High Definition TVT-D8 HD Telecine

High Definition Super-8, 8mm Telecine Models

TVT-8 HD Specifications revised again (!) 8-23-10

Standard Definition telecine transfer of films today...

Full High Definition scanning tomorrow with the same machine!

NOTE: Standard Definition transfers can be with a direct NTSC output. High Definition transfer presently requires a recording on the camera’s SDHC memory card first. (We hope that a firmware change or the next camera model will permit direct HD recording. Failing that, we can supply a TVT with direct HD output,*** however at present this will more than double the price.)

In General:

The film runs at close to the correct original filming speeds, either 18 or 24 FPS (frames per second,) without objectionable flicker. No computer is required for the transfer, or connect to a computer if you wish. Running the film at nearly the right speed in the first place gives the most smooth and pleasing picture quality in viewing. Other methods, such as inserting additional whole identical frames at irregular intervals via computer, gives an irritating “judder” or uneven artificial looking motion in the video. Automatic threading, manual exposure control assisted by an on-screen Histogram display, automatic or manual white balance. Averaging automatic exposure by CdS photocell is now included, as well as fully manual.

Highest Possible Picture Quality With Advanced Optics

A multi-Megapixel Full HD sensor and our advanced and simplified optical system gives the best picture quality you can get from 8mm film, unspoiled by the extra mirror, field lens, cheap projection lens, zoom lens, uncoated plastic “Coke bottle bottom” close-up lens, grainy little ground-glass screen, and flimsy unstable mountings of assorted lesser equipment. You can operate with normal room lights turned on. A superior 6-element Megapixel-rated computer-designed prime (non-zoom) imaging lens assures the highest possible resolution and general clarity. Optical components are bolted firmly in position and will not drift out of focus or alignment. An oversized LCD screen is mounted right-way up on the back of the camera for convenient viewing. Magnification can be increased for critical focus adjustments if needed. Screen can be re-oriented to various positions. You can instead look through the built-in viewfinder. The oversized 12-Megapixel CMOS sensor gives the ultimate in sharpness, sensitivity and low noise compared to an ordinary video camera and ten times as many light-sensitive pixels as a 3CCD standard definition one, and the native approximately 2448 x 4352 sensor resolution eliminates the delicate and expensive 3CCD prism assembly. A diffused light source minimizes the visibility of film scratches. There is blending between film frames, since the HD camera does not have an output that is usable for synchronization of the film movement. This is not usually objectionable in ordinary viewing.

The Panasonic DMC-GH1 camera has a wide selection of adjustments for manual or auto white balance, color saturation, and more. Usual high standards of TCS rugged construction with 3-motor transport, universal switching 100 to 240 volt power, 400 foot reel capacity. Film counter for no-argument billing can be specified to read feet or meters. Running hours counter for scheduling maintenance. Audio line-level inputs for recording stereo background music or narration on the memory card along with the picture. You can also record live narration by plugging a microphone (not included) directly into the camera. Fast rewind operates without running the mechanism. Sprocket drive mechanisms are used exclusively for the steadiest picture, which is important when viewing the video on a large HDTV screen. The film should be in good condition with no sloppy splices.

Standard Definition Transfers in Real Time

Set the camera for Motion JPEG, VGA resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio. Adjust the picture size to fill the screen. The camera will then output normal full-screen standard definition NTSC video through the Yellow RCA plug of the Audio-Video cable supplied. Connect this to the video input of your stand-alone DVD, VHS or MiniDV recorder and record in real time. No extra steps required, no computer needed. The camera does not have a time limit when recording separately.

High Definition Transfers

For this operating mode, you can choose from a selection of HD variations, or record SD to the built-in SDHC memory card for editing or file conversion later. No video output is available from either the Audio-Video, USB or HDMI jacks when recording with the camera.

See “Note on Speeds” below for actual available combinations for NTSC and PAL versions. Select from various HD and standard definition formats and frame rates, when available, the most useful being:

1. FHD Full HD 1920 x 1080 24p (24p sensor output wrapped in 60i)/(25p)16:9 17 Mbps, AVCHD compression, no time limit in NTSC, 30 minutes per file in PAL. Note: when this version of 24p is viewed on a computer or device without inverse 3-2 pulldown decoding, or as a still frame, it will be seen as interlaced 60i. It will be 24p when watched on a Blu-Ray player. As we understand it.

