 camcorder I have recently got some of the films onto a VCD and play it on the DVD player. All things considered they are good enough for me and my home movies.

:lol: Of course, if you have some film of England getting a run, then it might be worth a professional transfer for its rarity value. ( which comment should really puzzle many of the readers of this forum! )

[MovieStuff]

I have two projectors a Chinon 7500 sound that does 18 and 24 fps, also Yashica 8P3-RS which is adjustable fps! My camcorder is a Sony TRV-18E (mini DV). I have tried to convert but have problems with flicker.

The problem is in your camera. The new line of Sony miniDV cameras leave out 1/60th ofa second on the NTSC models, so I would venture to guess they leave out 1/50th of a second on the PAL models, as well. As it stands, I would venture that you camera is defaultin to 1/100th of a second which is going to flicker like crazy or, at best, won't hold synch very long. Also, sound projectors have DC motors which are notorious for speed drift compared to AC motors. However, if you set you shutter speed to 1/50th of a second, you should be synch at 16.666 FPS. That may make any sound on your films a bit slow but that's pretty much your only option. The pitch can be changed later.

Beyond that, here are some instructions submitted to me by a CineMate client for over-riding the shutter speed problem on some Sony Mini-DV cameras:

1. Turn the Auto Shutter off. This is not to be confused with the AE
function.

2. In the AE (auto exposure) menu you can select from among 6 presets such as spotlight, sports, beach, etc. The setting of interest is "Sunset & Moon". This preset starts with 1/60th (1/50th for PAL?) and f1.6.

3. After Sunset & Moon is selected, push the "exposure" button to gain manual control of the aperture. Use the thumb wheel to adjust the aperture and set the proper exposure.

4. We now have full control of the aperture, with the shutter locked at 1/60th.

5. Don't be concerned about "sunset & moon" changing the color balance. The white balance remains in auto.

I don't know if this works the same on a PAL Sony or not. Good luck!

Roger Evans

[crimsonson]

Roger are you sure about the 1/60th shutter not being the default shutter in Sony miniDV cams? I am almost positive that it is.

[MovieStuff]

Roger are you sure about the 1/60th shutter not being the default shutter in Sony miniDV cams?

It is a strange thing, actually. I have several clients with Sonys that ordered CineMates and the first sign of trouble was one client's inability to get rid of the flicker during transfer. I asked what shutter speed he was using on his Sony and he said that here was merely taking it off "auto shutter". Upon further inspection of the menu, it appeared that his Sony (and others) lists shutter speeds of 1/100th of a second or above or 1/30th of a second or below. For some reason, 1/60th of a second is left out of the menu completely unless one follows the instructions above (which Sony did not offer; my client figured it out). If the camera is left in "auto shutter" it is possible that it will, at some point or another, select 1/60th of second by itself, depending on lighting conditions. But the inability to manually choose 1/60th of a second from the menu was verified with a call to Sony that insisted "only our professional cameras in the $2000 price range can offer special shutter speeds of 1/60th of a second."

Absurd.

If there is one thing that an NTSC camera can do, if nothing else, it will be to shoot at 1/60th of a second. Sony's reasoning was that making 1/100th of a second their default shutter speed allowed for sharper pictures and a more dramatic difference when the 1/30th shutter speed was used for low light situations.

Anyway, so far there have been a few Sony lower end cameras that will not even allow the work-around listed above. Adding to the aggrivation is that Sony has been recycling their 10x optics for years while everyone else like Panasonic, JVC and Canon offer 12x, 15x and even 18x optical zooms on even their cheapest cameras. The short zoom and lack of 1/60th shutter speed makes the Sony home miniDV cams the least desirable for working with the CineMate units.

Roger

[digvid]

Geronimouse -

If you are working with a small budget, I would think your best bet would be to get another projector--one with a variable-speed adjustment. If you can control the aperture and shutter speed manually on your camera, you should almost certainly be able to adjust the speed dial on the variable-speed projector and get rid of or reduce the flicker effect you are seeing.

If you are willing to spend a little more money and want better quality, you might try MovieStuff's CineMate. Personally I use the WorkPrinter from MovieStuff, but given the amount of material you have to transfer, maybe the CineMate would be better (it runs faster).

- digvid

[Geronimouse]

Hello Geronimouse -



Sounds like you have a lot of film to xfer! I have four questions for you:

1) How picky are you about the quality of your transfer? Pretty picky!
2) Are you a do-it-yourself kind of person? Yes
3) How budget-conscious are you? Fairly elastic
4) Do your films have sound? No

I think the answer to these questions could determine what transfer method is best for you.

If you are interested in MovieStuff's WorkPrinters, you can find them at http://www.moviestuff.tv.

- digvid

[Geronimouse]

There is a link to the work printer on the front page of this forum.


To wahiba

I am trying to sort out my camera and I am not getting very far with Sony. I have checked out the work printer and I think the Cinemate would be faster for me. I didn't get any thing re England but apparently no batsman needed to wear sunscreen on the field!!

I would like to keep in contact with you as I am an expatriate, and you are the only PAL system contact so far.

Geronimouse
The flicker is probably due to the 'shutter' speed of the camcorder. I do not get this with my Hi-8 camcorder as the 1/50 'shutter' speed matches nicely the 18fps of the projector, which with a three bladed shutter means one picture around every 1/50 second.

It really depends on your pocket and the value of the films. Using an Eumig projector and a Canon Hi-8 camcorder I have recently got some of the films onto a VCD and play it on the DVD player. All things considered they are good enough for me and my home movies.

:lol: Of course, if you have some film of England getting a run, then it might be worth a professional transfer for its rarity value. ( which comment should really puzzle many of the readers of this forum! )

[Geronimouse]

Roger are you sure about the 1/60th shutter not being the default shutter in Sony miniDV cams? I am almost positive that it is.

Crimsonson and Roger Evans

Very much appreciate your helpful replies. At the moment I am getting my head around this and am experimenting along the lines you both suggested. I will keep you informed of results. I wish sony would be more helpful!!

Regards Gerinomouse

[Guest]

1/60th is there -- you just have to turn off electronic SteadyShot. When SteadyShot is enabled the default shutter speed is 1/100 (presumably to give the camera enough processing time to shift the image around). If you turn SteadyShot off, it will default back to 1/60th.

[Geronimouse]

1/60th is there -- you just have to turn off electronic SteadyShot. When SteadyShot is enabled the default shutter speed is 1/100 (presumably to give the camera enough processing time to shift the image around). If you turn SteadyShot off, it will default back to 1/60th.

Hi "Guest" thank you for that!! Even Sony couldn't tell that to me!! As we say "downunder" your blood is worth bottling!!

Sincerest regards Geronimouse

[Guest]

1/60th is there -- you just have to turn off electronic SteadyShot. When SteadyShot is enabled the default shutter speed is 1/100 (presumably to give the camera enough processing time to shift the image around). If you turn SteadyShot off, it will default back to 1/60th.

Cool! I'll pass that information on, though I would have sworn that he had actually disengaged his steady shot function. Hmmm. Thanks again, I'll let you guys know how that works out with my clients.

Roger