I'm Back

troika · 03-15-2017, 08:11 AM

This showed up in my newsfeed this morning.

Transform Your Analog SLR Into A DSLR Using I'm Back (video) - Geeky Gadgets

ChristianRock · 03-15-2017, 08:29 AM

Looking at the pictures on his website and seeing the video all I can say is... I'm suspicious. Anyone seen any details on the "sensor"?

**boriscleto** · 03-15-2017, 08:53 AM - **2 Likes**

More Kickstarter vaporware.

Not a Number · 03-15-2017, 09:08 AM

8 megapixel camera?

Quote:

Take beautiful 35mm pictures with your old analog cameras! All you have to do is: – Detach the rear cap from the camera (this works on most cameras between the 50s and the 80s) – Adjust the exposure “hole” to the camera module installed on the back (8mp camera) – Connect the Sync Flash cable from the camera to the case – Set the exposure in “B” (Bulb) and you’re ready to go!

stevebrot · 03-15-2017, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

More Kickstarter vaporware.

What he said ^ ^ ^

What a joke. What the Kickstarter investor gets is the 3-D printer files to craft the cradle to hold the electronics. The actual innards are about as hokey as it gets. The device places a ground glass at the film plane and uses a tiny camera to photograph that ground glass.

A few years ago I saw a project where someone had cannibalized a NEX to fit into the rear of an Exakta. It was a bit crude, but it actually worked. That is more than I can say for this project.

Steve

**demondata** · 03-15-2017, 10:30 AM

Why so serious? I'm looking at this more as a fun thing to do. The music accompanying the video is certainly fun, as is the whole in-my-basement presentation. Wouldn't mind putting some of my old Pentax bodies to work again, even if the result is something akin to what Lomo delivers, and I'm not dissing Lomo either. That's also fun to use.

stevebrot · 03-15-2017, 11:16 AM

Originally posted by demondata

Why so serious? I'm looking at this more as a fun thing to do. The music accompanying the video is certainly fun, as is the whole in-my-basement presentation. Wouldn't mind putting some of my old Pentax bodies to work again, even if the result is something akin to what Lomo delivers, and I'm not dissing Lomo either. That's also fun to use.

Cool! Front him 75 Euro and keep us updated on how it goes.

Steve

troika · 03-15-2017, 12:09 PM

I'm going to start a Kickstarter so that you guys can fund my investment in this guy's Kickstarter project. When I get the product, I'll post a review.

...Or I could pick up a roll of film...

Gashog · 03-15-2017, 12:11 PM

I'll sell one of my S2 Pro bodies for a hundred bucks.
Simply take Fuji guts and firmware out of hacked Nikon N80 and reverse engineer.
Fuji didn't have to pick Nikon. They could have stuffed it into anything.

Not a Number · 03-15-2017, 12:45 PM

It could be fun. For maybe 30 shots before you get bored with it. At least you could use the Raspberry Pi for other fun projects.

**Alex645** · 03-15-2017, 01:09 PM

I only wish a product like eFilm became a viable alternative. Needless to say, 1.3MP isn't going to cut it, but it was a great idea that was probably killed by Sony, Canon, Toshiba, Kodak, and anyone with any say in the future of DSLR profits:

Faded dream: blogger looks back at the failure of the Silicon Film project: Digital Photography Review

Ontarian50 · 03-15-2017, 01:53 PM - **1 Like**

The eFilm idea had a few things going wrong with it at the time.
Yes, the megapixel count was below what was really needed.
But mainly, the thing lacked the one feature that got everybody singing the praises of digital back then - the review screen on the back of the camera.
Digital cameras lumbered along in relative obscurity, until that screen came along - then everyone wanted one. The joy of knowing "it turned out", or knowing that you needed to delete that shot and try again was invaluable to the success of the digital point-and-shoot, or SLR.
The eFilm adapter didn't have that - never mind that a 1.3MP CMOS sensor at the time would have been pretty miserable.

Today, with much smaller circuitry, better battery life, and micro SD storage, I'll bet a good case could be made to create a digital back to go on an LX. But if you wanted to get the thing off the ground, you'd probably be better launching it first for the Canon AE-1 and Nikon FE.

I'm sure there's other technical challenges to overcome, but if they built digital backs to go on a Hasselblad 500cm, I'm sure 35mm bodies are possible.

Still, if someone pulled it off, it would probably three seconds before the whiners at dPreview were asking "why doesn't it shoot 4k video?"

stevebrot · 03-16-2017, 10:46 AM

Originally posted by Ontarian50

I'm sure there's other technical challenges to overcome, but if they built digital backs to go on a Hasselblad 500cm, I'm sure 35mm bodies are possible.

