8mm Forum: Best Standard 8mm Projector

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Topic: Best Standard 8mm Projector

Tom Wills
Junior
Posts: 3
From: Nashville, TN
Registered: May 2004

posted July 12, 2004 02:22 PM

What model that is generally available is the best for standard 8mm film? I am looking a backup 8mm machine. Brightness and dependabliliy are the qualites I am looking for.

What are your suggestions?

Tom

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Home Movie Day Supporter

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted July 12, 2004 09:53 PM

Hi Tom,
I think your best bet by far is the Bolex 18-5 standard 8mm projector. This is a superb and beautiful little machine, built to legendary Bolex quality (before they went to plastic super 8 projectors). It is a very simple little machine, purrs like a pussy cat, has very simple manual threading, will NEVER scratch your films, and comes with a superb Paillard Bolex HI-FI zoom lens. Best of all the 8v 50w halogen bulbs are still readily available, and the drive belts can be replaced if necessary , with standard size Parker O-rings. You will see a lot of them on eBay- expect to pay about $50.00 for one in mint condition. It will last you for the rest of your life.

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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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Trevor Adams
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 763
From: Auckland,New Zealand
Registered: Jun 2003

posted July 14, 2004 06:03 AM

I'd tend to agree Paul.Silliest thing I ever did was buy a couple of spare motors for my 18/5!Trev

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Trevor

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted July 14, 2004 08:38 AM

Plus you can leave the Bolex out on display because it's designed so beautifully.

Doug

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I think there's room for just one more film.....

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted July 14, 2004 01:00 PM

Here's a great looking 18-5 , going for a steal by the look of it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15253&item=3826364191&rd=1

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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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David Michael Leugers
Master Film Handler

Posts: 264
From: Fairfield, OH, USA
Registered: Feb 2004

posted July 16, 2004 08:25 AM

What is the purpose of the projector? Will you use it to show your personal home movies on, or will you use it to project 8mm copies of silent films, or a combination of purposes? Will you need variable speed, 24fps or will 18fps only do for you? While the Bolex 18-5 is a superb projector, it does not project the brightest image, the bulbs are expensive and it only projects at 18 and the slow motion 5 fps. I would prefer the Bolex M-8 or the B+H top-of-the line Filmo series for the brighter image and variable speed. The quality is at least on par (and maybe even better) than the great 18-5 Bolex. I have projected some of my precious home movies of my kids at least 50 times through my B+H Filmos without even the slightest of mark or damage to the film. They are also great for showing silent movies where you can adjust the fps for proper speed.

David M. Leugers

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Live Free or Die

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted July 16, 2004 02:31 PM

Hi David,
Yes you are so right about the Bolex M8 and the Bell 7 Howell Filmos ( Regents Or 606H). Both of these are superb quality machines, particularly the M8. I had completely overlooked the fact that the superb Bolex 18-5 will not run at 24FPS, but this is obviously no problem for home movies which run at 18fps, and may not be too much of a problem for running silent package films. Are bulbs still available for the M8 and Filmos? - if I remember correctly both these projectors used old type 115 volt 500watt lamps. The 50 watt lamp on the 18-5 is a low voltage, compact filament, halogen type with integral elliptical reflector, which gives almost as much light (and a LOT less heat!) than the high voltage large filament 500 watt lamps. I dont think the lamps for the 18-5 are unduly expensive, Top Bulb Inc. lists them at $24.50.

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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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David Michael Leugers
Master Film Handler

Posts: 264
From: Fairfield, OH, USA
Registered: Feb 2004

posted July 17, 2004 09:28 AM

Paul

You bring up a good point about the M8 and the B+H projectors - the bulb. I have some spares and have excellent luck with the 500 watt "film burners" as they seem to have very long lives if you let the fan run to cool them down and not to move the projector for at least an hour after projecting. One of my backburner projects is to modify the B+H's to take a more modern lamp. When it comes to chosing between an M8 and the Bell and Howell Filmo Master... it really is a win-win situation. They both are extremely beautiful and really deliver the goods. :>)

David M. Leugers

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Live Free or Die

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