8mm Forum: HOOKED!

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Posted by David Pannell (Member # 300) on August 03, 2005, 01:29 AM:

There's something I need to get off my chest, - SO - listen up all you bu***rs in this Forum, you all have a lot to answer for!!! [Big Grin]

A while ago I swore I would not get into another hobby, least of which collecting movies. I promised myself and my wife that the home movie cine scene would be as far as it would go, shooting only family events etc. etc. with my Standard 8 Sankyo Auto 5X camera, and showing them on my Eumig P8 projector.

NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!! [Big Grin]

The P8 became a 614D; the 614D became an Elmo E-80; the E-80 spawned an ST600; the ST600 developed into an ST1200-HD and an S810D.

The Sankyo Auto 5X begat a Bauer S409XL and later an S609XL.

But with 3 cameras and 3 projectors, it didn't stop there - FILMS!!

Just 1 or 2, I thought, to see what they are like. So I indulged one of my other hobbies - American Railroad modelling - and bought a couple of old American Railroading Blackhawk releases.

In a relatively short space of time, I have now acquired 23 railroading features (including a mint print of "The General" with Buster Keaton) and shorts, with another 13 Standard 8 western sound features (I like westerns too) currently on order from Paul Foster.

I addition I have 3 what I call 'main features'. Angels One Five, Some Like it Hot, and The Ladykillers.

IS THERE NO END TO THIS ADDICTION, I ASK YOU? [Big Grin]

"LOVE TO ALL" for making this forum so infectious, interesting and welcoming.

Thanks, I'm proud to be part of it.

Dave.

[ August 03, 2005, 05:07 AM: Message edited by: David Pannell ]

Posted by Tim Christian (Member # 48) on August 03, 2005, 02:19 AM:

It IS neverending. You've got about 60 B'hwk rly films to go - and many of them are in b/w and colour.

When you get bored, start striping the silents and putting sound on: hours and hours of innocent ammusement.

Oh yes, and start filming in 'scope. Fantastic!

Posted by David Pannell (Member # 300) on August 03, 2005, 05:11 AM:

Tim,

"GET OUTA' HERE"!! - before I lose all sense of proportion!*#!?

Dave.

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on August 03, 2005, 05:11 AM:

By the way David, you'll be putting the screen up at the 50th BFCC. Then you can wire the sound system, put out the chairs, assign the dealers to their tables, take the admission fees at the ticket desk and throw out any undesirables that come along... perhaps we'd better leave that last one to Kevin.

And don't forget to have 8 film shows assembled that will be interesting to the diverse collection of collectors that collect at the BFCC's.

It's always good to have another collector to dump on!!!

Excellent post David. Good to know there are possibly others out there as hooked as I am.

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on August 03, 2005, 06:14 AM:

David

Whilst it's great to hear about new collectors getting drawn into the 8mm scene - the more the better for all our sakes - I'm sure that many of us can identify with your mixed feelings. In my case, it's mostly caused by the chaotic boxes/piles of films that endlessly need 'sorting out', the knowledge that I have the odd film that I've owned for years without getting round to even checking it, and the films where I have duplicate copies because I'm still searching for a really good copy.

I wondered how long the transition from just shooting films took took in your case? Were you still shooting Std 8 until fairly recently? I ask because I believe Std 8 stock is still available via the Widescreen Centre.

Adrian

Posted by David Pannell (Member # 300) on August 03, 2005, 06:54 AM:

Many thanks for your responses so far everyone. Any more like these, and I'll go completely off my head. [Roll Eyes]

John, No problem at all! I was actually thinking of holding a BFCC every month!! [Eek!]

Adrian, I am STILL shooting Standard 8 with Fomapan, Cine-X and Cinechrome 25 & 40, as well as Super 8. Both formats have their unique place - at least - as far as I am concerned.

Regarding the transition time, or really addition time, it was relatively short and very recent. In a fit of peak I decided to buy Kevin's ST1200-HD, with a view to joining some home movies together to form a longer showing time, and sold the ST600 to Craig. Having just joined the Forum, and having read several posts, I wondered what all the fuss was about in terms of film collecting, so I thought I'd acquire a couple of full length features on 1200ft spools. - - - and that was it!

So, it's all Kevin's fault really!!!

As for Widescreen Centre - absolutely not!! Far too expensive on all fronts. I tried them once with a Std.8 Fomapan B&W - and guess what...it came back with the 2nd half first, and the first half second! I kid you not. How can they get that wrong?

