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digital backs for classic slr cameras

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Posted on February 4, 2004 at 03:48:02
nigelbetts
 wishful thinking maybe, but does anyone know of any developement into making digital backs or filmplane inserts for classic slr cameras, i use olympus om gear--& really don't want to give it up as yet, i see digital is the way to go--but it costs thousands to get a decent setup.a while back i had seen articles of a digital insert @ the film plane that was in developement stage--does anybody know if this is a viable technology,does current chip or sensor size still prevent advancements here/& how does the future look for these insertable gizmos.--or is the idea just a dead end,--opinions welcome .
thanks in advance.

 

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Re: digital backs for classic slr cameras, posted on February 5, 2004 at 08:51:09
Hornlover
Manufacturer

Posts: 2529
Joined: March 8, 2002
 The one you heard about died from lack of interest. It offered too little too late (only 1 MP, no screen for viewing image, overpriced, etc.)
I would not hold my breath waiting for one. If one were to be developed, it would probably be for Nikon or Canon, the major players in the pro arena, not for Olympus, which is regarded as more of a minor player (not to say Olympus didnt make great film cameras, which they did).
Something like this would have to have the promise of paying back the development costs, so thats why I dont expect to see one.

 

You are correct sir: I believe it was built around a film canister size at $700., posted on February 5, 2004 at 09:26:50
Joe M
Audiophile

Posts: 11980
Joined: September 27, 2001
 For that $$$ you can buy any digi camera. Look here for a review on some fine Olympus digi's, E-1 changes lenes also.

 

Re: You are correct sir: I believe it was built around a film canister size at $700., posted on February 6, 2004 at 07:58:55
Hornlover
Manufacturer

Posts: 2529
Joined: March 8, 2002
 Unfortunately, I feel the E-1 is also destined for the history books. Its just too pricey for what it offers, now that both Canon and Nikon have digital SLR's out under 1k, and with higher resolution to boot. It has nice features, but the competition is going to kill it.

 

Leica, posted on February 10, 2004 at 10:19:19
Frunobulax


 
Leica is about to debut their 10mp back for the R8 & R9. It will be on sale probably in August. There have been on/off rumors about Nikon making the F5 (replacement for the F4) with interchangeable film & digital backs.

The problems with trying to make a digital back for a film camera are the connections required between the shutter, meter, lens to control exposure with the digital electronics that would be housed in the back. Most cameras (except the R8 & R9) lack these connections points.

 

thanks for answers guys., posted on February 29, 2004 at 11:40:29
nigelbetts
 thankyou to those whom threw in some answers here,
i don't get the connection point though --as surely all thats needed is a chip that slips in & acts like film(either you get the correct exposure via the mechanics & settings of the shutter/exposure settings or you don't.
the chip controller would be set up just as if it were a certain ASA rated film & the resulting exposures sent to a storage module.the actual exposures would be controlled by the slr(with some trail & error learning curve).
Am i over simplifying this??.
methinks --this will be possible once the size of the sensors/chips are made larger & upgrades become available for digital models--even the new today(fixed) dig slrs will be obselete in a very few years, when they are designed with upgrades in mind--i feel that will be when we have truely arrived. simultaneously i expect gizmos to appear for inserting into a classic film slr.
regards nigel.

 

Here's the some of the problems..., posted on March 2, 2004 at 10:19:08
Frunobulax


 
There are several problems. First is the the rear nodal point of the lens to the image plane. Film is very thin, solid-state imaging devices are thick. The image plane is really the surface of the imgager - but, there is usually a piece of glass over the top of the imager (IR filter). This means the imager now sticks out beyond where the film plane is, and can interfere with the rear element on some lenses, and in some cameras interfere with the focal plane shutter. If you move the imager back to get the cover glass out of the way - then the imager surface is no longer at the focal point.

The entire assembly has to be engineered to get the imager at the correct position, keeping it out of the way of the shutter and the rear lens elements. That's why, although many digital SLRs look like a converted film camera, if you examined them closely and did some measurements of internal parts, and distances, you would find out the shutters are not in the same position as their "look-alike" film counterpart.

If you are thinking of a film type cartridge that would slip into the camera in place of film, look on the Internet for a company called "Silicon Film," - which has never gone anywhere in the past 5 years because it's apparently a solution in search of a problem. Or, it really doesn't work as advertised - you'll have to make your own mind up about that.

It's a great idea - I wish the conversion was as easy as just sticking in a solid-state film substitute. Unfortunately it's not that easy as the whole camera has to work as an imaging system. Rumours (don't you love them?) have Nikon introducing the F-6 at some future date with interchangeable film & digital backs like the Leica R-8 & R-9. No reason they can't do it - Leica has proven you can do it.

 

Follow up Link to Siliconfilm........., posted on March 2, 2004 at 18:45:52
Joe M


 
Nothing new seems to be added to their site......but look here

http://www.siliconfilm.com/

 

Re: The Problem Is:, posted on March 9, 2004 at 17:13:50
Vinylly


 
These digital backs probably are extreamly expensive. My bet is almost as expensive as the camera itself.
Why not just get the new Leica Digilux 2 ($1900) or the Panasonic Lumix LC1 ($1600) same camera and lens without the red Leica dot.
Incidently you can get a Kodak digital back for Hasselblads at around $16,000.00.

 

The information at this time..., posted on March 11, 2004 at 06:09:49
Frunobulax


 
The Leica back for the R8/R9 is target priced in the $5k range. At this point in time they're floating a number of prices to see the feedback they get from their reps and potential customers.

Price could be higher (up to $6500) could be lower ($4200). Either way, they have to come in around the price of the Canon 11 megapixel for the body and back, or they won't be real competetive in the price point range with the Kodak SLR/n going for $4495 from some places.

The Digilux 2 isn't in the same category as an R8 or R9 with a larger format sensor (and larger pixels = less noise), 10 megapixel back.

 

it's not just the camera --its the lenses too., posted on April 21, 2004 at 12:57:35
nigelbetts
 well its not just the camera i'm trying to save --i'm trying to preserve my investment in high quality lenses as well.so possibly using a dig back on my om body enables me to still use my tamrons, sigmas ,vivitars facilitating use of the new dig technology---i'm not ready to replace all these lenses with horendously expensive digital equivilants.

 

Re: Leica, posted on April 29, 2004 at 17:24:14
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 I dream of the day they make something for the M series, You'd think it would be easy since they are mostly mechanical camaras.

 

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