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Author Topic: The gs1200 xenon the holy grail of projector's ?
Paul Browning
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1006
From: West Midlands United Kingdom
Registered: Aug 2011

- posted August 20, 2013 05:27 PM      Profile for Paul Browning   Email Paul Browning   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Well gent's I've just got back to my computer and missed the end
of an auction for this machine on ebay ,just over £3000.00 !!!!.
Someone really wanted that and got a bit carried away with ebay fever. Earlier in the year one fetched about £1200 and I thought that was at least in as good condition as this one , i wonder who bagged it . Its certainly had the star wars effect on the price for someone . I hope it gets to the new owner in as good condition as it left the seller .

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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

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From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012

- posted August 20, 2013 06:08 PM      Profile for Hugh Thompson Scott   Email Hugh Thompson Scott       Edit/Delete Post 
Totally agree there Paul, too much money to have it damaged in transit. Fingers crossed for the purchaser, it reaches him in one piece.

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Paul Adsett
Film God

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From: USA
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- posted August 20, 2013 06:26 PM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
To answer your title question, yes for many people the Elmo GS Xenon is the ultimate super 8 film projector. If you follow this forum you will know, that despite its stellar reputation, the GS is not without its own peculiar reliability and film path issues, and some of the higher end Eumigs do a better job of sound recording and reproduction. But despite that, the bottom line is that the GS( and more so the GS Xenon) is by far the brightest available S8 projector, and is built to 16mm standards of design and construction. For all round performance a well running GS is very hard to beat.

--------------------
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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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

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From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012

- posted August 20, 2013 09:45 PM      Profile for Hugh Thompson Scott   Email Hugh Thompson Scott       Edit/Delete Post 
Paul, I must say, that I hold what you say is true. The GS1200
is a good machine, but not in all repects. In replay, and I have one, I ALWAYS am at ease when projecting on my FUMEO.
Although not in stereo,(my model) but more than equal in
projection, I'm sure other machines can deliver the goods.

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

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From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013

- posted August 21, 2013 01:21 AM      Profile for Dominique De Bast   Email Dominique De Bast   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The French Beaulieu projector is often regarded as the Rolls Royce of the projectors and the Italian Fumeo is certainly one of the best machine.

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Dominique

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Tom Photiou
Film God

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From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003

- posted August 21, 2013 03:01 AM      Profile for Tom Photiou     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Oddly enough i always wanted a GS many years ago but have to say over the years quite a number of projector repair specialists including,(the repair specialists appointed by Elmo), the top lady at Hanimax, as well as two very well known repair specialists we all know & hold dearly but will not be named here, all said to me, the GS is a great machine but unless your keen with electronics your best bet for the average man is the more reliable ST1200HDs, as these are easier to maintain and also for projection purposes do the job perfectly and with use of good amps & lenses etc are essentially one of the best machines built and they do last.

Having said that, if won the lotto i'd have to get get a Xenon GS [Big Grin] [Wink]

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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From: Bristol. United Kingdom
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- posted August 21, 2013 03:12 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have a GS1200, a Beaulieu, and a Fumeo, and I'm not that mad about any of them.
I much prefer one of my Sankyo projectors.

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Maurice

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Mark Mander
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From: Dunstable ,Bedfordshire.
Registered: Jan 2005

- posted August 21, 2013 04:44 AM      Profile for Mark Mander     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Well a good price for it, that's about the most expensive Gs1200 I've seen but if I had the money I'd buy one. For home use you don't really need a xenon lamp (just my opinion) and a 100w lamp is plenty in most cases but it depends what you want, I have a GS1200 that I mainly use for re-recording and find it the easiest machine to use for this purpose because of it's pulse sync facility. I'd say most GS1200 owners have never recorded with them in this way but get one just to have one to a) own one and b) just run film. Hope the new owner is very happy with it whatever they do with it, Mark

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Elmo GS1200 1.0 lens
Elmo ST1200HD 1.1 lens
Sankyo 800 1.0 lens
Elmo 16CL
Elf NT1

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Lee Mannering
Film God

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From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

- posted August 21, 2013 01:27 PM      Profile for Lee Mannering     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I never thought I would say this but I hold the Elmo GS1200 Xenon as the ultimate for larger audience projection. As some of you will have read before I used to project with the Xenon in the 80’s and beyond at annual film festival and presentation was excellent. Today I still use Xenon Elmo’s for the bigger show and with love and attention these machines will last. The problem with any projector is if you buy one which has done the rounds prior to you owning it and goodness knows who has had a finger or spanner in it should a fault occur. I’m guessing than anyone wanting Xenon on super 8 will probably look for a Elmo due to the track record of a well looked after machine. Yes I think for the semi pro projectionist (someone giving bigger audience shows/200+ audiences) the Elmo GS1200 Xenon is the top to aim for.