2. SH Smooth HD 1280 x 720 60p/(50p) 16:9 17 Mbps, H same except 13 Mbps, L same except 9 Mbps, all AVCHD compression, no time limit in NTSC, 30 minutes per file in PAL. SH seems to be the least troublesome to use.

3. HD 1280 x 720 30 FPS 16:9 about 30 Mbps, Motion JPEG compression, 8 minutes max. per file.

4. VGA 640 x 480 30 FPS 4:3 aspect ratio standard definition about 12 Mbps, Motion JPEG compression, 21 minutes max. per file.

The system records in real time, but unlike our Standard Definition machines, or in the Standard Def mode described above, an extra step is required:

1. Record 2 hours (160 minutes maximum) of AVCHD* digital high definition on the inserted 32 GB SDHC (or other capacity) memory card. You can then pop out the card, pop it into the companion recorder, and make an unattended AVCHD* Blu-Ray disc from it, faster than real time, with a Panasonic DMR-BSxxx or DMR-BWxxx series stand-alone recorder, available soon in the USA we hope and available now in certain countries, with other brand recorders also coming, while you are transferring another 2 hours on to the next card. Cards can be erased (formatted) for re-use. This is probably the most efficient mode if no editing is required. There is no limit on the running time per file in NTSC, and 30 minutes maximum in European version cameras, but remember that a single layer Blu-Ray disc holds only 25 GB maximum.

2. Record in digital Motion JPEG HD on the SDHC card, which we have heard is preferred to AVCHD by some people for material that will be edited. Others say that Motion JPEG is inferior to AVCHD. Remove the card, insert it in your computer’s card reader, and use it for editing and file conversion so that you can make a Blu-Ray disc with standard MPEG-2 encoding, using the computer’s Blu-Ray drive. For this you may need to use a 32 GB Class 6 card for 2 hour total capacity, and the running time per file is limited to 8 minutes.

3. Or you can feed the HDMI or USB digital playback** into a computer for editing. Or you can put the card into a card reader and plug it into the computer directly, to free up the telecine for other orders. Or you can record and play back a standard definition signal with selectable aspect ratio for recording to a conventional DVD, MiniDV or VHS recorder.

We anticipate that future camera generations will provide direct HDMI digital outputs for connecting to other HD recorder types without having to record on the SDHC card first. SDHC card not included. Camera instructions. NOTE: Very large file to download, 64 MB, 200 pages. Or, choose simplified operation guides here.

Note on PAL video:

Prices include NTSC-oriented Panasonic DMC-GH1 USA-distributed camera. Sorry but we here in the USA are usually unable to obtain the European PAL version of this camera. Overseas customers are invited to purchase a suitable camera body for PAL and send it to us for installation. We will deduct our current NTSC-camera cost from the price. We also need to receive the DC cable VEK0N98 and Audio/Video cable K1HA14CD0001 from the supplied set. We have no need for the lens, straps, AC adapter/charger, USB cable, battery, manual, CD, box, etc.

Note on speeds:

In NTSC the standard speeds are 18 and 24 FPS, and in PAL the speeds will be 18.75 and 25 FPS. 18 FPS film is recorded in 720/60p in the NTSC version. Both 720/60p and 1080/24p will work in NTSC with 24 FPS film. In PAL, film can be run at either 18.75 or 25 FPS to 720/50p. Recording 1080/25p in PAL will not work at the 25 FPS film rate and will only work well from 24 FPS film when adding the True Speed dual-range option, see below. There is blending of adjacent film frames in order to get a flickerless picture without shading error.

You may place your order now to be added to our waiting list. Order worksheet is here.

TVT-R8HD for regular 8mm film and NTSC or PAL video (specify). Feed and holdback sprockets. Automatic threading, or manual threading is available by special request. Normal sized film gate for relatively trouble-free Pillarbox transfers. Running speeds are True Speed 18 and 24 FPS in NTSC, and Pal Speed 18.75 and 25 FPS in PAL. See below if you want your PAL machine to record 1080/25p. Price $3900.

TVT-S8HD for super-8 film and NTSC or PAL video (specify). The mechanism has feed and holdback sprockets, automatic threading, and a normal sized film gate for relatively trouble-free Pillarbox transfers. Running speeds are True Speed 18 and 24 FPS in NTSC, and Pal Speed 18.75 and 25 FPS in PAL. See below if you want your PAL machine to record 1080/25p. Price $3900.

