8mm Forum: Best Standard 8mm Projector

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Posted by Tom Wills (Member # 212) on 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

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on 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.

Posted by Trevor Adams (Member # 42) on 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

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on July 14, 2004, 08:38 AM:

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

Doug

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on 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

Posted by David Michael Leugers (Member # 166) on 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

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on 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.

Posted by David Michael Leugers (Member # 166) on 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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