Autochrome, Sensor RGB Screen, Answer to lack of color film

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RGB Screen and BW Film can be a answer to lack of color film. I am living the problem with Regular 8 mm camera , there is no new color film for these cameras. I thought if we find an digital camera sensor RGB screen , we would overcome of lack of color film , they come in many sizes , there are lots of repair shops would have them.

Is there anyone who knows these screens prices ?

Final image would be created with post processing or using the same screen on enlarger.


Mustafa Umut Sarac
Istanbul
 

L Gebhardt

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An interesting idea. Here are some random thoughts, which certainly may be wrong since I have never tried this.

To use the same screen would require reversal processing of the black and white film, or reversal in software once scanned. To print on color negative paper (RA4) you would need a custom CMY screen that reverses the one used for taking. I don't know if those are available, but I doubt they are common if they are.

If you want to use this for movie film I think getting things in register at projection speed would be very difficult. You will also lose resolution, which may be important at the small 8mm size. If you make the screen course enough registration gets somewhat easier, but the resolution will go down more.

The screen on many digital cameras is very fine. It may be too fine for all but the finest grain films out there.

You will lose film speed with the filters. The ideal speed for each color may be different, so you may end up with a channel or two either over or under exposed. The film spectral sensitivity will play a big part in this. Some films may work better than other.

I imagine you could get a screen for 8mm by simply scavenging one from a busted low res DLSR. And of the APS sized ones with the low 6MP resolution should be cheap and plentiful. I would start with on older Nikon D100 / D70 or early Canon Rebel. I'm sure there are many others, and some of them sure to be sold cheap for parts on ebay. If you want to use it for larger film it will be much harder to find. You could also contact some of the companies that convert cameras to IR or monochrome and see if they have some they would sell for cheap.
 
OP
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Larry,

I will not use the camera for movie, I will use it as photograph camera. I think I will follow digital post process route. I will never use digital camera because they feel not real. I have 2500 frames to shoot for 12 dollars. I dont think any old digital camera would survive with 3 rolls may be 100 shots.

Umut
 

L Gebhardt

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If you go all digital post processing you should be able to write a program/script to convert a monochrome scan into color, so no need to align the original filter back up with the film to scan. The resulting resolution will be low with 8mm then further reduced by using a bayer filter. Figure you will be cutting the recorded image resolution by over 50% in each dimension. So a negative that made a decent 8x10 will now make a decent 4x5.

Have you thought about doing three shots with filters. For static images that will give you higher image quality.

As far as how real digital feels, I think at least half of the feel is in the output process. So if you are going to process digitally, is capture with a bayer filter on film really that much different?
 
OP
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Three shot is excellent , I like the final colors very much but I have another fox running in my mind. If you can find a bayer filter made not from only 3 colors but 1000 colors , what would be the result. An Belgian firm started to manufacture such bayer filters for hyperspectral imaging.
If we calculate how much the resolution drops , in your calculation , it must be more. I am stlll dont know how to merge these colors in to single photograph with 1000 layers of information. When you reach such a detail , film recording is still faster IMHO.

And what about when you use a bayer filter for 6x6 camera and film. You can beat me with small format digital camera but what happens when you go large and 1000 colors also ?
 
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