Steve's Kodak 8mm Digitizer Firmware Lookup Tool

Tool version 1.0, June 2024.

This tool will check your Kodak Reels/Reelz serial number and tell you what firmware your unit is compatible with.

WARNING! Use this tool at your own risk, using the wrong firmware file could mess up your device!
Although this is rare, these instructions, files, and data on this website are provided strictly AS-IS!

Kodak Reels Firmware Lookup & Update Instructions

Please carefully read all of the information and steps below before proceeding!

Step 1. Check your serial number:

• Enter the 15-digit serial number displayed on the sticker on the beneath your Reels/Reelz device.
• Click “Submit” to display the details of your firmware.
• A message will tell you which firmware downloads to select for Step 2.

Results (will be displayed here after you click Submit)

Step 2. Download the modified firmware to increase video quality:

• Although this firmware has been tested, there is a risk it can permanently alter your device. Use this at your own risk!
• Modified firmware files:
  • Firmware A files - Original resolution and 1440p options, both with maxed out video bit rate.
  • Firmware B files - Original resolution and 1440p options, both with maxed out video bit rate.
• There are multiple modified firmware files, each offering different video resolutions and options.
• If you run into problems, or load the wrong version of firmware, you can always overwrite it with another.

Step 3. (Optional) Download the original factory firmware from Kodak's website:

• If needed, you can visit the Kodak Website to download the original firmware compatible with your device.
• It's a good idea to keep this original firmware file handy. You can always revert to it if you run into an issue.
• Kodak's website with the factory firmware download (You'll need your device's serial number).

Step 4. Upload the modified firmware to your device:

• ALWAYS backup ALL video, data or other files from your SD card before updating the firmware!
• You can use the instructions on Kodak's website to upload the firmware.
• If your device acts erratically after the update, revert to the factory firmware from Kodak's website using the same instructions.

Historical Context & How This Tool Works:

In 2023 I bought a used Kodak Reelz digitizer from eBay to try and convert my family's old 8mm and Super 8mm films to digital
video formats. While I had done this before using other methods, I was curious about how the Kodak device would do this.
After it arrived, I digitized a few sample films. However, I noticed heavy video compression artifacts no matter what I tried.
Sadly, Kodak gives you no settings to configure the video compression or resolution options.

I then discovered the camera's sensor was not fully utilized, meaning that a better image capture was possible without any hardware
changes. I was determined to find out if I could modify the settings on this device. This lead me down to a rabbit hole, which is
documented on the TinkerDifferent forums. In short, thanks to a clever bunch of dashboard camera enthusiasts, I was able to modify
the Kodak firmware to increase the video bit rate (compression) and resolution (picture size).

Although I was successful, through posts on the forum I soon learned Kodak had made modifications to the insides of their
Reels/Reelz devices. These internal changes were likely to adapt to different components used (like screens, cameras, etc.).
However, this meant that the modified firmware was not compatible with all versions of the Reels/Reelz device.

Kodak didn't label these devices differently, making it impossible to know what model you had without opening it up. In addition, it was
not possible to dump the original firmware from your Kodak device without carefully opening it up and soldering very small wires to
the board. Without a firmware dump as a backup, modifying your device was risky -- as you didn't have a backup firmware to restore.

Thankfully, in March of 2024 Kodak posted a firmware update file for their Reels/Reelz products. This update increased the maximum
video recording time the device could handle. This updated it from a maximum of 28 minutes, to a maximum of 40 minutes.

Because of this, we were able to determine that there are two main firmware files that cover all the Reels/Reelz devices. It was
previously thought there may be a lot more. This information aided in the creation of this tool that helps determine what model of Kodak
unit you may have.

This is a fairly simple tool, based on the same principals of the one Kodak's website... here's how it works:

• The website checks a list to determine if your entered serial number matches one on a list (a very long list)
  • If the serial number is on the list, you are presented with a file, we'll call this Firmware A.
  • If your serial number is not on the list, you are presented with a different file, we'll call this Firmware B.
     
• Based on this data, I believe "Firmware A" is for devices sold prior to 2023 (generally speaking), and that Firmware B should
  support all current devices being sold. (Until new units are produced).
   
• With this information, modified versions of these A and B files should provide a reliable way to modify this factory firmware
  to enable better video quality, video resolution, and so on.