Yes, if you can find a 35mm body that couples the exposure flow to the back in a manner similar to the Hassy 500CM, one could manage similar work flow as with that camera. Things would still be sort of clunky.

Steve

Jeff Lopez · 03-17-2017, 07:40 AM

I have a pristine Super ME ready for this!

---------- Post added 03-17-17 at 07:50 AM ----------

Originally posted by Ontarian50

The eFilm idea had a few things going wrong with it at the time.
Yes, the megapixel count was below what was really needed.
But mainly, the thing lacked the one feature that got everybody singing the praises of digital back then - the review screen on the back of the camera.
Digital cameras lumbered along in relative obscurity, until that screen came along - then everyone wanted one. The joy of knowing "it turned out", or knowing that you needed to delete that shot and try again was invaluable to the success of the digital point-and-shoot, or SLR.
The eFilm adapter didn't have that - never mind that a 1.3MP CMOS sensor at the time would have been pretty miserable.

Today, with much smaller circuitry, better battery life, and micro SD storage, I'll bet a good case could be made to create a digital back to go on an LX. But if you wanted to get the thing off the ground, you'd probably be better launching it first for the Canon AE-1 and Nikon FE.

I'm sure there's other technical challenges to overcome, but if they built digital backs to go on a Hasselblad 500cm, I'm sure 35mm bodies are possible.

Still, if someone pulled it off, it would probably three seconds before the whiners at dPreview were asking "why doesn't it shoot 4k video?"

I think that as long you can isolate the mirror box from external light, this should work quite well..

Gashog · 03-18-2017, 08:56 PM

Back when I first heard about this, I was taking phone pics with a Palm Pilot.
Maybe 600x800 if it was even that much.
My 7 year old Droid X has an 8megapixel camera in it.
I mean I can literally go on eBay right now and pick up a 16mp digital back for 645 for a couple hundred bucks.
If there was any money in 35mm digital film, it wouldn't be vaporware anymore and it'd be 30 megapixels.

Back to reality though I wish everyone would forget it and let it die.
I'd hate to see 35mm film go extinct for convenience/laziness/short sightedness.
Impossible Project 35mm? I'd be buthurt.

03-15-2017, 08:11 AM	#1
troika Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 1,753	I'm Back This showed up in my newsfeed this morning. Transform Your Analog SLR Into A DSLR Using I'm Back (video) - Geeky Gadgets

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03-15-2017, 08:29 AM	#2
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,912	Looking at the pictures on his website and seeing the video all I can say is... I'm suspicious. Anyone seen any details on the "sensor"?

03-15-2017, 08:53 AM - 2 Likes	#3
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	More Kickstarter vaporware.

03-15-2017, 09:08 AM	#4
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	8 megapixel camera? Quote: Take beautiful 35mm pictures with your old analog cameras! All you have to do is: – Detach the rear cap from the camera (this works on most cameras between the 50s and the 80s) – Adjust the exposure “hole” to the camera module installed on the back (8mp camera) – Connect the Sync Flash cable from the camera to the case – Set the exposure in “B” (Bulb) and you’re ready to go!

03-15-2017, 09:27 AM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by boriscleto More Kickstarter vaporware. What he said ^ ^ ^ What a joke. What the Kickstarter investor gets is the 3-D printer files to craft the cradle to hold the electronics. The actual innards are about as hokey as it gets. The device places a ground glass at the film plane and uses a tiny camera to photograph that ground glass. A few years ago I saw a project where someone had cannibalized a NEX to fit into the rear of an Exakta. It was a bit crude, but it actually worked. That is more than I can say for this project. Steve

03-15-2017, 10:30 AM	#6
demondata Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Aurora, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 632	Why so serious? I'm looking at this more as a fun thing to do. The music accompanying the video is certainly fun, as is the whole in-my-basement presentation. Wouldn't mind putting some of my old Pentax bodies to work again, even if the result is something akin to what Lomo delivers, and I'm not dissing Lomo either. That's also fun to use.

03-15-2017, 11:16 AM	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by demondata Why so serious? I'm looking at this more as a fun thing to do. The music accompanying the video is certainly fun, as is the whole in-my-basement presentation. Wouldn't mind putting some of my old Pentax bodies to work again, even if the result is something akin to what Lomo delivers, and I'm not dissing Lomo either. That's also fun to use. Cool! Front him 75 Euro and keep us updated on how it goes. Steve

03-15-2017, 12:09 PM	#8
troika Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 1,753 Original Poster	I'm going to start a Kickstarter so that you guys can fund my investment in this guy's Kickstarter project. When I get the product, I'll post a review. ...Or I could pick up a roll of film...