Also their processing cost was more than double John Schwind's - so no contest! I get all my Std.8 stock from Jim Peters, and have John see to the processing. I tell you, without a word of a lie, that I have proven this method to be FAR cheaper than anything else - INCLUDING the transatlantic shipping costs. Ridiculous, isn't it. Why can't we here do things more economically? It's a poor show for those of us trying to remain patriotic; but at the end of the day, why throw hard earned money away for no reason. I want the best value I can get; don't we all?

Dave.

[ August 03, 2005, 09:25 AM: Message edited by: David Pannell ]

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on August 03, 2005, 10:48 AM:

David, you are doomed, like the rest of us! [Big Grin]

It is just a matter of time before you just have to get a GS1200!

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on August 03, 2005, 11:18 AM:

David, great threat! [Smile]

But like Ugo said, wait until you've smoked a GS. [Eek!]

P.S. John Clancy's got it bad. [Big Grin]

I feel your pain. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 03, 2005, 11:51 AM:

Dave, serves you right, thats what happens when start sniffin' film cleaners [Big Grin]

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on August 03, 2005, 02:26 PM:

Tom

Only sniffin? I take mine with a slice of lemon and a lump of ice

[Wink]

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on August 03, 2005, 11:03 PM:

David... thank you for posting this! I thought I was the only one going mad over film! [Eek!]

See, now they got me going into 16mm, and I had sworn to myself I'd stick with super-8! Alas, now I find myself starting a collection of Pink Panther 16mm cartoons - before long I'll have to get a 25mm (short-throw) lens for my Eiki, and an anamorphic lens while I'm at it - then expand my arsenal of splicers with something I can use with Kodak 16mm Presstapes - and my giant bottle of FilmRenew is heading toward empty fast! ARGH, when does it end!! [Cool]

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on August 04, 2005, 02:50 AM:

Jan, I think it's a shame you only have 8mm and 16mm. What have you got against 35mm?

Now would you like me to point you in the right direction regarding 35mm portable machines?

Posted by David Pannell (Member # 300) on August 04, 2005, 03:38 AM:

I really didn't think there'd be this number of responses to this thread. God! How I HATE this hobby!!

Joking aside, looks like pretty well most of us are tarred with the same brush - or brushed with the same tar. Thank you so much everyone.

I just felt that I needed to express my delight in hitting on such a pleasant group.

Question is: how much further do I go? Why do I need a GS when I have a perfectly good ST, which doesn't have 1,000 motors and 1,000,000 electronic components to go wrong - as I keep on reading on this very Forum??

Maybe it's that one is not really considered a fully fledged member until at least 10 GSs have bitten the dust at the hands of a very careful and experienced owner!! No - I'll stick with my beautiful and faultless ST1200-HD until or unless proved otherwise.

Cheers for now, but please keep the ancedotes rolling in - they're a real pleasure to read.

Dave.

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on August 04, 2005, 07:17 AM:

You know, David....I think you are right. My first Elmo ST1200Hd I bought new in the mid 70's...it has had a lot of film run through it...and it still is running very well..with only two belt changes in all those years. It's a simpler machine than the GS and you are right .....when they work the GS is very good....but everyone I've ever talked to who had one said they were constantly developing problems... I have since acquired two other HD's and an older model st1200 and all are doing great....mechanically and electronically very sound durable machines.

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on August 04, 2005, 11:30 AM:

In my screening room I use a GS-1200 and B&H 1500 series 16mm about 50/50. Also, thanks to Rick Skowronek, I use an ST-800 in my living room with a tripod screen running the sound through my stereo. [Smile]

"I've looked at screens from both sides now, from up and down and still some how. It's life's illusions I recall. I really think that I've.... spent it all" [Roll Eyes]

Now, is there anyway to put the 20th Century Fox fanfare on my cell phone? [Cool]

Posted by David Pannell (Member # 300) on August 04, 2005, 11:54 AM:

So, Dan, - you're a singer/entertainer/songwriter (crucifier) as well as a nutter! - - - EXCELLENT!!

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on August 04, 2005, 12:10 PM:

David, you're right! I think may have butchered those lyrics pretty good. You're right on target with 'nutter! [Wink]

Now where did I put my harmonica and zither? [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Joe Taffis (Member # 4) on August 04, 2005, 03:51 PM:

Let's face it...like it or not...we're in it for LIFE!.... [Smile]

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