Doug Palmer Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 I've been having fun with a little GIC 16mm camera. Very impressed with the compactness and steady image, and the fact it takes 50ft spools, also c-mount. Not so happy though with its slow 16fps speed. I was wondering whether anybody here has converted the GIC to 24 fps ? And if so how :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Dom Jaeger Posted March 21, 2017 Premium Member Share Posted March 21, 2017 I think it was Richard Tuohy who asked me to try to convert his 16mm GIC to 24fps some years ago. I added some springs to the mechanical governor and got it close, but it was hard to get it to run at exactly 24 from memory. With enough time to keep experimenting with different springs or try some other modification to the governor you could probably get there, but I didn't have the luxury of endless time and I think Richard was happy just to get close. Wonder if he still uses it.. They certainly are one of the most compact 16mm cameras out there, and C mount to boot. I always wanted to try and make a widescreen 8mm version by replacing the inner mechanism of a 16mm model with that of the 8mm model (which is identical in size) as a more portable type of Ultrapan 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Palmer Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 I think it was Richard Tuohy who asked me to try to convert his 16mm GIC to 24fps some years ago. I added some springs to the mechanical governor and got it close, but it was hard to get it to run at exactly 24 from memory. With enough time to keep experimenting with different springs or try some other modification to the governor you could probably get there, but I didn't have the luxury of endless time and I think Richard was happy just to get close. Wonder if he still uses it.. They certainly are one of the most compact 16mm cameras out there, and C mount to boot. I always wanted to try and make a widescreen 8mm version by replacing the inner mechanism of a 16mm model with that of the 8mm model (which is identical in size) as a more portable type of Ultrapan 8. Thanks for this Dom. I just happen to have another GIC that has the innards out ! (Some problem with the release) So from this photo would you say it's that pair of cylindrical objects that need tackling ? Just one is half-visible near the centre, or am I wrong. But if so, is it possible to add springs as you suggest, without dismantling the whole mechanism. Or is it more involved than that. And I'm not really clear how they should look after modification. It would be nice to get my other GIC and perhaps this one too, running somewhere near 24fps. But I don't feel capable of dismantling further and getting the whole thing back and running again ! Any help or thoughts appreciated. Or maybe you offer these kind of services still ? Apart from the slow speed I think the GIC is a great little camera, and would be good for carrying around in one's pocket ready to grab those moments missed by larger 16mm cameras. And even if I can't get 24, I'll probably still use it in this way, and maybe widen the gate to U16. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Dom Jaeger Posted March 23, 2017 Premium Member Share Posted March 23, 2017 That could be it, must be nearly 10 years ago I did this. From memory the governor has two little sprung arms that open out further the faster it spins until they hit the outer ring, so if you can increase the spring force that holds the arms in, the governed speed will be faster. You would need to get the whole mechanism out, but maybe not go as far as separating the mechanism plates. I think I just added some extra springs somehow to those arms.. I still occasionally take on these sorts of jobs, but it's a long way to Melbourne from anywhere outside of Australia. I'm sure someone more local to you could do it, it's not particularly difficult for someone handy with mechanical things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Palmer Posted March 26, 2017 Author Share Posted March 26, 2017 Thanks Dom. I'll try and get my head round that governor. Maybe try something on the mechanism I have taken out. Although I'm definitely not going to dismantle further... past bad experiences ! And if I can't get anywhere maybe I'll simply use the camera for grabbing shots that are not dependent so much on the faster running speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Palmer Posted June 14, 2018 Author Share Posted June 14, 2018 Well thanks to Simon in Switzerland I'm now the happy owner of a GIC 16mm camera that runs at very nearly 24 ! Can't wait to take it on my travels. https://filmisfine.com/blog/16mm-exploits-with-the-g-i-c-camera/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webster Colcord Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 On 6/14/2018 at 3:20 AM, Doug Palmer said: Well thanks to Simon in Switzerland I'm now the happy owner of a GIC 16mm camera that runs at very nearly 24 ! https://filmisfine.com/blog/16mm-exploits-with-the-g-i-c-camera/ I just got my hands on a GIC and I'm happy with the 16fps - but I'm just now doing my first test shoot with it. I am guesstimating that the exposure time will be about 1/30th, but I think the shutter angle is smaller than 180 so maybe it's shorter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Simon Wyss Posted June 8, 2020 Premium Member Share Posted June 8, 2020 It’s 140 degrees. https://www.filmvorfuehrer.de/topic/27598-der-chic-der-gic/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webster Colcord Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 1 hour ago, Simon Wyss said: It’s 140 degrees. https://www.filmvorfuehrer.de/topic/27598-der-chic-der-gic/ All the information is there, thank you! Indeed, it's odd that the black anodized turret is so weakly mounted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Simon Wyss Posted June 8, 2020 Premium Member Share Posted June 8, 2020 Did you translate the text or are you able to read German? I’d like to find somebody who takes the text to good English. I can furnish a rough translation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webster Colcord Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 I just used Google translate. I have a good friend over in Germany who could translate it, if you want - I'll put you in touch with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now