Film Cameras to Digital

Convert Film Camera to Digital

Fit Sony Nex digital Exmor Sensor to 35mm Film Camera

Remove Filters & Prepare CMOS Sensor for Inserting to any 35mm Film Camera

Links for more details   : Xovercameras Blog      Nikon FE Digital on Youtube  How to do this conversion on YouTube

This is the start of a series of pages to assist owners of collectable film cameras with the knowledge to be able to to fit a Sony Nex 14 or 16 mp CMOS Sensor into the film rectangle area, at near to exact, the crucial Film Plane depth. The inserted sensor should still be clear of the shutter enabling your film camera to take perfectly in-focus digital photos by fitting a Sony Nex to the rear of the film camera as the “Electric Film”.

I have tested the clearance on the following cameras so am fairly confident that it will apply to all 35mm Film Cameras. Tested – Leica M3, Leicaflex SL2, Canon A1, Nikon FE, Nikon FE2.

With a digital sensor it is hard to ascertain just where the Film Plane location is. On my tests and trials with the “Electric Film” conversion of a Nikon FE (see my blog and youtube video), I was able to accurately rebate a Sony Nex Exmor Sensor into the film plane and achieve perfect focus at F1.8 over varying distances, including infinity. This involved sanding the rebate and retesting the sensor with pictures until the perfect focus was obtained. It also involved relocating the sensor infra red and AA filter combination to the inside of the film camera up against the camera shutter behind the mirror (Youtube Nikon FE Digital).

The following pictorial shows the process to follow with the adjustments to the CMOS Sensor to fit it into the Film Plane. To dismantle the Sony Nex just Google your model and there are various websites that will show the process.

This is my 1980 model Nikon FE film camera fitted with a Sony Nex 3 “Electric Film” back used to take all the photos in this pictorial.

Nikon FE with Sony Nex 3 Electric Film back.

Upon removing the Sensor from the Sony Nex the first job is to reduce the width of the underlying glass over the actual sensor. You will see this as a clear glass below the Infra Red filter combo that has a width of approx 24.6mm. This needs to be less than the film rectangle vertical width in your film camera (which is approx 23.90mm) so the sensor can drop into this rectangle and be at the critical Film Plane. I found that an easily accessible tool for this is a diamond encrusted knife sharpener that has a fairly sharp edge or even a small grind stone that you might use for sharpening fish hooks or pocket knives. Using this with a firm but gentle action resulted in the sanding back of this glass to a width of approx 23.75mm in about 20 minutes.

Using a diamond encrusted knife sharpener to sand back the underlying
sensor protection glass. Note the small speck of dust on my own
Nikon FE sensor that plagued all my photos.

Sensor protection glass adjusted to a suitable width.

Below the Infra Red & AA Filter combo is a raised frame that sits on the glass
covering the sensor. In this photo the protection glass has been sanded
back to be almost inline with the raised filter frame.

At this point you may like to remove the filters prior to sanding down the rebate of the circuit board. That way you are less likely to slip and run the filters over the sandpaper so destroying them. Once the filters are removed the small frame over the sensor will protect it from any such accident. But you will get some dust on the sensor requiring cleaning off later.

Sanding down the rebate edge of the sensor.
Use plasterboard finishing sandpaper or 80 grit belt sander paper.
Tape or glue it down to a right angle edge on a table.
Maybe using medical gloves would be a good idea.

Showing the depth to which the sensor requires rebating too.
The sensor needs to be rebated to about half the thickness of the circuit board edge. I fitted my first sensor to the Nikon when at a thickness of 1.08mm. It was focussing quite well but I then blueprinted it by sanding it in situ on the film back which I wouldn’t recommend as the dust drops into the connections and stops the sensor from working till you blow it out. You may like to sand the rebate down to say 1.04mm which is probably more like where mine is now. ( I have since taken a bit more off and am getting really good focus without the Ir Filter).

Measure the thickness at the points as shown. The raised mounting points I found
to be unequal in thickness to begin with so not a reliable point to measure.

Removing the Filter Combination
The best tool is a craftwork scalpel knife as they are thin and sharp. Start by scraping a line around the glue line below the lower blue IR glass. Then start gently pressing in the knife point into the glue and move it say 1mm and repeat till you have done the perimeter. Keep doing this combining with some scraping along the line gradually pushing the knife deeper. Eventually you will be able to start pulling the knife blade along and through the glue line particularly down 3 sides. Then the filter will start to lift and you can just ease it up. Try not to push the sticky glue over the filter glass as it is hard to clean off. You should have released the filter within 15 minutes so just take your time.

Easing the scalpel along the glue line.

Pushing the point of the scalpel into the glue line.

Easing the filters up off the plastic raised frame. The plastic frame on the sensor covering glass comes off the same way. You SHOULD remove this as well as it will ensure there is plenty of clearance to the shutter curtains or blades.

Removing the double sided tape from the filter.

The bare sensor, Infra Red filter & AA lens combo and a clear lens frame
for inserting behind the SLR mirror when using the bare sensor for
Infra Red photography. Note – The clear glass filter is Not required but it does give some dust protection to the sensor.
When cleaning the glue off the filter for every wipe use a new bit of lens paper and lens cleaner and wipe away to the edge. Never wipe again with the same bit as this smears sticky glue all over the filter and is hard to clean off. If you think you can line up the filter perfectly with the sensor position you might be better off leaving the double sided tape in position. It’s really hard to clean it off the filter and the filter is soft on this side and easily scratched. I pretty much stuffed up the first one I attempted as it looks really scratched under a telescope lens I use to check glass.

The raised black frame on the sensor should be removed as well. It removes easily by using the craft knife to carefully slice under it. I have had an issue with this on a Nikon FA so strongly advise that the black frame should be removed so the shutters don’t strike it when shutting on a shot.

I trust this page has been useful for you and that you will enjoy the conversion of your old SLR camera to “Electric Film” as much as I have.

My Nikon FE using Electric Film to shoot all the above photos.