8mm Forum: IS THE "PRESSURE PLATE" REALLY USEFULL WITH 64T CARTRIDGE ??

This is topic IS THE "PRESSURE PLATE" REALLY USEFULL WITH 64T CARTRIDGE ?? in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001738

Posted by Ashoke Shiladitya Sanyal (Member # 555) on February 16, 2006, 10:48 AM:

Hi seniors

Can any one explain me the usefulness of "pressure plate" in super8mm cartridge (a piece of metal which is worth 120 euro sold separately) . Is it really improve the focusing and steadiness ? is there any this kind of improvement in new 64T cartridge mechanism ? ( http://www.englisch.film-super8.de/index.html?3_andruckplatte/beschr.html )

Please help .

Thanks

shiladitya

[ February 16, 2006, 01:14 PM: Message edited by: Ashoke Shiladitya Sanyal ]

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on February 16, 2006, 02:24 PM:

The metal pressure plate is intended to improved focus by butressing up the Kodak cartridge's aledgedly wimpy plastic pressure plate, and also improve film transport past the gate by reducing friction. There are a few that say the difference is noticeable, others not at all.

I've never felt that the price was worthwhile for something that may or may not work, and which almost inevitably I would forget and wind up sending to the lab with my film!

Let's say this much, If I did lay out that kind of money and it didn't work, I'd certainly find a way to deceive myself that it did!

Posted by Ashoke Shiladitya Sanyal (Member # 555) on February 17, 2006, 02:38 AM:

Hi Steve

Thanks for your reply . But I surprised that kodak didn't modify their new 64T cartridge even after knowing that type of controversy . I also send them a letter but didn't get any reply yet . Can you tell me any DIY procedure to make the pressure plate my own .

Shiladitya

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on February 17, 2006, 11:24 AM:

Well,

I guess Kodak's R&D budget for a technology presumed to have died 20 years ago is kind of limited.

I remember when I first got on the 'net about 6 years ago the delighted awe I felt when I first found out Super-8 was still alive. I wanted to run around the company and tell people, but 90% would have had no idea what I was talking about!

(Not that this has never happened anyway!)

From what I've heard, the plate is pretty precisely machined in order to fit securely to the front of the existing plastic pressure plate, and yet not be so thick as to interfere with film transport. A DIY would probably succeed or fail depending on your own skill as a mechanical designer and machinist.

I'm an electrical guy, and therefore haven't a prayer!

Posted by Eberhard Nuffer (Member # 410) on February 18, 2006, 03:45 PM:

Shiladitya,

I haven't tried the pressure plate for myself, but I think if anybody had invested so much money in something that didn't work, we would have heard about it. Perhaps you should try to ask your question in a forum like www.filmshooting.com/, where I'm sure you will find somebody who has bought the pressure plate and can tell you about his experiences with it.

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on February 18, 2006, 04:35 PM:

According to GK-film, the manufacturers of this pressure plate, the main reason for its high price is the extreme precision with which it is made - less than 1/1000 of an inch - and why it (supposedly) works so well. The demos featured on the website are indeed impressive, and I don't think they've been doctored to look better than they actually are. I would take the statements from people claiming it doesn't do its job with a grain of salt since apparently there are many cheap imitations going around which may not improve the film transport, or even make it worse.

Once I get around to shooting 64T film with my Eumig mini 5 I'll decide whether to go for one of these [Smile]

but I must say I never saw any noticeable problems with the K40 film I used to shoot with my Dad's old Bauer C1 camera back in the 80s.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on February 19, 2006, 01:51 AM:

There are some great posts here:

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/index.php?showforum=31

There was a post by Santo where he states that it works for some cameras and for some others it made it worse! (Leicina Special was worse)
The steadiest footage I have seen shot was K25 with a DS8 Canon. Wonderfully sharp and beautiful Slo mo. Perfect!

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2