Homemade 35mm Adapter

Agus Casse · November 20th, 2003, 05:59 PM

Yeah that is my dad, he helped me a lot in this project..

i have great news... i download the mini 35 manual, and i discovered that i was missing a part... the relay lens... now i am making a homemade version of it... also i work more on the ground glass....

Just for an advance.. it is all in the ground glass... the fake cd plastic loose a lot of light...

Agus Casse · November 21st, 2003, 01:42 AM

GREAT NEWS !!!

Ok, i solve the whole optics problem, now there is no vigneting at all.. i improve the ground glass, and change a little the design to reduce the noise and vibrations (need to build a metal skeleton to reduce them all to zero, the video shows vibrations from my hand adjusting the lens's focus) ...

Check this video i finish it as soon as i could finish the problems mentioned before.

http://altoque.tv/toy35mmtest.wmv

Another Test with some color grading and "film look" filters

http://altoque.tv/cigarros35mmtest.wmv

Brandt Wilson · November 21st, 2003, 10:19 AM

Agus,

After a week, I've finally fixed my account so I can post again...

Congratulations on your accomplishment!! The images are gorgeous.

Is the grain in the image due to the ground glass grain or DV artifacting? If it is part of the ground glass, I can recommend a couple people who can improve the resolution of the grind.

How noisy is the oscillator? Have you thought of rubber mounting it to your housing to eliminate vibration? This might help when you focus your image. Essentially, wherever your motor or ground glass touches the frame, you would insert a bit of rubber to minimize vibration.

Anyway, keep us posted.

I'm sure we'd all love to see a schematic if you're in a sharing mood!

-Brandt

J. Clayton Stansberry · November 21st, 2003, 11:01 AM

Wow, that DOF is great. How does the focusing on this system work? Keep it coming...can't wait to see the finished product!

Agus Casse · November 21st, 2003, 01:24 PM

I think that the most simple the design of the adapter is, the better it will work, what i need now is make the metal skeleton to eliminate all vibration and to secure the 3 parts of the adapter, the lens, the box, and the relay lens.

I have been thinking a lot about postin the plans to build it, i think i will really soon, but i really want that the people remember that i build it first.

About the grain, my camera is a TRV18, if you know the model, you will know it is the cheapest DV camera around, when you got low light and your exposure is on max, you get always grain.

J. Clayton Stansberry · November 21st, 2003, 01:58 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Agus Casse : I have been thinking a lot about postin the plans to build it, i think i will really soon, but i really want that the people remember that i build it first.
-->>>

You might post something in the business part of this forum on how to copyright or trademark the plans....and make sure you name it after yourself! If it's any consolation, I think we all appreciate what you are doing...I know I do. There's nothing better than making something better by modifying it and doing it yourself!

Paul Bettner · November 21st, 2003, 02:08 PM

Agus, this is really great looking. I eagerly await your posting of the plans... I'd love to give this a try myself!!

thank you so much,
paulb

Peter Sciretta · November 21st, 2003, 03:20 PM

I wanna know how to build this thing... it looks awesome!

Peter

Noah Posnick · November 23rd, 2003, 03:14 PM

I would love to see the plans for this. I am shooting a DV feature in a month or so and I wanted to rent the Mini35 adaptor, however, it is out of my budget. this would be incredible if I could build this. Please let me know. My email address is noah@posnick.com

Agus Casse · November 23rd, 2003, 09:54 PM

Here are the pictures of maybe the last version of the adapter.

http://altoque.tv/35mmAdapter/35mm7_0004.jpg
http://altoque.tv/35mmAdapter/35mm7_0005.jpg
http://altoque.tv/35mmAdapter/35mm8_0001.jpg
http://altoque.tv/35mmAdapter/35mm8_0003.jpg
http://altoque.tv/35mmAdapter/35mm8_0005.jpg

The image now is almost perfect, i rapidly reduce the vibrations, and make a metal support that connects to the tripod hole, also the whole adapter can be detached with no problems with no screws at all... check 35mm8_0003.jpg.

Check the phone cable attached to the battery box, i place it in the mic holder, if i need it to attach a light or another mic, i can detach it and put it in my pocket... it comes really on handy cause there you have the on/off switch, and you can remove some weight to the camera using a stabilizer

I will post a video sample soon. About the plans, i need to make the webpage, and take the pictures and explain how to build it.

Noah Posnick · November 23rd, 2003, 10:31 PM

This is great, but I am a little confused... Doing the cd rotate or not? If it doesn't what is the need for all of that? Also I'm glad to hear you will be putting a "how to" together. Rougly when do you think you'll have this up by? I'm only asking because i'm so eager to get started on my own.

Agus Casse · November 24th, 2003, 12:08 AM

Of course,

you need to rotate the cd so the grain will disappear. i will put in raw instructions how you could build the basic version of the adapter, while i start making the plans and taking some picture in how to build a better working version.

1.) Buy a 25 spindle CDR pack...

2.) Drill 2 holes (see the picture) from one you put your Camera lens and in the other you put your dv camera,

3.) Take a electric motor from a toy (those $ 0.99 stores are your best allies in this project) and put it in the center of the spindle, you need to drill another hole.

