Published March 3, 2026 © MIT

Mod-8mm

Mod-8mm: rescuing and improving old Super-8mm cameras by using stepper motors. Eliminating sprocket holes makes space for 16:9 images.

IntermediateWork in progress148

Things used in this project

Hardware components

STM32 Nucleo NUCLEO-F303K8

For modifying 2 x cameras and controlling 1 x film digitiser. In the early testing stage I am using Arduino Nano boards. A working camera would need 3 of these: (1) main film drive stepper motor (2) shutter stepper motor (3) light meter and various other longer term tasks - as in more than 0.3 seconds - like info display. The Nucleo opens the way to having one board that does all of this. This simplifies the PCB and camera rebuilding although it also means more challenging programming based on tracking state and changing state according to elapsed time values.

Analog Devices TMC2208

For modifying 2 x cameras. Each camera needs 2 of these - one for the shutter motor and one for the main drive motor. Plus one for a trial configuration of the digitiser. Plus 2 spares because of my track record of burning out the similar A4988. I have been using A4988 but TMC2208 looks better and I want to upgrade.

VITECH 20BY Mini 20mm Round Stepper Motor

secondhand old Super-8mm sound camera

NEMA 11 stepper motor

For modifying 2 x cameras.

520nm 10mw green dot laser module 6mm

For modifying 2 x cameras.

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Story

What is Mod-8mm about?
I am part of an enthusiast community reviving Super 8 film-making. We need some dramatic robotics input to revive and improve dead old cameras. This involves 4 to 7 sub-projects or mini-projects to share. The first of these stages is working which is why I am going public now and adding the others as they happen.

What is Super-8?
The 1970s low cost accessible way of making movies with a miniature version of real film and real film cameras. Super-8 is making a comeback along with other analog film tech.

Why did I decide to go Mod-8mm?
We are held back by the unreliability of 50 year old plastic consumer cameras. Old circuit boards, electric motors and mechanical film transports often fail. Repair is difficult. I started with the idea of complete replacement with stepper motors driven by arduino. That opens the way to losing the "sprocket holes" which makes room for a larger better image on 8mm wide film.

How does it work?
Modify a Super-8 sound camera. Repurpose the existing capstan and pinch roller drive to run from a stepper motor that moves it intermittently to provide the film transport. Back at the gate, remove the "claw" and replace the main drive motor with a stepper motor which has the now lighter load of spinning the shutter. On some cameras this motor also drives the film take up spool. The rotating shutter needs to send a pulse when it starts blocking light from the film. This pulse triggers the intermittent drive to move the film 4.24 mm while the shutter has it in the dark for 0.02 seconds. To help the digitiser to copy the film to digital images, we need to mark a reference dot beside each frame.
As at 30 Mar 2026, the camera "Prototype One" has all camera hardware mods done and individually tested from a breadboard. See videos and document below. The next act is to reassemble the camera and create one circuit board to run all 3 stepper motors plus other functions.

What useful results am I sharing now?

How to achieve a controlled rapid intermittent movement with a stepper motor. Includes stepper motor tests to find the best for this task. For film this is not only about camera drives but can also relate to:

digitising the processed film
classic film manufacture spin off - advance and punch sprocket holes in bulk film that has been slit into 8mm wide strips.

How to replace a shutter motor with a stepper motor.

More: "Mod-8 - Super-8mm Camera Mods" see below.

How to replace an aperture actuator with a stepper motor

More: "Mod-8 - Super-8mm Camera Mods" see below.