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Topic: Elmo The Best - Or Not ?
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted October 20, 2008 04:10 PM
Sincerely, with all my snickering comments, I don't think there is any snobbery involved. From everything I've read about them, they are a crackerjack of a projector. They do seem to be the projector of choice, especially over in the UK ...
as, it seems, the EUMIG's seem to be the projector of choice over here in the states. Could part of this be due to the availability of each brand in the countries? (by the way, I'm not writing off all the other countries, just using the UK to represent the rest of the world) It seems like Elmo's are more widely available in the UK, while EUMIG's seem to be quite available in the states.
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted October 20, 2008 05:04 PM
I can certianly back up Mike Tynus on his statements about the Eumig's magnificent sound quality, especially in stereo.
I have an extremely worn out condensed version of "Magical Mystery Tour" (30 minutes long, just the songs!), which was re-recorded in Stereo, and I'd swear, when listening to it over a good pair of headphones, the sound quality has extremely little hiss to the background, (it was recorded at just about the highest volume without distortion), and, except for the restored remastered versions of this on CD, you really won't get any better quality. Even with the stereo Derann's, this has the best quality stereo sound I have ever heard, and that Eumig really puts it out.
... but it does take quite a few good cleanings of those heads but fortunately, it's very easy to get to the sound heads.
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Claus Harding
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1149
From: Washington DC
Registered: Oct 2006
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posted October 20, 2008 07:42 PM
Elmo the best...well, I have never run a Fumeo or a Beaulieu, so for me (and especially for the money) my ST1200HD is the best machine of the ones I have used.
I started with a good Eumig 807 when I was 15 (and those machines are nicely done for budget projectors) but once I upgraded to the Elmo in the early 80es, I never considered switching again. I lusted after the GS1200, but never got one; who knows.... ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
In retrospect, the ST1200 has pleased me with its good picture and sound, and equally with its strong, unfussy design that, as mentioned, feels more like a 16mm machine than any of the tricked-out models other manufacturers had on market at the time. Peace of mind and reliability are important for me, more so than options.
It's not a bright as I'd like it, but the 1.1 lens helps. The swing-out lens and film path design is very nice.
What I wish Elmo had done would have been to make a heavy-duty, high light-output (350-400W regular lamp or small xenon) model without all the fancy add-ons of the GS, like a "SuperST1200".
It would be, like my Eiki 16mm, a solid, easygoing machine that concentrated on the basics. Elmo of course had a market to satisfy, so they went with the luxury options instead. But to imagine a semi-pro ST1200 for more institutional applications...
one can dream, right
All this said, the feel of the ST1200 has always been just right for me, logical and easy. And the thing does run and run ![[Smile]](smile.gif) To this day, I have yet to see a film it won't run (knock on film cans.)
Claus.
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"Why are there shots of deserts in a scene that's supposed to take place in Belgium during the winter?" (Review of 'Battle of the Bulge'.)
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted October 20, 2008 08:03 PM
Could part of that "smaller apeture" on the EUMIG be due to the dual Super/8mm standard 8mm models? I do know that the earlier EUMIG models did have a smaller apeture,
but I, when I first heard this a good while ago, took snapshots of still frames from a number of projectors, (at that time I had 6 different variety/brands of projectors, two EUMIGS and five different other brands) with the same film print, and while the earlier (and a few of the other projectors) had a smaller apeture, the later stereo EUMIG and a few of the cheapies had the same larger apeture.
... which has at times been annoying as well, as, sometimes full apeture allows you to see a little of the mag stripe edge as well.
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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John W. Black
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 536
From: Deptford,N.J.
Registered: Mar 2008
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posted October 20, 2008 09:13 PM
I have had many projectors over the years,including a GS1200 and two ST1200 machines,Solid but finiky machines.Your print better be perfect or the picture will be all over the place.The person who got me into film collecting when I was a child was also a projector repairman.He bought a GS1200 and hated it,He said it had more moving parts than needed and hated the framer,as did I.He had two GS800 machines that were great.But,I'm with Osi,I love the eumigs.For optical sound,I thought the Chinon 9500 sounded better.Some of the most expensive machine were mechanical blunderbusters.Anyone want a Heutier Stereo 42?Now,there is a pig of a machine.
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Beat em or burn em,they go up pretty quick
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Paul Adsett
Film God
Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted October 20, 2008 09:23 PM
I agree with Osi, I can see no difference in the gate aperture of my Eumig 938 versus my GS1200. The earlier 800 series Eumigs perhaps have a slightly smaller aperture. The stereo sound quality of my Eumig 938 beats, in my opinion, the sound of the GS1200, even through external amplifier and speakers. It just sound a whole lot cleaner, with really good bass frequencies. One problem I think the Elmo's have is a tenedency to WOW with certain kinds of films, particularly if they have been recently lubricated. WOW is non existant on the Eumigs, and I attribute this to the much larger and heavier loaded pinch roller on the Eumigs, versus that tiny little pinch roller on the Elmo's. They are both great machines, and they both have their individual strong and weak points.
I will resist the temptation to post a picture of the Elmig again!
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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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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted October 20, 2008 11:36 PM
Why Paul, are you talking about that wonderful mixing console on the EUMIG? (snicker).
I agree again, Paul. Kevin, if you have a EUMIG stereo, run it through a Dolby surround sound processor, (A stereo film of course) and you will be blown away!
I have an OLD realistic brand Dolby processor, circa late 1980's, (no kidding, that old!), and it still works like a charm and those stereo soundtracks that were encoded with the Dolby sound, (like Star Wars, for instance), really do knock you out!
I must admit, I have not actually heard the regal GS1200, so i may think it's sound is quite impressive as well.
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Maurice Leakey
Film God
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted October 21, 2008 04:14 AM
Many thanks to you all for your comments.
I have ten Elmo in Super 8 (including three GS-1200) of which only two, a GS-800 and an ST-600, worked "straight out of their boxes", all the others needed attention. It's strange that projectors are advertised as in good working condition and when you buy them, they are not.
I think the GS-1200 was designed by a committee. Yes, the push buttons are cute, and the left control panel is good. But, oh, those awful sticking out switch levers; just waiting to be snapped off.
In comparision, I have four Sankyo and two Sankyo badged Bell & Howell projectors. No trouble with any of them. And the Sankyo Stereo 800 is a joy.
Perhaps owning and using a projector is like the same with a motor car. You tend to fall in love with a make and stick with it. I have just ordered my third Skoda.
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Maurice
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David Erskine
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 230
From: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Registered: Aug 2008
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posted October 21, 2008 12:01 PM
I've got a couple of Elmo 8mm (1200 & 1200D) which I bought to find out what the fuss was about! For 'big' pics I use my trusty Fumeo 9139 (Marc 300) O&M and for slightly smaller m/cs I have Fujica SH30 O&M and so on down the scale with a couple or 3 Eumigs (1 set up for Std8) a Yelco, a Braun, a Fujica SD Auto & even a Fujica SH6. When we moved house - to here in Letchworth (the world's 1st garden city, dontcha know!) my lady, Carol, thought I had 23 projectors (I *knew* I'd got 30). However - when she'd packed 'em -- she said I had 43!! Still, I cover 35, 16, 9.5 all 3 8mms (std/Super/Single) so I'm happy as a pig in pooooop! It seems as long as I buy her De Walt power tools, she'll even let me sleep in the house some nights!!
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I've NEVER let failure go to MY head!
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