Building a 16mm transfer unit

[Scotness]

Alright so I've decided to take the plunge and make a 16mm transfer unit. Richard of Nanolab is going to give me some advice - but if anyone else wants to chime in please feel free.

My aim is to make a unit to transfer 16mm reversal to HD. I want the end images to be high quality so I'll do what's necessary as we go to ensure that.

Equipment

My base unit is a Bell and Howell 1692 projector, and I'm hoping to use my Canon Hf11 as the HD imaging camera.

This model was made in 1980, and I bought it probably 5 years ago from a school. As you can see in the photo it's got paint all over it - which I cleaned just after taking these photos. Though it looks bad the paint is no big deal and is water soluble poster paint - easy to remover - and it hasn't got into any of the electronics.



Paint has since been removed! (Must have been a particularly riotous art class)





I haven't cleaned this bit yet - but it's not critical at the moment. The foam has gone yucky and will need to be thrown out.





With the side door open - only a small amount of paint got through and cleaned off easily





Inside the back - the grease has dried up but everything else looks pretty clean and good.





Gunk!



After cleaning it up I did a bit of research and found some series of B&H projectors have a problem with the worm gear cracking -- I'll have to re-open this one and see if it has that problem -- if it does it might be easier just getting a new projector altogether, I'll have to see.

The quality of the optics on the condenser lense are going to be critical as well - I've got one lense assembly from an overhead projector which I'm going to pull apart and see if that works. I don't even know if it's got the right kind of lenses in it - so we'll see. Otherwise I'll buy one.

Scot

[MovieStuff]

This is an auto-load-film-eater from the world go. I would highly recommend a slot load and avoid the old B&H projectors. You are quite right about the worm gears. Very brittle.

Roger

[Scotness]

Ah thanks for the tip Roger

Scot

[David M. Leugers]

One look inside should scare you off, let alone the old worm gear problem. What you need is a B+H JAN. Why? Manual thread, super gentile on film. Incredibly easy to remove pressure plate and gate for easy cleaning. Terrific registration with 3 claw pull down. Frame adjustment moves claw (film) instead of mask which would require repositioning camera. Big case allows easy access (remove amp) modifications to drive are easy. ICECO in MIami still supplies parts and can do mods like S-16mm. Built to last. I think a Kodak Pagaent would also be a good choice. So many are around that work good except the sound. Very gentile on film. Oh I almost forgot, The JAN has a barrel shutter that only requires removing a few screws to completely remove the shutter in just a few minutes. If you were in the states I could fix you up on either one, but the shipping is a real expense...

[Scotness]

Thanks for the info David.

Here's the worm gear.



Urghh! Very cracked.

Looks like I'll have to find another contender...