OKTO35 Mk3 3D-PRINTED ANALOG FILM MOVIE CAMERA
Building the preproduction OKTO35 Mk3 camera is in full swing. It will be better and a more refined version than Mk2 with many new features, parts/cost optimization, improved design, and a better overall user experience. After a successful build, it will be thoroughly tested and reevaluated. In the meantime, you can participate in a more in-depth project discussion in the comment section at the bottom of this page.
What is possibly to come from the OKTO35 Mk3 camera?
- film scanning procedure using a smartphone via a wireless connection
- glass optical viewfinder with digital OLED graphical framing overlay
- crystal-sync true shooting FPS speed, enabling perfect sound recording synchronization
- possible external film magazine add-on for longer shooting time
- increased shooting FPS range from 1 to at least 24 frames per second
- bigger C-mount lens support
- variable film frame gate size
- charging & firmware update via USB-C connection
- replaceable battery
- reduced running noise due to a quieter stepper motor
- reduction in film shake and better mid-exposure frame stabilization
- simplified and more robust external and internal design
- more defined film frame edges with reduced neighboring track bleed-in
- and more …
Please note, that some progress updates may take longer to appear due to unpredictable project development problems or life events down the road. At the end of the day, I’m only human :/
This is great, I want one bad, already messing with the Lomokino a hand crank 35mm camera released 13 years ago, this is that to the max. I want your camera.
Thanks! I’ll try to make it a reality.
To the blazsemprimoznik.com administrator, Your posts are always well-referenced and credible.
Just checking in on your progress. How is it going? Also do you have a rough price point for the camera? I’d like to know how much to save up for one.
Hi! Still working on the camera body CAD design. It’s taking me longer than I anticipated.
But I think there should be a progress update coming in the next few weeks.
Price wise, It’s hard to say for now. After finished design, rough price could be known.
Muy bien. Estoy dispuesto a comprar la cámara en cuanto esté lista. Incluso podría hacer una pre compra si es necesario. lagg2109@gmail.com desde Quito, Ecuador.
Thanks! I have added you to my list. Once the project is finished you’ll be notified.
Would it be possible to make a projector out of this?
Theoretically, it could be possible but practically speaking I wouldn’t advise it.
The setup would need a strong light source concentrated in a small area, which could burn or melt the housing plastic. The produced projected shutter flicker would be also problematic as it would be the same frequency as the shoot footage and transporting film through the camera multiple times (aside from the shooting and scanning) could produce excessive scratches.
Maybe the solution for the flicker could be time controlled low intensity LED for projection. The user could attach it to the camera’s output, making multiple LED flashes during a frame projection and eliminating the flicker problem and without the use of the shutter. The LED would be off during the frame transition. The camera would also need a C-mount projection lens.
Very nice camera! I happen to have approximately 50 – 100 ft of expired slightly fogged 35mm film. Normally I’d shoot it myself but it’s a bit fogged and slow. I would be willing send it to you for testing purposes.
Thanks! Sure, I could use some film if you are willing to send it to me.
You can DM me via blaz.sem5@gmail.com for more info.
Hello, I was on Youtube looking at videos on 16mm film and I stumbled across your videos on the OKTO35 project you’re working on and I have some questions.
First one, is it possible to rewind the film so you can shoot multiple exposures on the OKTO35? Secondly, will I be able to switch out lenses on this camera? And finally, do you have any plans to create a 16mm film camera at some point in the future and would you be able to make it compatible with Super16 film stock?
I’m new to cinematography and I’m really loving what you’re doing with this project and I’ll definitely keep my eye on this. I wish you all the best and I hope you have a good day.
Yes, the okto35 shoots in multiple film passes (4 long tracks), here the film rewinding and lens shift are done fully automatically via built-in motors. Multiple exposures on the same track could also be a possibility. Lense can also be switched for a different one via C-mount support. These features will be included in the next OKTO35 Mk3 camera.
Hmh, there could be a possibility of a 16mm/Super16 camera in the future, but it all depends on the demand.
I would 100% love to buy one of these.
Hi, i like your style of how of you present your project, and I like the camera and the footage as well. I’m learning a lot just by watching what you are doing and how you solve things. I was wondering which lens did you used to film ?
