8mm Forum: Super 8mm Camera help.

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Posted by Peter Sandford (Member # 4329) on July 05, 2014, 05:42 AM:

Hello everyone.

I've been thinking about getting a super 8mm camera and really that's the easy part. Next part is the film itself the camera i'm looking at is a Elmo 6000 AF so without knowing much about these camera's and film I'm guessing this is the important part:

film speed: auto for 25/40 and 100/160 ASA only (daylight/tungsten)

Would this be the correct film?

Kodak Vision3 Super 8mm / 50ft Color Negative 200T/7213

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on July 05, 2014, 11:33 AM:

I believe this camera came from the "point and shoot" sales period, and, as such, the camera's film speed is automatically set by the notches on the film cartridge.

Nowadays unless a camera has provision for setting the ASA manually, then it may not be of much use.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on July 05, 2014, 01:53 PM:

Good point that Maurice, something I hadn't really thought about before given that K40 was still available last time I used a sound camera in 94.

Posted by Peter Sandford (Member # 4329) on July 05, 2014, 02:05 PM:

Thank you Maurice Leakey that bit of information was very helpful [Smile]

Posted by Clay Smith (Member # 4122) on July 05, 2014, 02:49 PM:

Hi Peter,
If you haven't seen this, it might help -

http://www.nanolab.com.au/which_camera.htm

Also there are a couple of You Tube videos. There are of course a lot of cameras on eBay but that can be hit or miss (my luck was not so good but that is not the norm).
I went another route for my camera, if you have questions email me. - Clay

Posted by Peter Sandford (Member # 4329) on July 05, 2014, 03:55 PM:

Yet again you are a star Clay. thank you and i'll have a good read of that right now [Smile]

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on July 06, 2014, 03:01 AM:

Peter

If you want to start serious cinematography I suggest you go for standard 8, the cameras of that era were built to last and the interchangeable lenses were usually first class.

You could look for one of the best, the twin-turret Bolex B8 (sometimes known as a Paillard), the Bolex lenses were probably unbeatable.

For a projector I would recommend the Eumig P8, one of the later models would be best which use the more easily available lamp.

http://www.bolexcollector.com/cameras/b8.html

Posted by Peter Sandford (Member # 4329) on July 06, 2014, 03:43 AM:

Thank you yet again Maurice, I'm not sure if its a normal transition but one of my others hobby's is photography and film development.

I have my DSLR and Bridge camera's but also a collection of Praktica SLR's which I use as my main sources of photography which got me into the developing side.

Posted by Phil Clarke (Member # 4299) on July 22, 2014, 07:32 AM:

I shoot both Super 8 and Double 8 fairly regularly and I do the processing myself so feel free to ask if you have specific queries. But this might help you for starters:

A Super 8 cartridge has a series of notches cut into it to determine the film speed (ISO) setting, among other things. These notches are read by the camera. One of the key points of the S8 system was that such parameters were made automatic (much like the Instamatic roll film system of the same period). I don't know of any S8 cameras which have manual film ISO override controls built in.

Super 8 film is still available from specialist photo suppliers and has become very pricey in recent years. K40 was discontinued in 2006 and there is now no Kodak col reversal stock (although there are other colour reversals eg those sold by Wittner which I think might be repackaged Fuji, would need to check). The Vision stock you mention is col neg by the way. There is also of course still Tri-X BW reversal.

Double 8 film can just about still be found: it is made by Foma in BW reversal only and it is also possible to buy reperfed 16mm film from private suppliers.

hth
phil

Posted by Paul Mason (Member # 4015) on July 22, 2014, 07:51 AM:

There is more choice of film types and suppliers in Super 8 than Standard 8 as Phil says. I would recommend one of the better Canons or earlier Elmos that recognise the correct film speeds. Look on Super8data or Super8wiki websites to check on particular models.

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