03-15-2017, 12:11 PM	#9
Gashog Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NY Photos: Albums Posts: 523	I'll sell one of my S2 Pro bodies for a hundred bucks. Simply take Fuji guts and firmware out of hacked Nikon N80 and reverse engineer. Fuji didn't have to pick Nikon. They could have stuffed it into anything.

03-15-2017, 12:45 PM	#10
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	It could be fun. For maybe 30 shots before you get bored with it. At least you could use the Raspberry Pi for other fun projects.

03-15-2017, 01:09 PM	#11
Alex645 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Kaneohe, HI Photos: Albums Posts: 3,527	I only wish a product like eFilm became a viable alternative. Needless to say, 1.3MP isn't going to cut it, but it was a great idea that was probably killed by Sony, Canon, Toshiba, Kodak, and anyone with any say in the future of DSLR profits: Faded dream: blogger looks back at the failure of the Silicon Film project: Digital Photography Review

03-15-2017, 01:53 PM - 1 Like	#12
Ontarian50 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 530	The eFilm idea had a few things going wrong with it at the time. Yes, the megapixel count was below what was really needed. But mainly, the thing lacked the one feature that got everybody singing the praises of digital back then - the review screen on the back of the camera. Digital cameras lumbered along in relative obscurity, until that screen came along - then everyone wanted one. The joy of knowing "it turned out", or knowing that you needed to delete that shot and try again was invaluable to the success of the digital point-and-shoot, or SLR. The eFilm adapter didn't have that - never mind that a 1.3MP CMOS sensor at the time would have been pretty miserable. Today, with much smaller circuitry, better battery life, and micro SD storage, I'll bet a good case could be made to create a digital back to go on an LX. But if you wanted to get the thing off the ground, you'd probably be better launching it first for the Canon AE-1 and Nikon FE. I'm sure there's other technical challenges to overcome, but if they built digital backs to go on a Hasselblad 500cm, I'm sure 35mm bodies are possible. Still, if someone pulled it off, it would probably three seconds before the whiners at dPreview were asking "why doesn't it shoot 4k video?"

03-16-2017, 10:46 AM	#13
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Ontarian50 I'm sure there's other technical challenges to overcome, but if they built digital backs to go on a Hasselblad 500cm, I'm sure 35mm bodies are possible. Yes, if you can find a 35mm body that couples the exposure flow to the back in a manner similar to the Hassy 500CM, one could manage similar work flow as with that camera. Things would still be sort of clunky. Steve

03-17-2017, 07:40 AM	#14
Jeff Lopez Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 531	I have a pristine Super ME ready for this! ---------- Post added 03-17-17 at 07:50 AM ---------- Originally posted by Ontarian50 The eFilm idea had a few things going wrong with it at the time. Yes, the megapixel count was below what was really needed. But mainly, the thing lacked the one feature that got everybody singing the praises of digital back then - the review screen on the back of the camera. Digital cameras lumbered along in relative obscurity, until that screen came along - then everyone wanted one. The joy of knowing "it turned out", or knowing that you needed to delete that shot and try again was invaluable to the success of the digital point-and-shoot, or SLR. The eFilm adapter didn't have that - never mind that a 1.3MP CMOS sensor at the time would have been pretty miserable. Today, with much smaller circuitry, better battery life, and micro SD storage, I'll bet a good case could be made to create a digital back to go on an LX. But if you wanted to get the thing off the ground, you'd probably be better launching it first for the Canon AE-1 and Nikon FE. I'm sure there's other technical challenges to overcome, but if they built digital backs to go on a Hasselblad 500cm, I'm sure 35mm bodies are possible. Still, if someone pulled it off, it would probably three seconds before the whiners at dPreview were asking "why doesn't it shoot 4k video?" I think that as long you can isolate the mirror box from external light, this should work quite well..

03-18-2017, 08:56 PM	#15
Gashog Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NY Photos: Albums Posts: 523	Back when I first heard about this, I was taking phone pics with a Palm Pilot. Maybe 600x800 if it was even that much. My 7 year old Droid X has an 8megapixel camera in it. I mean I can literally go on eBay right now and pick up a 16mp digital back for 645 for a couple hundred bucks. If there was any money in 35mm digital film, it wouldn't be vaporware anymore and it'd be 30 megapixels. Back to reality though I wish everyone would forget it and let it die. I'd hate to see 35mm film go extinct for convenience/laziness/short sightedness. Impossible Project 35mm? I'd be buthurt.