I presume that hypothetically the camera could be adapted to film in 16mm format as well.
Thanks! For filming I used a new 8mm C-mount Arducam lense (2/3″ format), which is normally used for machine vision,
but also works great for okto35 format. I’m also planing to have a switchable gate size (if physically possible) between 4:3 (current) and 16:9 (between Super8 and 16mm format size).
A full 16mm format isn’t yet possible due to current shutter size and film advance drive limitations. For this a new system would have to be developed.
That’s a pretty sweet viewfinder! I worry that all the bells and whistles are going to bump up the cost of the camera to a point that you might only make 10 or so. Also does the framing move every time the camera starts a new strip? Or does the back adjust and the lens stay put?
Thanks! This new viewfinder won’t affect the final cost that much. The framing will also move every time there is a switch to the new film strip/column.
I think it should be completely automatic system, all the user has to do is input the distance from the object to the film plane.
The lens moves on each film film strip/column change, otherwise the internal mechanism would be to complicated and unreliable.
And the framing brightness will also be auto-adjust depending on the reading from the built-in light-meter.
as color negative film has become expensive since corona, its time to use black and white stock and impregnate it with dyed potato starch grains for autochrome process, if scanned anyways the saturation can be fixed in post
Maybe as a last resort :/
Hello,
I admire the work you do and the OKTO35 camera you have made. I’ve thought before about taking on the venture of creating my own film camera in the future, and it’s very cool to see someone actually have done it. I like also the thoughts towards stop motion use, I think animation takes a more composed form on film than digital. Overall, I think what you are doing is a great thing, such for forwarding a small niche in the world.
-Dan
Thanks! Always been fond of stop-motion on film so it seemed like a no-brainer to add this feature in.
So Excited and really looking forward to purchasing!!!
you are a genius
I’d buy it.
Hey this is amazing!
You’re super clever. Keep me posted on the direction the project goes
If it’s downloadable that be cool but it would be way more fun to either be for sale or a Kickstarter
Also if you want I’d love to try one out, got a fridge full of film and access to a darkroom I might even be able to pay shipping if you’re willing.
Thanks! Most likely, if everything goes well, there should be a Kickstarter once the project is finished.
Excellent work, looking forward to purchasing 😊
It’s been awesome watching this progression.
Any new updates on this? I’ve been waiting eagerly since the last YouTube video, very excited for this to come to market.
I’m very excited for this! Brilliant idea and great follow through with the product creation. Whether it comes to market as files for 3D printing the components requiring complete assembly, or as a fully assembled product, or combination thereof, it’s going to be very successful! I hope I’ll be able to experience the Okto35 as soon as the product becomes available. Thank you Blaz!
Thanks! Most likely, if everything goes well, there should be a Kickstarter once the project is finished.
Hey! How goes the project?
I was also (on a technical level) curious: have you ever explored rotary prism mechanisms or spinning mirror type designs? That’s how a lot of the old high speed film cameras were designed, maybe that could come in handy!
My apologies for the late response. Yes, I was thinking of a spinning prism shutter as an alternative to the current solenoid shutter. But sadly the spinning prism kind requires a very precise and stable (constant) linear film advance, basically like a conveyor belt. The prism rotation must also be in perfect sync with the film advance (mechanically coupled). This would be too complicated to achieve with 3D-printed parts. A stepper acting like an intermittent advance mechanism with a simple shutter is a much better solution as both are already synched together via software control. Anyway, thanks for the idea proposal 🙂
when you rotate a prism in front of a non moving black and white cmos camera sensor you get a multispectral image, from which you can derive some things…
Exciting!
Hey Blaz,
Looking forward to seeing this camera in action! Amazing piece of kit.
Hi，
I‘m wondering, the OKTO35 MK2 is Open source？Could you send me the printing files,the hardware and the software?
thanks,
Lewis by china
The project is currently closed source. Maybe there could be a release in the future.
Hi,
I am wondering, how could I buy one of the okto 35 mk 2’s? could you send me the printing files? or do I have to order it strait from you?
thanks,
Sam
He is working on the next iteration first, so you can’t purchase the current mk2 version. It is made of many parts, so just the printer files won’t suffice.