Hi everyone, so here we have 720p at 12bit RAW and 18fps. And it runs on a raspberry pi 2! The port was successful.

For 720p this is about the best we can achieve with the Ximea MU9 with its Aptina MT9P031 2592 x 1944-pixel CMOS sensor with global shutter. Reason is that we have to use the Global Shutter (Global Reset Release to be precise) in order to get true Super 8 effect, NOT rolling shutter (although rolling shutter would give higher frame rates). Global Shutter ensures that each trigger-signal from the film-claw triggers the sensor to capture exactly one image. So really just like super 8. A rolling shutter would just 'roll on' capturing images, unsynchronized. The read-out time of the Aptina sensor is what limits the resolution. Inside the ~55 milliseconds (at 18fps) that we have for exposure and read-out we simply cannot read out more lines.

Things to further try are: 1. run this at 24 fps and 12 bit RAW but the sensor read-out limitation will then limit us to 1280 x 540, which is not 4:3 like regular super 8 but a nice 21:9. But it could of course also be set to 720 x 540 to get the 4:3. 2. port the software to a C.H.I.P. SBC, by NextThing (www.getchip.com). Ordered one that will hopefully arrive in June. Given what I read from the specs it might just fit into a Super 8 cartridge and be powerful enough for capturing the images. It might then even be possible to connect the cartridge to any other given PC/Laptop/smartphone via bluetooth or WiFi in order to control it (start/stop image capturing) and copy the captured images off the cartridge into the pc/laptop/smartphone. On that pc/laptop/smartphone the image processing, color-grading and film-developing/rendering can then take place, including upload to Youtube functionality.

Potentially of interest - I'm pretty sure that a pi zero is smaller than a super 8 cartridge!

http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/16/raspberry-pi-zero-camera-module/

Btw the Kickstarter project is available in draft.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/super8/730068742?token=c8f64dae

We'll launch it once we have ported to Raspberry Pi since that gives a more economic solution. In the end we might make this available as an 'IKEA' style DIY kit. Imagine we pack soldered PCB with 3D printed cartridge, touch screen, power bank and Ximea MU9 camera plus software image on a microSD card into an easy to assemble kit. Raspberry Pi optional in case you already have one. Instruction videos provided on the Digital Super 8 YouTube channel. Let's see if we can achieve that.

Thanks everyone for the supportive comments. Wil provide updates here and on my Twitter.com/super8digital as we develop. Next is to port to Raspberry Pi2 and 3 and try a C.H.I.P. Single board computer. Www.getchip.com. Might fit in the cartridge.

@hini

If it is 24 fps it is not super 8 because super 8 was 18 fps

what ?

And watching my old super 8 and doppel 8 film rolls- it is not 720p quality

what ?

...hini...s8 resolution depends on many things like registration at the gate, lens used, filmstock, not to mention how it's transferred. Most experts do think s8 has 720p resolution. And many of the more professional s8 cameras shoot 24fps....all the way up to 72fps in the beaulieus. i personally own three....beaulieu 4008zmii, canon 1014xls, and a nizo 6080, as well an an elmo gs1200. Not only that but I have a fully functional super 8 sound double system that can run four reels.

@robertGL....I agree, but the camera they're using cost 500 euros, which means there's no way this would ever cost less than a grand. That's why I compared it to the bmpcc. Personally I think the new kodak is more interesting, because it's real film and the new gate size....short of one fatal flaw...well besides price. No kodachrome film !

I suggest those that think s8 is lacking resolution, look about 3/4 of the way down this thread.... http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=2083

@ Kurt I think it is not to compete against bmpcc or RAW or 4k or RED or GH4 or .... quality. It is to transfer the special super 8 feeling we had long time ago into today´s technology. If it is 24 fps it is not super 8 because super 8 was 18 fps. And watching my old super 8 and doppel 8 film rolls- it is not 720p quality. It is much less.

We achieve 720p at 18fps. This cartridge is not to compete with 4K. It is to shoot Super8, at RAW so you can develop whatever way you want

Using infrared sensor to detect the film claw. Fps and resolution limited due to readout speed of the Aptina MT sensor.

Mechanical shutter stays in camera of course. The whole idea is to have digital super 8, where each image capture is triggered by optically sensing the film claw and then the CMOS sensor is exposed by the camera shutter being open. So no rolling shutter cause that wouldn't work. You shoot raw images which then later you can develop with our software. This is exactly how super8 filming works: you capture separate images.

I'm having trouble finding the dimensions of a super-8 cartridge online and I'm not near home to measure one, but I'm curious if there would be space in one for a raspberry pi. It seems like it might be possible to fit a raspberry pi 3 with pi camera (with lens removed) and a small usb battery into a super 8 cartridge and it should be possible, I'd think, to wire a photo sensor into one of the gpio pins... and the pi 3 camera can support up to 42 fps at 1296×972 resolution.

Without cutting a hole, you'd get no screen, but if your goal is to have something similar to the experience of shooting on film, maybe that isn't the worst thing...

@DigitalSuper8 Cool idea! Is the low resolution due to USB transfer speed limitations?

@DigitalSuper8 - so you removed the film gate and also the mechanical shutter?