8mm Forum: standard 8 film loading question

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Posted by Alan Jarvis (Member # 5378) on April 29, 2016, 11:53 AM:

I have been given a lovely old B&H model 605 standard 8 cine camera (with revolving lens turret). I have bought a roll of standard 8 film and loaded it Ok. I understand that I run the film thru the camera once and then reload it. The question I have is very simple, but I cant find a clear answer anywhere. When you reload the film from do you turn the spool over? I guess you must otherwise you would just expose the same half of the film again.
Some other questions:
- What is the approx date the model 605 was made? Mine was made in England.
- The revolving turret has just one removable lens, is this a 'C' mount?
- I dont suppose anyone has a manual for this camera?

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on April 29, 2016, 12:57 PM:

If you loaded the film correctly the emulsion side faces the lens. When the film is on the spool the emulsion side is to the inside. If you are looking at a wound spool you see the back of the film, the shinny side. After you shoot the first side and flip the film over to run the other side it will shoot on the other half of the film. Unless you somehow load the film wrong you won't shoot over the same side. When people get double exposures on 8mm film it's because they ran the film through the camera more than two times.

A three lens turret camera was probably made in the late 1950's to early 1960's. The lens mount for that camera is called D mount. C mount lenses were mostly for 16mm cameras and a few 8mm models like the Bolex H8 Reflex models. You can find D mount lenses on eBay pretty cheap. Typically on a 3 lens turret you would have a normal focal length (12mm to 13mm), a telephoto lens (around 36mm) and a wide angle lens (5.5mm to 6mm). If your camera only came with one lens it's probably a normal focal length, it should say on the lens.

I don't have the manual but there are many cameras that were very similar in their operation. That model doesn't have a light meter so you will need a handheld meter or a smart phone light meter app. Or you can learn the "Sunny 16 rule" for metering light but it's not as accurate. The shutter speed is probably around 1/40 second and you will need to know your film speed. you set the proper f stop by turning the proper ring on the lens. You will have to focus by estimating the distance to your subject and match that on the scale on the lens. Make sure it's wound up before each shot.

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