4.) Take one of the fake cds, those thar look like cristal glass, and from one side you take some 600 sandpaper, and carefully you start scratching one side of the fake cd... (this is your ground glass)

5.) Basically now you just put your pieces together, the lens, the cd spindle box, with the fake cd rotating inside thanks of the electric motor, and in the other side you dv camera.. you will notice that the lenses is making a projection in the groundglass, when you start rotating it, you will check that it is like a hologram floating in the air.. that is the what you got to film with the dv camera.

Paul Bettner · November 24th, 2003, 01:48 AM

Fantastic Agus, that looks like almost enough to start experimenting on my own.

A few questions:

What is the "relay lens" and where is it in your set up?

What is that piece that connects the film lens to the CDR spindle case. Is that the relay lens?

What did you use for the battery pack? Did that come from the toy also? What toy did you use? (im trying to determine what speed motor I need - i.e. how fast to spin the ground glass.)

What did you use to connect the pieces together? Epoxy?

Thank you SO much Agus, your project is really going to help me out. I can't wait to see your new video sample!

paulb

Agus Casse · November 24th, 2003, 01:57 AM

The relay lens is where you put your Dv camera,

The piece that conect the film lens to the CDR spindle case is just a plastic tube with the same diameter (i took it from a flash light in the latest model of the adapter, so i can turn it and remove it to change lenses), i use 2 AA, about the speed of the ground glass (the fake cd) it could be said that it should be like the shutter speed... you will get it as soon as you build yours, you the first step is to get the projection in the ground glass, then you can start experimenting a lot.

I use one of those plastic guns, the ones that you put silicone tubes and they get heated and liquified (i got lots of burns with it)

TIP: There is a center circle in the hard plastic of the spindle, use that to center the electric motor, that is esential, as well as when you will stick the ground glass, it has to be perfectly centered, or you will start getting vibrations that will screw your footage.

Agus Casse · November 24th, 2003, 02:01 AM

I recomend you to dowload the mini35 digital manual, there you will see the order of the pieces... my model is a homemade copy of that device... it works the same, but more basic, also remember that the fabrication of the ground glass is the hardest part, that will depend your quality of video and grain... i will for example make a glass version, cause the plastic from the cd loose a lot of light steps.

November 21st, 2003, 11:01 AM	#19
J. Clayton Stansberry Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 316	Wow, that DOF is great. How does the focusing on this system work? Keep it coming...can't wait to see the finished product! __________________ I understand everything about nothing.

November 21st, 2003, 01:58 PM	#21
J. Clayton Stansberry Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 316	<<<-- Originally posted by Agus Casse : I have been thinking a lot about postin the plans to build it, i think i will really soon, but i really want that the people remember that i build it first. -->>> You might post something in the business part of this forum on how to copyright or trademark the plans....and make sure you name it after yourself! If it's any consolation, I think we all appreciate what you are doing...I know I do. There's nothing better than making something better by modifying it and doing it yourself! __________________ I understand everything about nothing.

November 23rd, 2003, 03:14 PM	#24
Noah Posnick Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 64	I would love to see the plans for this. I am shooting a DV feature in a month or so and I wanted to rent the Mini35 adaptor, however, it is out of my budget. this would be incredible if I could build this. Please let me know. My email address is noah@posnick.com __________________ Noah Posnick http://www.posnick.com

November 23rd, 2003, 10:31 PM	#26
Noah Posnick Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 64	This is great, but I am a little confused... Doing the cd rotate or not? If it doesn't what is the need for all of that? Also I'm glad to hear you will be putting a "how to" together. Rougly when do you think you'll have this up by? I'm only asking because i'm so eager to get started on my own. __________________ Noah Posnick http://www.posnick.com

November 20th, 2003, 05:59 PM	#16
Agus Casse Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Guatemala Posts: 322	Yeah that is my dad, he helped me a lot in this project.. i have great news... i download the mini 35 manual, and i discovered that i was missing a part... the relay lens... now i am making a homemade version of it... also i work more on the ground glass.... Just for an advance.. it is all in the ground glass... the fake cd plastic loose a lot of light...

November 21st, 2003, 01:42 AM	#17
Agus Casse Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Guatemala Posts: 322	GREAT NEWS !!! Ok, i solve the whole optics problem, now there is no vigneting at all.. i improve the ground glass, and change a little the design to reduce the noise and vibrations (need to build a metal skeleton to reduce them all to zero, the video shows vibrations from my hand adjusting the lens's focus) ... Check this video i finish it as soon as i could finish the problems mentioned before. http://altoque.tv/toy35mmtest.wmv Another Test with some color grading and "film look" filters http://altoque.tv/cigarros35mmtest.wmv

