Digital what now?

June 29, 2009 7:12 AM

Is there any way to cannibalize this Cybershot DSC-W1, and make a digital insert for this beautiful old Kodak Retina Ia?

Being laid off has given me a lot of free time. I figured, why not try something new and interesting?

I'm not looking to turn this Kodak Retina Ia into a permanently digital camera. I want to still be able to use film in it! Sort of like those changable digital backs for medium format cameras.
I'm pretty sure someone makes something along these lines for Leica M system cameras (for an obscene price, of course).
How can i do it?

More pics:
Kodak Retina Ia- 1, 2, 3


Sony Cybershot DSC-W1- 1, 2, 3

posted by photomusic86 to media & arts (3 comments total)

Probably not. The Kodak expects 35mm film, and the Sony will have a sensor the size of your fingernail. Even if you could manage to flush-mount the sensor at the film plane, the small size of the sensor would turn your Kodak into an insanely telephoto camera.
posted by b1tr0t at 7:30 AM on June 29

You'd have to include the lens from the Cybershot and remove the Retina's lens, so it would lose a lot of its charm. You'd also likely have to take apart the Cybershot and rearrange its components inside the Retina case to get it all to fit. If you're really handy with a soldering iron and a dremel tool, you might be able to do it, but it would be pretty far from easy.
posted by echo target at 7:46 AM on June 29

Don't do it! The Kodak's beautiful, and there's no way of doing this without breaking it. A lot.

Also, what b1tr0t says. In theory, I guess it would be possible to have a 35mm, full frame sized thingy to put in there, but since sensors are really delicate and sensitive to dust, it probably wouldn't be a good idea.

Also, those digital backs were for the Leica R cameras, which were huge-ass manual focus SLRs.

A few years back Silicon Film were actually going to release something (scroll down) like what you're proposing, but it never got off the ground.
posted by Magnakai at 3:17 PM on June 29