Hi all. Quick update here. We are working with the 2K camera right now to get frame detection working and using what we find to calculate our needs for handling 4K (see the thread regarding PC requirements for more on that)
Our approach for frame detection will be a combo of reflective sensors (more on that below) and a closed-loop stepper motor that will give us the rotary encoder readings.
In plain english: we’re going to count the average number of holes over time and distance to determine when to take a picture. This means that if there are missing or damaged holes, we will still be capturing frames based on the average and therefore not miss any frames.
Regarding the reflective sensors:
Pros: cheap, they work
Cons: you have to position them for each change of film gauge you do (theoretically, we might have a solution there)
The alternatives to the reflective sensor are:
- a pointed light source (laser, LED, etc) similar to MovieStuff and other scanners
- similar or slightly more expensive than our approach and still needs adjusting
- we just decided we had more confidence in the reflective sensors (for now)
- a separate camera trained to identify sprocket holes
- expensive and something we can do later as an upgrade.
- could be anything from a webcam to the Firefly DL by Flir.
We are aiming to have test results by the end of the month. I’ll post results here.