November 21st, 2003, 10:19 AM	#18
Brandt Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 220	Agus, After a week, I've finally fixed my account so I can post again... Congratulations on your accomplishment!! The images are gorgeous. Is the grain in the image due to the ground glass grain or DV artifacting? If it is part of the ground glass, I can recommend a couple people who can improve the resolution of the grind. How noisy is the oscillator? Have you thought of rubber mounting it to your housing to eliminate vibration? This might help when you focus your image. Essentially, wherever your motor or ground glass touches the frame, you would insert a bit of rubber to minimize vibration. Anyway, keep us posted. I'm sure we'd all love to see a schematic if you're in a sharing mood! -Brandt

November 21st, 2003, 01:24 PM	#20
Agus Casse Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Guatemala Posts: 322	I think that the most simple the design of the adapter is, the better it will work, what i need now is make the metal skeleton to eliminate all vibration and to secure the 3 parts of the adapter, the lens, the box, and the relay lens. I have been thinking a lot about postin the plans to build it, i think i will really soon, but i really want that the people remember that i build it first. About the grain, my camera is a TRV18, if you know the model, you will know it is the cheapest DV camera around, when you got low light and your exposure is on max, you get always grain.

November 21st, 2003, 02:08 PM	#22
Paul Bettner Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 42	Agus, this is really great looking. I eagerly await your posting of the plans... I'd love to give this a try myself!! thank you so much, paulb

November 21st, 2003, 03:20 PM	#23
Peter Sciretta Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 72	I wanna know how to build this thing... it looks awesome! Peter

November 23rd, 2003, 09:54 PM	#25
Agus Casse Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Guatemala Posts: 322	Here are the pictures of maybe the last version of the adapter. http://altoque.tv/35mmAdapter/35mm7_0004.jpg http://altoque.tv/35mmAdapter/35mm7_0005.jpg http://altoque.tv/35mmAdapter/35mm8_0001.jpg http://altoque.tv/35mmAdapter/35mm8_0003.jpg http://altoque.tv/35mmAdapter/35mm8_0005.jpg The image now is almost perfect, i rapidly reduce the vibrations, and make a metal support that connects to the tripod hole, also the whole adapter can be detached with no problems with no screws at all... check 35mm8_0003.jpg. Check the phone cable attached to the battery box, i place it in the mic holder, if i need it to attach a light or another mic, i can detach it and put it in my pocket... it comes really on handy cause there you have the on/off switch, and you can remove some weight to the camera using a stabilizer I will post a video sample soon. About the plans, i need to make the webpage, and take the pictures and explain how to build it.

November 24th, 2003, 12:08 AM	#27
Agus Casse Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Guatemala Posts: 322	Of course, you need to rotate the cd so the grain will disappear. i will put in raw instructions how you could build the basic version of the adapter, while i start making the plans and taking some picture in how to build a better working version. 1.) Buy a 25 spindle CDR pack... 2.) Drill 2 holes (see the picture) from one you put your Camera lens and in the other you put your dv camera, 3.) Take a electric motor from a toy (those $ 0.99 stores are your best allies in this project) and put it in the center of the spindle, you need to drill another hole. 4.) Take one of the fake cds, those thar look like cristal glass, and from one side you take some 600 sandpaper, and carefully you start scratching one side of the fake cd... (this is your ground glass) 5.) Basically now you just put your pieces together, the lens, the cd spindle box, with the fake cd rotating inside thanks of the electric motor, and in the other side you dv camera.. you will notice that the lenses is making a projection in the groundglass, when you start rotating it, you will check that it is like a hologram floating in the air.. that is the what you got to film with the dv camera.

November 24th, 2003, 01:48 AM	#28
Paul Bettner Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 42	Fantastic Agus, that looks like almost enough to start experimenting on my own. A few questions: What is the "relay lens" and where is it in your set up? What is that piece that connects the film lens to the CDR spindle case. Is that the relay lens? What did you use for the battery pack? Did that come from the toy also? What toy did you use? (im trying to determine what speed motor I need - i.e. how fast to spin the ground glass.) What did you use to connect the pieces together? Epoxy? Thank you SO much Agus, your project is really going to help me out. I can't wait to see your new video sample! paulb

November 24th, 2003, 01:57 AM	#29
Agus Casse Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Guatemala Posts: 322	The relay lens is where you put your Dv camera, The piece that conect the film lens to the CDR spindle case is just a plastic tube with the same diameter (i took it from a flash light in the latest model of the adapter, so i can turn it and remove it to change lenses), i use 2 AA, about the speed of the ground glass (the fake cd) it could be said that it should be like the shutter speed... you will get it as soon as you build yours, you the first step is to get the projection in the ground glass, then you can start experimenting a lot. I use one of those plastic guns, the ones that you put silicone tubes and they get heated and liquified (i got lots of burns with it) TIP: There is a center circle in the hard plastic of the spindle, use that to center the electric motor, that is esential, as well as when you will stick the ground glass, it has to be perfectly centered, or you will start getting vibrations that will screw your footage.

November 24th, 2003, 02:01 AM	#30
Agus Casse Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Guatemala Posts: 322	I recomend you to dowload the mini35 digital manual, there you will see the order of the pieces... my model is a homemade copy of that device... it works the same, but more basic, also remember that the fabrication of the ground glass is the hardest part, that will depend your quality of video and grain... i will for example make a glass version, cause the plastic from the cd loose a lot of light steps.