Turn a 50-year-old film camera into a digital camera

Video from the Befinitiv channel shows a film camera that can take photos, record video and live stream like a modern digital camera.

YouTube channel Befinitiv posted a video showing how to turn the Cosina Hi-Lite film camera into a digital camera capable of taking photos and recording videos. The way the video maker uses it is to replace the film reel in the machine with a Raspberry Pi computer with an image sensor. Doing the same, can turn any film camera into a digital camera.

'This device can do everything a modern camera can do, from taking pictures and recording videos to even streaming and storing everything to an SD memory card , ' shared the video maker.

The Befinitiv Channel uses a mini computer to replace the in-camera film reel.

According to Hackaday, Befinitiv has 3D printed part of the case similar in size to the film inside the camera. This person then attached the components of the Raspberry Pi Zero mini computer inside this case. The position of the digital image sensor is located just behind the shutter of the film camera.

The person who made the video removed the lens part of the Raspberry Pi module. Instead, the digital image sensor uses the lens of a 50-year-old film camera directly. However, the size of this sensor is much smaller than the 35mm film on the Cosina. This results in a multiplied focal length and a narrower viewing angle.

This digital 'roll' is powered by a small battery inside the 3D printed housing. All components are placed inside the body of the film camera and can be closed easily.

In addition to turning the film camera into a device that can take digital photos, this method also makes it possible for the product to record video and stream it directly to a phone or computer via a Wi-Fi connection.

'I really couldn't make out this was footage from a 50 year old camera. Honestly, it's similar to the product of a digital camera , ' the Befinitiv channel owner shared about the video recording quality after the upgrade.

Petapixel attributes the high-quality images to the film camera's lens compatibility with the small sensor on the Raspberry Pi module.

'I'm really happy to be able to do this. The images are quite interesting and beautiful. It feels strange that an old camera can record video and stream it over Wi-Fi,' the Befinitiv channel owner concludes in his video.