Today’s top tip. Should you be looking for a GS1200 Xenon you can clearly see what life it has had by looking at the big green film path guide exiting the lower sprocket. If you see a browning on this guide the lamp will have done some time turning it brown behind the rear of the lamp. I learnt this tip year’s ago when buying another xenon for backup purposes as the heat of the lamp turns the guide colour which is a pretty good guide.

For super 8 home use the Eumig 938 is excellent and so quiet or a standard GS1200 in good shape. Standard 8 the Eumig 810D or 824 Sonomatic seem favourite although some use the original Kodak Sound 8 souped up to 2000ft spools and better lighting with the F1 lens.

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Michael O'Regan
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From: Essex, UK
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- posted August 21, 2013 01:44 PM      Profile for Michael O'Regan   Email Michael O'Regan   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Out of interest, is the GS the only Super 8 machine which has a Xenon model?

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Maurizio Di Cintio
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 977
From: Ortona, Italy
Registered: Jan 2004

- posted August 21, 2013 02:44 PM      Profile for Maurizio Di Cintio     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Strictly speaking, the answer to your question, Michael, is (almost) yes. But there are other machines featuring advanced lighting techniques for increased output, i.e. the Beaulieu 708 also comes in a version with an HTI lamp which in some respects is not very different from a xenon. Also Fumeo had a big screen version for both 16 and S/8 machines (genuine xenon in these cases). But model 9119 was also available with a MARC 300 lamp from General Electric. Some amateurs have managed to transform a standard GS 1200 into an HTI machine with excellent results. And finally I know of a Eumig prototype equipped with a Xenon lamp which never made it into production. Others can integrate this short list, maybe?

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Maurizio

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Michael O'Regan
Film God

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From: Essex, UK
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- posted August 21, 2013 02:46 PM      Profile for Michael O'Regan   Email Michael O'Regan   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks, Maurizio.
Did the Beaulieu sell with a HTI fitted or were these converted by owners?

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Desmond Godwin
Film Handler

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From: Ireland
Registered: Apr 2011

- posted August 21, 2013 03:26 PM      Profile for Desmond Godwin   Author's Homepage   Email Desmond Godwin   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Tom.. I hope you win the Lotto.(make sure you have a ticket first!) Your friend was right in that the GS1200 (more so on the Xenon is very dependant(among other things) on good electronic health. As an electronics technician and having restored 2 Elmo's (one a Xenon) I can say he was speaking the truth! The GS1200 Xenon is a great performer but its not without flaws and at this stage in there lives they will need a good amount of TLC and this includes the electronics.

Lee points to a good marker on the Xenon in that the discolouration of the film channel just behind the lamp is a sign of a lotta hours of use, and that is an easy one to check. Did i see some browning in 1 of de pics on the e\Bay machine that went for 3K? The original Elmo box with its padding is good for normal transit. After spending over 3K no doubt its new owner will be on tender hooks until the machine arrives safely to him. -- Ugo did you buy this projector??

[Smile] Desmond

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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From: Bristol. United Kingdom
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- posted August 22, 2013 03:48 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
If I was ever to consider the purchase of a Super 8 xenon I would go for the sleek and beautiful Fumeo 9145.
http://www.super8data.com/database/projectors_list/projectors_fumeo/fumeo_9145.htm

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Maurice

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Lee Mannering
Film God

Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

- posted August 22, 2013 03:54 AM      Profile for Lee Mannering     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Maurizio
I actually got to see the Eumig Xenon prototype projector at a photo show many moons ago. They used a 810D machine and extended the lamp house depth to what I remember to be double size in order to accommodate the lamp. The power unit was in a black base unit I recall but sad to say it never went into production although it did look quite professional. The model was known as the ‘Eumig 850 Xenon Super’.If there was an award for a projector that didn’t make a final production run this would get it from me.

Maurice. Might need a new truss for that Fumeo they are so SO heavy.

