8mm Forum: Gaf st/602

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Posted by Sebastien Cayer (Member # 70) on July 04, 2003, 12:10 PM:

Hi,

UPS just delivred my new super 8mm silent camera a Gaf st/602 with 4 new roll of kodachrome 40. 3 of them are to be processed before 2004 and one of them before 1976 ouch. The seller also included a exposed film but not processed. I think this one will go into the garbage. I don't want to pay for something when i don't even know the guy or what is on the film. It's a great camera with the automatic zoom. Never thought that super 8mm camera could so technologicaly advanced. The camera is working but there is a lot of functions and buttons that i don't understand. Is there i place where i can read the manual online ? I mean this camera is even able to do a fading effect. Our kitten is afraid of the sound the camera make. He was just there playing with the package when i zoomed on him and he stopped and looked at the camera :-)

Posted by Tim Christian (Member # 48) on July 04, 2003, 02:06 PM:

Try

shooting 8mm

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on July 04, 2003, 09:51 PM:

This camera is my sentimental favorite, because the very first Super-8 camera I owned was an ST/602. I bought it brand new for $79.99 when I was 17 years old and it followed me pretty much everywhere until I went to college.

I recently snagged a replacement for the original (long gone) on E-Bay and I use it a lot. (who says you can't go home?)

The first caution about this camera is you can't get the mercury PX-14 meter cell for it anymore. You can get an Alkaline cell, but it throws the exposure off. To correct it you need to go to the exposure adjustment right near the eyepiece and turn it a little over 1 stop lighter.

Try Radio Shack for the battery, or try these people:

http://www.photobattery.com/

(look under 3.0v Alkaline replacement for 2MR9, EPX14, V14PX , this is the cell I use)

The second thing with these cameras is the eyepiece disintegrates (becomes this really sticky tar-like stuff). The eyepiece that fits the Bolex 16mm camera fits exactly.

You can find replacement Eyecups here:

http://members.fortunecity.com/sazeech/eyecup.htm

and here:

http://www.chamblesscineequip.com/Default.htm

These are wonderful cameras, they have all metal bodies, are quiet, have a nice comfortable hand grip, and have some neat features like the electronic fade you mentioned (which I use all the time.)The power zoom is a pleasure to use as well.

Enjoy!

[ July 05, 2003, 07:02 PM: Message edited by: Steve Klare ]

Posted by Sebastien Cayer (Member # 70) on July 06, 2003, 12:39 PM:

but if i intend to sound strip my silent kodachrome film after that it has been processed then i should film at 24 fps not 18 fps, Right ?

18 fps is for silent film and 24 fps is for sound film.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on July 06, 2003, 03:00 PM:

Sebastien,
As long as your projector can handle both frame rates, the choice is yours. At 18fps you get more running time per roll. However, the audio quality is improved with the faster speed of 24fps.
Doug

Posted by Tim Christian (Member # 48) on July 06, 2003, 04:19 PM:

I usually use a GAF 738 for 4x3 filming. Of the half-dozen cameras I have it gives a noticeably sharper image, so it gets used for titling too.

As far as sound is concerned, remember that even at 18 fps, the speed of S8 film through the projector is nearly twice that of audio cassette tape. Thus, given equal quality heads, any difference in sound quality is marginal. I stripe my own stuff shot at 18 fps and generally get complemented on the soud quality. Then, what do audiences know?

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on July 06, 2003, 08:36 PM:

Sebastien,

I'm curious where you are going to get your film sound striped. Right now I'm working on a project that will eventually need to be striped and I'm looking for places to do it.

(I'm using 18 FPS)

Posted by Sebastien Cayer (Member # 70) on July 06, 2003, 10:18 PM:

Try here

Super 8 sound stripping

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on July 07, 2003, 01:25 PM:

I've heard that Paul Yost is pretty much retired now. Has anybody done business with him recently? If so how do you feel about the results?

[ July 07, 2003, 02:35 PM: Message edited by: Steve Klare ]

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on July 08, 2003, 05:21 PM:

Hi Tim,
So you do your own striping then. Well I'm looking for someone to do some for me in the future!!!

Kevin [Wink]

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