ALCS cp16r 45-speed crystal electronics

[Aapo Lettinen]

I am working now on the final CP16R control system I am going to make before selling the camera. This is a "price-performance optimized" system with most important features like shutter parking, easy to add external start switches, dual power supply capability. There is no internal electronic footage counter because that is not needed by most users and thus allowed saving on costs (the cameras have mechanical footage counter which is more practical when keeping track on exposed film amount). The new electronics have 1 pulse per frame output for adding separate footage counters, internal and external, if needed.

The circuit board and new back panel are user installable. The original motor drive is needed but everything else including the tachometer sensor are replaced by the new electronics. New back panel has a 2-digit led display to select the crystal speed from 5fps to 50fps , and one 6-pin connector for supplying external power to the camera and to add external start-stop switches and footage counter systems.

I will only make one batch of these because I will sell the camera after this project is done and I need the camera body to QC some of the parts of the kit. So please note that I can assemble as many as needed if they are preordered now but it may be difficult or impossible to get them later on if missing out.

Price is 750usd including shipping for one installation kit. Good discounts if ordering more than one kit. Ordering preferably done now in April2025, because of the tariffs etc. I may need to raise the price in May. The finished kits will ship in June. Partial payment plans available as long as the first part is paid in April.

DM here on the forum or on Instagram (aaplet14)

 

Edited April 8 by Aapo Lettinen

[Aapo Lettinen]

New back panel will look approximately like this. It has one button to select speed and has a start-stop button. Typically the user would install a main start-stop button somewhere on the front of the camera like seen in the previous post where the start-stop and inching buttons are installed on the small detachable panel under the lens mount.

The single 6-pin connector on the back panel is used for external power and accessories. The original onboard batteries are easy to route to the main circuit board so that the camera has dual power capability, it takes power from the highest voltage source and allows hot swapping battery etc.

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

Removed the old 1-speed crystal sync system from my own camera today and installed a cardboard print of the new 45-speed panel in place of it. The dimensions of the panel seem to be correct and will send them to manufacturing soon.

The 45-speed back panels will be black with silver coloured markings like the 3d rendering in previous post.

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

Made a video of the old 1-speed crystal sync system with comparison to the new 45-speed features. Pretty good basic view of the CP16R camera body too 🙂

https://youtu.be/BtI-rcAqRh4

[Aapo Lettinen]

btw, I was bored and drafted additional stuff for the 45-speed system so that it is possible to order it with TCXO if needed (temperature compensated crystal oscillator) for extremely accurate timebase. It needs a small additional circuit board installed and if installed afterwards, desoldering couple of components. and of course costs a little extra.

it is possible to do the module installation afterwards by the end user if needed but I highly recommend ordering the installation kit with this update already installed if wanting it for the camera.

The regular crystal which the 45-speed system has as standard is perfectly fine if you are shooting shorter than about 4 minute or 5 minute takes. Almost all people using CP16R or Eclair cameras shoot short takes less than 2 minutes long and you won't notice any difference between regular crystal and tcxo in that kind of use.  But it you are going to shoot a 10 minute single sync sound take, basically an entire 400ft roll as single take which is very expensive, then it may be useful to have the tcxo module installed in the camera.

Let me know if wanting to order the 45-speed kit with the tcxo module, I will calculate how much extra the tcxo would cost but likely less than 150usd extra

[Aapo Lettinen]

Got the control panels from factory. Much nicer to work on the software now!

As mentioned in previous post, it is possible to order this system with tcxo oscillator if needed, for those super long one-take scenes lasting over 5 minutes. Price with the tcxo is something between 850usd and 900usd per installation kit depending on how many orders there is.  Good discounts if purchasing more than one kit.