8mm Forum: Chinon Sound SS 1200 Stereo vs Elmo ST1200's

This is topic Chinon Sound SS 1200 Stereo vs Elmo ST1200's in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Miles Shephard (Member # 5938) on June 08, 2017, 01:56 AM:

I was thinking of buying a Chinon Sound SS 1200 as a replacement for my old Elmo ST 1200. I've never had the SS 1200 before but did have a Chinon 9000 and thought that was a great machine.

What do you all think of the Chinon SS 1200 - good and bad points - and how does it compare with the Elmo?

Also how easy is it to attach a scope lens to it?

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on June 08, 2017, 03:56 AM:

Never owned one but saw a couple in action. What I can say for sure, IMHO it's not easy to attach a scope lens due to its recessed lens mount.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on June 08, 2017, 04:52 AM:

Miles
I have the Chinon but badged as a Revue Lux Sound 80 Stereo. It's a nice projector and the little viewing screen is very handy.
But Maurizio is correct about the inability to attach a 'scope lens due to the fact that the lens is very recessed to allow the hinging mirror to operate.
No doubt a 'scope lens could be used on a stand-alone bracket.
http://www.filmkorn.org/super8data/database/projectors_list/projectors_chinon/chinon_ss1200.htm

Posted by Miles Shephard (Member # 5938) on June 08, 2017, 05:11 AM:

Does anyone here watch scope movies on a Chinon SS 1200? If so what do you use? Or what bracket set up do you have?

I've heard that Walton marketed a scope lens for the Chinon, but don't know much more. For my Elmo's I had a swivel bracket that I attached a scope lens to. But looks like I can't do that on the recessed lens of the Chinon.

Also is it true the Chinons have a habit of scratching films?

Posted by Mark Mander (Member # 340) on June 08, 2017, 05:24 AM:

Miles I have a Chinon SS1200 and it's never scratched any of my films but heard they can do, depends how it's used and cleaned I guess.As for the scope bracket I think you have to cut the plastic cover to fit one as I've seen this done, there's not much room in the lens area and the small screen is removed too. The sound on the Elmo is much better than the Chinon,I would say find another ST1200, Mark

Posted by David Roberts (Member # 197) on June 08, 2017, 06:31 AM:

I seem to remember a scope mount for the chinon,that replaced the little viewing screen and made for a very neat set up.
It might have been "Spondon" that offered this ,but cant be certain.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on June 08, 2017, 09:57 AM:

I have owned both.
Elmo ST1200
Pros:
1) Very easy to upgrade your image by being able to use different lenses. For a brighter image you can use a 1.1 or the 1.0, for a longer throw you can use the 1.2 or the 1.4. The 1.3 is standard on this machine and is a decent lens. The Chinon cannot use different lenses. Because the Chinon cannot use the better lenses the Elmo potentially could look better image wise and brightness wise. The image the Chinon puts out is nice. The Elmo St1200 with the 1.0 lens or a Schneider 1.1 can look STELLAR.

2) Very easy to clean as the lens swings away for easy access to the aperture, gate, etc.

3)Easier to repair with parts still available. The Chinon I had was not modular in design so if you needed to get to the sound section of the unit you literally had to take the entire machine apart, down to the base. It was not designed to be repaired by your average Joe. And I don't mean Mr. Taffis! [Smile]

If you are looking for a Stereo machine the Chinon is true stereo so it has a separate preamp for each channel. The Elmo is not Stereo but 2 track. You can hook it up and play the tracks back but it only has one amp built into the unit. The sound of the Chinon is pretty good actually.
Will it scratch your films? I have had a few standard Chinons that scratched but the last SS1200 I had was very kind to film.
And the achilles heal of this machine? Is the strange clutch system for the rewind.
As they age they tend to have a problem with the rewind. The machine is not able to rewind a full 1200ft reel without slowing down to a crawl. And when it stops,if the reel is not rewound yet, it causes the machine to overheat and then it will pop a fuse.
If you are looking at a Chinon Stereo machine you should ask the seller if the machine is able to rewind a full 1200ft reel. If not than you can still use it but you will have to use manual rewinds for your films.
I liked both machines but I prefer the Elmo ST1200 personally.

[ June 08, 2017, 12:49 PM: Message edited by: Alan Rik ]

Posted by Miles Shephard (Member # 5938) on June 08, 2017, 02:01 PM:

Thanks everyone. Having listened to everyone the Chinon sounds good, but also seems to have too many negatives to be worth it. I'll just wait for an Elmo to come along instead.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on June 08, 2017, 02:11 PM:

Miles, if your concern is to own a machine can project 1200 ft spools, you can consider using a long play attachment. They don't surface often and tend to be pricey but they can be used with almost all the good projectors and opens you many possibilities. If you're handy (or know someone who is), you could even try to built your own.

Posted by Miles Shephard (Member # 5938) on June 08, 2017, 04:00 PM:

Never heard of a long play attachment - what exactly is it?

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on June 08, 2017, 07:12 PM:

It's a system, separated from the projector that allows you to use larger reels that the original size capacity. It consists mainly in a board with two arms on which you put the reels instead of putting them on the arms of the projector. You have an example here :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzzUu2Jcndg

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on June 08, 2017, 08:27 PM:

"Don't surface often" is correct. They are very rare here in the states, well anywhere for that matter. 2 have come up for sale in the past few years so its not worth counting on if you have 1200ft features you need to watch anytime in the near future. They are nice units but rare as "Hens Teeth" as they say!

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