Ollie Baker has published documentation on how he has transformed a Konica film camera to digital camera using a selection of 3D printer parts.
The original camera was made back in 1973 and features a 38mm f1.8 lens, that was loaded with old style 35mm film. Using the internal components from a Sony NEX-5 together with some custom designed 3D printer parts and a redesigned backplate.
Ollie has been able to transform the film camera into a digital camera, watch the video below to learn more and see the new customised camera in action.
About a year ago I was awarded a generous amount of money from the Arkwright scholarship fund with which I decided to take a good old film camera and ‘digitise it’ using components taken out of the smallest digital camera I could find with a reasonably sized sensor, the Sony NEX-5.
The analog camera I chose was the Konica Auto S3 rangefinder because it has a stellar fixed 38mm f1.8 lens with an unobtrusive internal leaf shutter. The viewfinder is very clear and being a rangefinder is easily adjustable for use with a different focal plane.
A rangefinder mechanism allows the camera to be small (no large mirror) and won’t get in the way of the sensor which has a protruding AA filter on the front. Unfortunately the camera doesn’t have a built in diopter to adjust for glasses wearers but I managed to cut an old glasses lens of mine to fit into the viewfinder as a diopter adjustment.
If you are interested to learn exactly how Ollie transformed the film camera to digital camera he has kindly provided details for his FRANKENCAMERA on his WordPress site.
Source: Tech Crunch