When Nico Rahardian Tangara spotted a dusty Canon 514XL-S at a Sydney flea marketMan buys stack of negatives in flea market, discovers works of unknown master photographer, it wasn’t just nostalgia that caught his eye. It was an opportunity to make something new from something old. It was a busted Super 8 camera, once a workhorse of home movies in the ’70s. But its condition didn’t matter, as Nico used it to upgrade it and turn it digital.
Nico stripped the vintage camera down to its essentials, then rebuilt it from the inside out with a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W and a Camera Module 3. Now it shoots in 4K or smooth 60fps video, all while keeping its analog charm.
The Build
Since the original camera was non-functional, Nico had a clean slate. He gutted most of the internals but kept the parts that give the camera its soul. He kept the lens, the trigger, and those tactile old-school switches. Inside, he installed a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W and the latest Camera Module 3. That combo brings a surprising amount of punch, letting this 1970s-era body deliver crisp digital video, all while keeping the shooting experience charmingly lo-fi.
And while this wasn’t his first Raspberry Pi camera mod, this one carries a deeper emotional layer. “It transports me to a weird time where it feels nostalgic,” Nico says. He’s been using the camera to document his growing family. That fusion of memory, emotion, and digital innovation really captures the essence of DIY photography.
The Result
Of course, Nico shared some result of his Super 8 mod, and it’s wonderfully nostalgic and warm. There’s something magical about using a camera that looks decades old but functions like a modern rig. Nico’s mod bridges the analog-digital gap in a way that’s not just functional, but poetic.
Take a look at Nico’s video below, and make sure to follow him on his website and YouTube for more of his work and modifications.
