8mm Forum: Advice for a beginner on which super 8 projector to buy

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Topic: Advice for a beginner on which super 8 projector to buy

Paul Brandes
Film Handler

Posts: 61
From: Australia
Registered: May 2010

posted May 10, 2010 12:13 AM

Hi,

I am looking for a suitable projector to view some super 8 movies I have but am a little confused about which machine I should buy.
I would be very grateful if one of the more experienced users could suggest a good reliable machine with sound and that could take 600 ft (or larger) reels.

thanking you

Paul Brandes

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Dino Everette
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1535
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Registered: Dec 2008

posted May 10, 2010 01:18 AM

I think you'll find that lots of us are fond of the Elmo's ST-1200 HD which I would say is in the affordable category and can handle up to 1200 foot reels (they make 1 600ft and 800ft model as well) or on the higher end the GS-1200...There are others that some members might prefer, but if you stick with these you are pretty much guaranteed that whatever might possibly go wrong or be missing from the machine when you pick up one, someone on one of the different film forums could help you out, and welcome aboard.

--------------------
"You're too Far Out Miss Lawrence"

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Paul Brandes
Film Handler

Posts: 61
From: Australia
Registered: May 2010

posted May 10, 2010 02:07 AM

Hi Dino and many thanks for the information. I may have the chance to buy an Elmo GS 1200 MD privately but I think the asking price may be out of my reach.

Regards

Paul

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Den Brown
Master Film Handler

Posts: 271
From: London, UK
Registered: Apr 2007

posted May 10, 2010 02:41 AM

Hello,

A lot of folk on the forum are Elmo lovers. I think the Sankyos are fine machines; reliable and amicable to prints. They seem to pop up a lot on Australian eBay and seem more affordable than Elmos. The sound machines below have either 600ft or 800ft capacities.

Sankyo 501 (100w)
Sankyo 502 (100w)
Sankyo 700 (100w)
Sankyo 702 (150w)
Sankyo S800 (150w) [STEREO]

Also built by Sankyo, so practically identical.....

Bell & Howell DCR (100w)
Bell & Howell DCM (100w)
Bell & Howell DCT (150w)

.

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Paul Brandes
Film Handler

Posts: 61
From: Australia
Registered: May 2010

posted May 10, 2010 03:16 AM

Hi Den

Many thanks for the information

Regards

Paul

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted May 10, 2010 02:59 PM

I just picked up an Elmo ST 180E super 8 Sound projector at an estate sale this weekend for $12. It was in the box and in excellent condition. It ran for a short period before the belts broke (I ordered some new ones right away). It seems like a very well built machine, I can't wait to get it running again.

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John Skujins
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 220
From: Greensboro, NC, USA
Registered: Mar 2009

posted May 10, 2010 03:44 PM

I've read a lot here about Elmo belts breaking or being gummed-up. Is it more common for Elmos to have low-quality belts than other brands? At least it's good you can order new ones.

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Paul Brandes
Film Handler

Posts: 61
From: Australia
Registered: May 2010

posted May 10, 2010 03:45 PM

Thanks Bryan,

I am thinking of buying either an Elmo or a Eumig. From what I have read so far, Eumig appears to be easier to get serviced, but I am new to this and am still researching.

Regards

Paul

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted May 10, 2010 03:52 PM

The belts in the machine I got were old and brittle, it probably had not been run for a long time. They are easy to get online, I found some on ebay.

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted May 10, 2010 08:02 PM

I would highly recommend Eumig projectors. The 800 series are beautiful little machines and built like tanks to last. Look for an 820 Sonomatic HQS, which has the higher power , better quality, amplifier. The 900 series are also excellent, but avoid the coaxial reel 900 thru 929 designs which have problematic film handling issues. The 930 and above are superb machines with awesome sound quality, with the 938 Stereo probably being the cream of the crop and the best performing projector that Eumig ever made. Avoid the 940 ( looks just like the 938), as the whole machine function from a microprocessor, and if that fails nothing will work on the machine, and replacement processors are impossible to find.

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Paul Brandes
Film Handler

Posts: 61
From: Australia
Registered: May 2010

posted May 10, 2010 08:51 PM

Hi Paul

Thanks for the advice and comment about Eumig.

Regards

Paul Brandes

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