Is it a good projector and is the price ($50) fair? I am a bit leery about buying a dual 8. I briefly had a Bell & Howell dual 8 years ago and it was not kind to reg. or super 8 film. I am watching the Chinon because I want a decent backup. Also, the only working standard 8 I have right now is a Revere 85 that is having problems maintaining an even speed.
My main S8 machine is a semi-automatic Sears Sound II. My only other working S8 projector is a Chinon 6100. Like the Revere, it also needs some help. It is a bit jumpy with pretty much all film. I can say that before the jumps, the 6100 worked very well with very little maintenance for over 30 years.
So, can anyone vouch for the Chinon 727 Whisper Dual 8?
Thanks,
Chris
-------------------- There's a great big beautiful tomorrow just a dream away.
posted November 01, 2011 05:27 PM
Chris...I don't have this projector (the Chinon) but my advice about dual 8 machines is to steer clear of them unless you can get one that has removable gates and sprockets that you can interchange like many Eumigs (which I don't own either.)
I use a seperate standard 8 projector (silent) / super 8 (sound) projector. Dual machines run the risk of damage to the films. That is my opinion.
Hope that helps!
Bill
P.S. I did have a Chinon 330 and it ran good, my only complaint was there was a lot of play in the lens/holder when focusing.
Posts: 638
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Apr 2007
posted November 01, 2011 05:52 PM
The Chinon 727 is, in my opinion, a cheap made projector. It's better than 90% made of plastic and extremely unreliable.
If you want to buy a dual silent projector I would recommend you consider any of the following:
Sankyo 1000 or 2000 Canon S-400 Yelco P-111 - (with independent sprockets for each gauge) Eumig 607 - 610 -614 or 624 Elmo K-100 SM Elmo K-110 SM Vivitar 733 or 733 (with independent sprockets for each gauge) Bell & Howell 466 (Nice projector but the replacement lamps cost between $90 and $110 each and climbing).
There are others and perhaps some members will add to this short list.
If you want to stay with Chinon the only unit I recommend is the Chinon 4000 but only if none of the above are available.
I really appreciate the advice. Looks like my instincts about dual 8 were correct. Also, having a separate working standard 8 machine is not a high priority at the moment. Besides, if I ever find the time to help them, I do have another (older) Revere and a few Keystones that just need bulbs and some TLC.
As for the super 8 projector, I have my eye on more than one. If I do find something good (& within my budget), I'll let you know.
Thanks again!
[ November 01, 2011, 07:59 PM: Message edited by: Chris Fries ]
-------------------- There's a great big beautiful tomorrow just a dream away.
posted November 01, 2011 08:53 PM
I've never understood how those B&H projectors always came with huge non-halogen 120v bulbs with a 15 hour lifespan. My childhood projector used a DJL, now about $45 because of its stupidly complex filament/mirror arrangement, was 150 watts but is a fraction of the brightness of the 80w halogen bulb in the Canon PS-1000. So was that B&H's way of cutting costs by not needing a transformer? I can't think of another reason for them to have chosen that, when Eumigs and 16mm projectors were into halogens already for a decade or two.
A DLH is 250w. I wonder if part of it is a false rear filament like the DJL or if the brightness is really that good. Nah. Can't be.
posted November 02, 2011 04:32 PM
I agree, that is too expensive for a bulb. I know the replacement for my new projector costs much less than that. Yes, I found a new one! A model I am very familiar with. I bought another Chinon 6100. It actually cost less than my Sears II. As for the bulb, the DNE, I recently replaced the one in my old Chinon and picked up an extra so I should be good for awhile.
Now to find the time to get my standard 8's working...
-------------------- There's a great big beautiful tomorrow just a dream away.
Posts: 1061
From: Burnsville, MN, USA
Registered: Dec 2009
posted November 03, 2011 01:50 PM
Sankyo Dualux 2000H plays regular and S8. It has pinch rollers rather than sockets and it is very kind to film.. Halogen lamp and fast lens.
Posts: 1149
From: Washington DC
Registered: Oct 2006
posted November 03, 2011 05:19 PM
Winbert,
The lower the number, the faster the speed of the optics, and thus more light through the lens.
Claus.
-------------------- "Why are there shots of deserts in a scene that's supposed to take place in Belgium during the winter?" (Review of 'Battle of the Bulge'.)