This is the controller board for the Filmkorn.org Open Source Film Scanner Project.
To build such a scanner, you also need a Raspberry Pi 4b, the Raspberry Pi HQ camera and some other parts, as described in the project wiki.

Another DIY film scanner?

Yes—but this one is different. The Filmkorn Raw Scanner is an open-source project that enables the digitization of small-gauge films in breathtaking quality at a very low cost. The project originated back in 2020 from a bet on the German Filmvorführerforum, after the infamous—but similarly priced—“Wolverine” film scanner from China (also sold as Somikon, Winait, Kodak, and Hammacher-Schlemmer) turned out to be an irredeemable, film-scratching disaster. The question was: is it even possible to build a truly high-quality scanner for little money?

Yes, it is possible. And here it is described how—so that anyone can digitize their films gently and in fantastic quality.

Concept

The most significant difference between this scanner and almost all other DIY scanners is that it outputs uncompressed video files with 12-bit resolution per color channel, in 4K. In short: that is four times the dynamic resolution (not pixel resolution) that a ProRes 422 file can store. This brings several substantial advantages:

• The scanner can run completely unattended; any necessary exposure or color corrections can be made afterward with no loss of quality whatsoever.
• Even color negative film can be digitized in excellent quality with fantastic colors.
• By eliminating any scanner- or camera-side processing or automatic “enhancements,” the film look is preserved without compromise.
• Arbitrary frame rates can be generated without duplicating, blending, or re-calculating frames. An 18 fps film thus remains an 18 fps film digitally and plays back at the correct speed.

All components of the scanner (data formats, hardware, software) are also open source and therefore freely available and documented.

Features

• 4K or 2K scans in uncompressed 12-bit CinemaDNG format, making it ideally suited even for color negative film
• Scanning speed of approx. 2 fps (4K) or 7 fps (2K) on a Raspberry Pi 4B
• Standalone operation without an additional computer; only a USB drive is required to store the scans
• Optional network mode in which scans are written directly to a computer, allowing post-processing to begin while scanning is still in progress (currently tested on macOS only)
• Over-the-air software updates at the push of a button (including rollback to earlier versions if required)
• Automatic sleep mode for energy saving and instant readiness
• Automatic end-of-film detection
• Fully automatic installation; no computer skills required

Example Output

Unedited Demo Scan straight out of the filmkorn.org Open Source Raw-Scanner. No stabilization, no grading, no nothing. The CinemaDNG files were just cropped a bit and then saved as H.265 file:

I usually ship within few working days after receiving your order, using DHL with tracking and insurance. Delivery times depend on the destination and carrier.

For shipments outside the EU, customs duties, import taxes, VAT, and any additional fees or delays caused by customs authorities are the sole responsibility of the buyer. I have no control over customs processing and cannot influence clearance times or charges.

All shipments are declared truthfully according to their actual value.