8mm Forum: Bolex M-8 questions

»	8mm Forum » 8mm Forum » Bolex M-8 questions

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Bolex M-8 questions

Gary Huggins
Film Handler

Posts: 40
From: Kansas City, MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2013

posted February 18, 2014 03:33 AM

I just picked up a seemingly mint M8-S which I am already in love with, but:

1. The image isn't quite centered - there's a glimpse of sprocket on the left, titles drift off on the right. How does one adjust the horizontal framing? Is it a claw issue?

2. How often does a 25mm or 33mm lens show up? I saw this in another M-8 thread: "it can also be fitted with a 1.2 lens (from the Sears Tower/B&H's)" - are there certain models of the Sears/B&H machines to look out for?

3. Will it take other bulbs besides the CZX?

Thanks!

| IP: Logged

Gary Huggins
Film Handler

Posts: 40
From: Kansas City, MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2013

posted February 20, 2014 05:34 PM

Bump with photos. As you can see, the picture skews to the right - the print's not running dead-center through the gate.

What's defective here- the film, the projector or the protectionist?

| IP: Logged

Bill Phelps
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1482
From: USA
Registered: Jan 2009

posted February 20, 2014 07:09 PM

Well I would say the film. I have some prints that do the same thing but not all of them, the majority of them do not. Does this happen when you screen different films? It could be that that image was just printed off center. You can adjust the frame line out of the picture but there is no side to side adjustment that I know about.

Bill [Smile]

| IP: Logged

Gary Huggins
Film Handler

Posts: 40
From: Kansas City, MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2013

posted February 20, 2014 08:46 PM

Every print runs the same - that's a mild example, usually there's a sliver of sprocket on the left.

Has anyone encountered this before? Did I get a bum M-8?

| IP: Logged

Bill Phelps
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1482
From: USA
Registered: Jan 2009

posted February 20, 2014 10:20 PM

That's odd...a recent example that I encountered was a 2 X 400 Tom Mix film Riders of the Purple Sage where the first reel had a bright white strip along the left side...and I just masked over it and reel 2 was centered fine with no white showing. I have even encountered this on occasion with super 8 on my Elmo ST1200 but looking at the film with a magnifier you can see the film not printed center.

The lens swings out to thread the film, are you sure it is completely seated back in its proper place while the film is running? I suppose if it wasn't you wouldn't have proper focus either. Maybe someone else can chim in with some thoughts....

Bill [Confused]

| IP: Logged

Gary Huggins
Film Handler

Posts: 40
From: Kansas City, MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2013

posted February 23, 2014 03:28 PM

Some more examples. Has anyone with an M-8 run into this before?

Films sort of drift out of the gate, revealing sprockets to the left - as if the gate were too wide.

| IP: Logged

Bill Phelps
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1482
From: USA
Registered: Jan 2009

posted February 23, 2014 03:41 PM

Maybe someone filed the gate bigger...I have heard of collectors doing this to Eumig projectors because the original gate crops the image to much and they want to reveal more on screen.

Bill [Smile]

| IP: Logged

Gary Huggins
Film Handler

Posts: 40
From: Kansas City, MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2013

posted February 24, 2014 12:52 PM

Just discovered a possible clue: the faster the projection speed speed, the more centered the image.

The still was taken at 18fps. Dipping slower than that reveals more sprocket light, faster than that centers the image (not completely, but somewhat).

Should I return this projector?

| IP: Logged

Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted February 24, 2014 03:37 PM

There are two metal guides above and below the pressure plate. I don't see how these would become worn without a lot of film running through the projector but you may want to check them for wear. If they are worn they may allow the film to move from side to side. One problem could be the claw pushing the film to one side if it is bent or loose. Another problem could be the pressure plate is loose or out of alignment. The pressure plate and lens holder are one piece and move forward to enable threading of the film. If this is loose or bent out of alignment it may be your problem. It's a pretty sturdy machine and I would think it would take a lot of force to bend it out of alignment but you may want to check that. Does it feel loose when the pressure plate is closed? Does it look slightly crooked? Running the film faster may put more tension on the film causing it to center better.

| IP: Logged

All times are Central

Printer-friendly view of this topic

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2