I recently built my own handcrank 35mm movie camera. Unlike most though, mine uses standard 35mm film spools for still cameras. Also the frame size is only 8 by 6 mm, and so I can fit more than 24 frames on a role. I also took inspiration from the double sided 8mm film cameras of the late 1950's and used two pinholes to focus light on each side of the film. This gives me twice the recording time I would nomally get on a role. I have not gotten the test film developed yet, but I have high hopes. The camera is made of black foam core and uses an allen key as a crank handle. It is crude, but I did make it from junk I had laying around my house in a couple of hours.
I tried making my own camera like this. It shot like 4 fps because it was just a wooden box with a hole for a lense and a spool layed vertically on a rod and cranked at the bottom
Cool, mine never really worked, the whole role came out black. Mine was just made of foam core. Then I attempted another one using JB weld and some cheap zync sheat metal, but I can't figure out the shutter mechanism.
hello, out of curiosity, how did you manage to build your own handcranked movie camera. I need it for a theatre show and any tips could really help me. cheers.
As far as I know the last time one of my cameras went to work was on the TV series Iron Horse. It was 2016. They shot part of the show as a flashback to the Civil War camp Andersonville. The director was brilliant in thinking of shooting hand cranked footage to set the tone for those scenes.
Sam, these videos of vintage motion picture cameras are instructive and a joy to watch. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to make them... and, yes, RecordGuy3434, "that is a beautiful camera"
Another day I saw a motion picture vintage film that have only on sprocket hole (perforation) each frame, not 4. It work like this câmera. How is the format name os this kind of film? The sprocket hole is in each frame division. Is 35mm or 37mm?
I do my very best to make all my cameras so they will shoot today. Most of my cameras go to people in the movie industry. If they don't work then they are a prop. Most buyers don't want a prop, even if they never shoot with them they want the camera to be a working camera. That's exactly what I want too.
1samdodge awesome!! I sure hope to become a film director/ writer one day. I can imagine my first film being a short horror film shot with a 1910's crank movie camera like what you have in this video. to create a black and white eerie and just right creepy atmosphere.
Normal filming was done at two cranks a second but cameramen cranked slower for a Keystone Cops effect or faster to give a dramatic effect. Normal frame rate was 16fps. No songs to sing. A real cameraman cranked at the right frame rate just as you know how fast you are driving on the freeway without looking at the speedometer. It's really not difficult.
I have shot with one of my cameras. The footage looked like it was shot with a modern camera so I don't shoot with them any more. One would have to take the film into a transfer house and make it look like old film. All my cameras work though. The AMC TV show "Hell on Wheels" used a hand cranker on one of their shows. The story line was about the Civil War prison camp Andersonville.
![San Francisco 1906 (New Version) in Color [VFX,60fps, Remastered] w/sound design added](/img/n.gif)
I recently built my own handcrank 35mm movie camera. Unlike most though, mine uses standard 35mm film spools for still cameras. Also the frame size is only 8 by 6 mm, and so I can fit more than 24 frames on a role. I also took inspiration from the double sided 8mm film cameras of the late 1950's and used two pinholes to focus light on each side of the film. This gives me twice the recording time I would nomally get on a role. I have not gotten the test film developed yet, but I have high hopes. The camera is made of black foam core and uses an allen key as a crank handle. It is crude, but I did make it from junk I had laying around my house in a couple of hours.
I tried making my own camera like this. It shot like 4 fps because it was just a wooden box with a hole for a lense and a spool layed vertically on a rod and cranked at the bottom
Cool, mine never really worked, the whole role came out black. Mine was just made of foam core. Then I attempted another one using JB weld and some cheap zync sheat metal, but I can't figure out the shutter mechanism.
Did yours work? If so, can you give me some advice on the shutter mechanism.
hello, out of curiosity, how did you manage to build your own handcranked movie camera. I need it for a theatre show and any tips could really help me. cheers.
As far as I know the last time one of my cameras went to work was on the TV series Iron Horse. It was 2016. They shot part of the show as a flashback to the Civil War camp Andersonville. The director was brilliant in thinking of shooting hand cranked footage to set the tone for those scenes.
That is not only a beautiful camera, it is pretty basic and simple too.
The time lapse feature is so coo!
Sam, these videos of vintage motion picture cameras are instructive and a joy to watch. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to make them... and, yes, RecordGuy3434, "that is a beautiful camera"
Another day I saw a motion picture vintage film that have only on sprocket hole (perforation) each frame, not 4. It work like this câmera. How is the format name os this kind of film? The sprocket hole is in each frame division. Is 35mm or 37mm?
That is a beautiful camera.
it's in near mint condition!!! nice. is it possible to make movies with these cameras still? I'm very interested in cameras
I do my very best to make all my cameras so they will shoot today. Most of my cameras go to people in the movie industry. If they don't work then they are a prop. Most buyers don't want a prop, even if they never shoot with them they want the camera to be a working camera. That's exactly what I want too.
1samdodge awesome!! I sure hope to become a film director/ writer one day. I can imagine my first film being a short horror film shot with a 1910's crank movie camera like what you have in this video. to create a black and white eerie and just right creepy atmosphere.
Do you have any cameras designed by Hepworth?
For the cranking, do you have to maintain a certain speed? How do you assure the right frame rate?
Do you film with any of your cameras?
Normal filming was done at two cranks a second but cameramen cranked slower for a Keystone Cops effect or faster to give a dramatic effect. Normal frame rate was 16fps. No songs to sing. A real cameraman cranked at the right frame rate just as you know how fast you are driving on the freeway without looking at the speedometer. It's really not difficult.
I looked at my Canon SX520 and went "wow, my camera is small" after watching this 😂
I need projaktar.35mm
What year is the tripod?
The camera with it's gleaming polished wood is beautiful. Love hearing the history.
You're kinda cute yourself. Single? Like short walks on the beach?
A lot of us wish someone would produce a good reproduction crank camera. Preferably in 8mm which is all the rage these days.
I have shot with one of my cameras. The footage looked like it was shot with a modern camera so I don't shoot with them any more. One would have to take the film into a transfer house and make it look like old film. All my cameras work though. The AMC TV show "Hell on Wheels" used a hand cranker on one of their shows. The story line was about the Civil War prison camp Andersonville.