Reducing Film Transfer Sideways Weave....

[Alex]

I have noticed a considerable amount of sideway's weave in some Rank Cintel transfers that I have done over the years.

Sideways Weave is the amount the film travels from side to side. If I see a slow, methodical, almost "drunken" lazy back & forth motion, isn't that a sure sign that the film is shifting left & right during the transfer as opposed to when it was shot?

I'm starting to think that the take-up reels being used during the transfer session may be causing this sideways weave!

I will be studying this phenomena closely in the future, but I strongly recommend AVOIDING Small Hub Movie Reels, either plastic or metal, at all costs!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 30, 2002 11:18 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>

[rollemfilm]

it tends to be the camera more often. super 8 does not have a good pressure plate design. even Bolex H16 cameras were redesigned in the mid to early fifties. they upgraded the gates and the prussure plate as well as the claw. but, aside from all that, film will weave. i see it in the theater when watching first run films. in some twisted way, i kina like it. as long as i don't notice it until i look for it.

[Alex]

I was recently looking at a Super-8m to Beta-Cam SP Rank Cintel transfer that I had done at the Post Group back in 1992 . I was surprised to see the sideways weave seem to disappear when I was in the middle of my 48 minutes film transfer.

It appeared as if once both films reels were of equal "hub size", the sideways motion was virtually undetectable.

I am tempted to re-transfer the footage 10 years later and see if I can get a better result, and if the supply and take-up reels, and the size of the reel's hub, affects the sideways weave.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ July 02, 2002 01:55 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>

[rollemfilm]

alex, what camera are you using?

[Alex]

I primarily used a Nikon R-10 and a Eumig.

I wonder if this may be a "choose your poison situation"...in you transfer you get either "judder" (up & down jittering) or side to side weave.

I have a vague recollection that on a couple of occasions, when I supervised rank transfers at the Post Group for Super-8 Sound (back in the early 90's), there was always some type of slight motion (I am very picky) to contend with, either up & down, or sideways.

Perhaps the sideways weave is easier on the eyes and allows for the minimization of the up down judder.

This is all speculative on my part, but I hope to further research it in the near future.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ July 02, 2002 02:41 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>