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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From: Bristol. United Kingdom
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- posted August 22, 2013 04:34 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thank you, Lee.
At my age most of my projectors are quite a heave to get up onto my 4' Bell & Howell stand, including my 9119 Fumeo.
I love my Eumig 824 which has everything, but would certainly be the bees knees with a xenon lamp.

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Maurice

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Maurizio Di Cintio
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From: Ortona, Italy
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- posted August 22, 2013 04:57 AM      Profile for Maurizio Di Cintio     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Michael, the Beaulieu 708 EL Stereo HTI was a specific version factory-taylored, not an after-purchase transformation/upgrade. I think it was the last update of this wonderful machine.

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Maurizio

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Paul Adsett
Film God

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From: USA
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- posted August 22, 2013 07:33 AM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I believe that this is a picture of the Eumig Xenon that Lee is referring to:

-

--------------------
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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Alan Rik
Film God

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From: New York City, NY, USA
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- posted August 22, 2013 08:00 PM      Profile for Alan Rik   Email Alan Rik   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have had the Xenon GS1200 (Yes...4 of them now I think!) and I now have a Beaulieu 708 HTI from the Factory.
I really liked the Elmo Xenon but the image with the Beaulieu HTI is brighter than the Xenon for sure.
I also had a Fumeo as well.
For most of the things I screen I use the Beaulieu and then for a backup or for Optical I use the GS Standard. And for re-recording I use the GS as well.
I found that the odds of getting a good GS are much better than the odds of getting a good Beaulieu. The Beaulieu's are a little more "sensitive" than the GS but if you can get a hold of one that has been well looked after than you are in for a treat.
"Shane" never looked so good on Super 8 than with my Beaulieu!
I bet the best Super 8 machine ever made was the 9145 Fumeo with the Stereo heads, Optical, and recording heads with pulse sync. (all were custom built to order)
Then the GS Xenon, Beaulieu HTI, Fumeo, then the Bauers, Eumigs, Sankyos, etc.
The highest I ever bid on a GS1200 Xenon in the box with extra lamp was a few years ago from Henry Deans on Ebay. I bid $3600 and won. And then I waited. And waited. After a few weeks I asked for my money back, which he refunded, and then I asked him to let me know when he gets it I'll resend the money. It was from an estate sale he said.
He never contacted me and fell off the face of the earth.
Ah...the drama of the Xenon machines. It would make for a good book . We could end it with Desmond's awesome rebuild! Wish I had the GS Xenon again. Even if it wasn't that bright...the whiteness of the light was really, really nice compared to the yellow halogen. Not that you would notice once the show started!

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Lee Mannering
Film God

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From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

- posted August 23, 2013 02:38 AM      Profile for Lee Mannering     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Yes that’s it Paul and here is another publicity picture of it. I’m guessing a Eumig 810D could be converted to HTI lighting with a larger lamp house based on this picture. Watch this space!
-

It was a standard 810D with the lux F1.2 lens and had a 300 watt Xenon installed. I think it was to have been the first 8mm Xenon machine although in the mid 70's I had no idea what a Xenon was but it sure looked smart.

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Maurizio Di Cintio
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From: Ortona, Italy
Registered: Jan 2004

- posted August 23, 2013 03:18 AM      Profile for Maurizio Di Cintio     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Yeah, kind of weird though: looks like a Fiat Panda powered by a Lamborghini engine....

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Maurizio

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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From: Bristol. United Kingdom
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- posted August 23, 2013 06:17 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
A great looking projector, but what a hulk of a power unit. It looks like one of those extra amplifiers which were once sold for Eumigs, but all they did was to amplify the hum!

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Maurice

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Paul Adsett
Film God

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From: USA
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- posted August 23, 2013 08:32 AM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
That lamp house mod on the Eumig would be a very easy thing to do. And I imagine that the Xenon power supply would be a lot smaller with today's technology.
Sound like a job for David Pannell. David has already modified this projector to 800ft reels. Just imagine a Eumig 810/820 with 800f reels and xenon lighting! [Smile]

--------------------
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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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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From: Bristol. United Kingdom
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- posted August 23, 2013 08:53 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
A xenon conversion needs some form of dowser to hold back the light when not actually projecting films.

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Maurice

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Lee Mannering
Film God

Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

- posted August 23, 2013 09:29 AM      Profile for Lee Mannering     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Maurice. Our cine club used to be full of the Harry Garlick Craven amplifiers as he made them just up the road. The MK2 external amps for use in bigger halls was rather good for the day.

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