Dual Speed Range option for PAL. This is needed if you want to be able to record in 1080/25p from 24 FPS film. Otherwise you will only be able to record 24 FPS film at 25 FPS as 720/50p and 720/30p since 1080/25p will not work. This adds some True Speed circuitry to the usual Pal Speed circuit, for available speeds of 18, 18.75, 24 and 25 FPS though not all speeds are practical for use in every mode. The additional circuit board and crystal plus switch and wiring costs $100.

Please specify on all if you want your TVT-8HD initially set up for Standard (full screen 4:3) or High Definition (pillarbox 16:9) use, if High Definition which line count & compression you want initially set (FHD, SH or HD, with SH recommended), and specify whether you want to measure the film length in feet or in meters. If ordering a PAL unit, be sure to send us a PAL camera body and its included DC cable VEK0N98 (and Audio/Video cable K1HA14CD0001 if initially to be set for Standard Definition use) in time to avoid a delay in completion.

* AVCHD is an alternate standard for tapeless camcorders and Blu-Ray discs. It has the same sharpness as standard Blu-Ray but has about half the “bit rate” and requires a modern Blu-Ray player (example: Panasonic and Sony) that bears the AVCHD logo, to deal with the greater digital compression. Many older players will not recognize the format and will refuse to play it. The Wikipedia page on AVCHD is here.

** HDMI is the standard connection for HD digital monitors, but is uncommon for editing systems, except with your computer’s newly available BlackMagic Intensity Pro card. The USB digital output should also work for feeding material into a computer and making a file. We don’t know if the USB signal can be successfully converted to Firewire, but connector adapters for this purpose are for sale elsewhere. Making a fully Blu-Ray compatible disc may require additional software.

*** Direct HD Output, with the required removable zoom lens to suit our macro optical system, presently requires a much more expensive camera. It is rumored that a future version of our regular camera will have this ability.

Remark on customer expectations: Note that the resolution of 8mm film, especially regular-8, is not sufficient to give the fine detail and minimal graininess and unsteadiness on the video screen (especially a large one) that people are used to seeing in HD. Actually HD is overkill for any 8mm film. Film frames are by necessity blended together as mentioned above.

The Panasonic camera is an excellent unit and perfect in nearly every way, excepting only the fact that it does not have an uncompressed HDMI output before or during recording. It does not seem to have a tendency to overheat and we have had it turned on for hours for testing. A very thorough and long multi-page evaluation can be seen here: http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_GH1/ . There is a rumor that a future camera version will have an HDMI live output. Assuming the configuration is similar, the camera should be easily replaceable.

Incidentally, we have had quite a time developing this HD telecine. The HD camera lacks any kind of sync or video output while recording, so we cannot use our normal electronic shuttering, or synchronizing the mechanism and physical shutter to the camera. The Progressive Scan camera (with all kinds of unknown digital trickery going on inside) required us to throw everything we ever knew about telecine out the window. We custom made shutters for testing with all feasible 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 blades, and did test recordings at all possible combinations of our previously used film frame rates, camera compression modes, HD frame rates and shutter speeds, to come up with usable combinations. We found out early that the camera responds quite differently to pulsating light when previewing a shot than it does while actually recording. Also the CMOS image sensor exposes the top and bottom areas at different times via the “rolling shutter” principle, similarly to a focal plane still camera shutter. The final design works well, though necessarily with more blending of consecutive film frames than can be done with a synchronized mechanism and a standard definition camera. Possibly future camera models will have a “global shutter” exposure mode instead as found in CCD-sensor cameras.

P.S.- The TVT-8HD picture on the home page shows the camera viewfinder flat against the camera body for minimum width. The picture above shows the finder hinged open towards the operator for more convenient use.

High Definition equipment ordering worksheet is here.

Rights Notice: Material on film, tape, disc or otherwise may be subject to stated or implied Copyright or Performance Right, or the right to privacy, etc. depending on the laws of your country. Unauthorized duplication may be a violation that is civil or criminal in nature. Equipment or services offered by TCS Inc. should not be construed as inviting criminal activity. The user should ascertain if duplication might violate any rights, and obtain a written release from each affected party. Consult your attorney about any specific instance.