Current 2x8mm / Super 8 film manufacture (Perforator video)

[Paul Adsett]

Amazing double 8mm quality. Arguably quite superior to Super 8 due to the precision metal gate of the Standard 8mm cameras, combined with the use of superb quality prime (non-zoom) Kern Switar lenses.

[Lupton Pittman]

I have filmed several rolls of Regular 8mm film (Kodak Vision 3 50D) perforated by Wittner Cinetec. It works great. In the U.S. you can buy it from at least these two sources who import it from Wittner Cinetec. Wittner Cinetec was also selling it themselves earlier this year on their own website, but has currently run out of stock:

http://toeppenfilm.com/index.html

https://filmphotographystore.com/col...ative-50d-film


Here is some sample footage filmed with this film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqv7Amrp4EI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OixjMEESs0M

[Larry Arpin]

Back when I was printing I was able to make one print, either feature or short, with the 1-4 super 8 film. That's the super 8mm perforations on both edges. I'm sure Wittner figured their cost analysis before going into producing perfed film.

[Jack Link]

PS:

Meanwhile they offer an own 2x8mm product

https://www.wittnercinetec.com/double8

So no need to import from the US
I have ordered a roll to feed my Bolex K2
Hopefully the lightmeter is still functional….

Regards
Jack

[Brian Fretwell]

I'm sure the punches used by Larry at LGP had blocks of four frame punches and used a registration pin to ensure they were completely accurate.

[Nantawat Kittiwarakul]

The precision would be extremely critical if the machine punch a set of perforations, instead of one perf a time.

This screenshot if from latest Kodak negative film stock I just scanned. While reviewing the scan I noticed the perforation was kind of wobbling back and forth in a very rhythmic manner. (See these 2 adjacent frames. Quite subtle, but it's really there.) After skipping through several frames I can count the "cycle" to be precisely every 5 frames - that's probably the number of the punch head in the assembly.

The sewing machine punch in my earlier post would not have this problem, since it would punch one perf. a time.

[Paul Browning]

Quite a lot of this type of precision tooling is now made in china, including the high precision stuff. Its a standard type progression tool, as used to manufacture electrical contacts for the car industry, just as much quality is needed........

[Lee Mannering]

You should have seen the old Walton perf machine going. That was a reel floor shaker at LGP over here.

I believe Wit had a new die made recently and that won't have been cheap either so hats off to them for a superb service.

[Steve Klare]

Thanks for posting that, Jack. It's a great video!

What beautiful machines: all very fine machine work and very high precision. In their own way they are works of art.


I found these interesting: (We never think a lot about them.)



-they don't get to be in the movie! (-literally!)

(Kind of feel bad for them!)

BTW, Jack: I have Family in Baden-Wurttemberg. We spent a day in Stuttgart two Christmases ago. Willkommen!

[Jack Link]

Judging from the buttons and digital display this is a new made machine. I wonder how many machines like this are made knowing the 8mm is very niche market. So how the company (who make the machine) can make money?

AFAIK those machines are very old - but completely refurbished (by Wittner Cinetech) and upgraded with state of the art components.
So... old machines ... which look like newly manufactured :-)

Yes, normally they work in the dark.... and the good condition is not visible ;-)

[Nantawat Kittiwarakul]

Nope, you don't need anything fancy. An old sewing machine will work just fine.

https://youtu.be/nl28o_O7PCc

[Winbert Hutahaean]

Judging from the buttons and digital display this is a new made machine. I wonder how many machines like this are made knowing the 8mm is very niche market. So how the company (who make the machine) can make money?

btw those films are not get burnt with those light and open area? Or this is just to show hot it works?

[Jack Link]

During my search for 8mm / Super 8 perforation repair tape I stumbled across this interesting video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI7SklrSlNU&feature=youtu.be