8mm repair and maintenance

[Joshua Rodrigue]

Hi. My name is Josh and I am new to 8mm and this forum.

I have a keystone K-8 that I really want to shot with. I loaded a roll of old kodachrome in it to test the camera, but the footage counter only moves a tiny bit then stops, with or without film in it. Also, there seems to be too much tension to pull the film through the gate. Anyone have any experience repairing these? I would love to learn how to repair it but I'm willing to send it off. If nothing can be done, I'll buy a new camera. Thanks!

[Shane C. Collins]

It could be a number of things causing these issues. With a camera this old the winding spring could be weak, or dry lubricate inside could be gumming things up. Might I suggest if you want to shoot modern film to switch over to Super 8. This format is easier and cameras are plentiful. Today Kodak makes a color reversal stock called Ektachrome 100D (7294). It cost about $43.00 a cart. Processing can be done at Dwayne's Photo for $12. I shoot a few carts of this stock each year, and projecting these films is very rewarding, and fun! I usually gather family, and friends around the projector for a show, and let's just say they usually laugh, and thank me for a great presentation. But, it really depends on what your looking to do with film. Also remember Kodachrome can no longer be processed, and anything old will yield terribly grainy results not worth getting into. Modern Ektachrome is very sharp with good contrast. Anyways I hope some of this information helps. Might I also recommend a good starter Super 8 camera the Minolta XL-401. It's a rather small compact camera that yields good results with modern film.

[Kim Trampus]

I used to shoot with a Canon 514LXS camera. It was reliable and took pretty sharp images. Sometimes you can find them on ShopGoodwill.com and GoodwillFinds.com for low prices. Here is a Canon 310XL but it has been bid up to $221 already. https://shopgoodwill.com/item/177765780

On here is Sankyo 420 thats going for a low price. Good luck on your hunt.

https://www.goodwillfinds.com/search...r%208%20Camera

[Simon Wyss]

The K-8 was introduced in 1935, so your example may well be 87 years of age. It certainly needs an overhaul during which all the old grease and dirt is washed out and fresh lubricant brought in. Do compare with other makes and models to see whether you’re happy with the optical equipment or want more choice of focal lengths and lenses. Also, there are Double-Eight film cameras with bigger bottom surfaces for a good stand on the tripod. That’s important, believe me, you don’t want shaky pictures at today’s costs of raw stock and processing. Do you have a projector?

[Joshua Rodrigue]

Thank you all for your input. I'm pretty handy with mechanical things, but I could not open up the camera to get to mechanics, which is quite sad. I would have to pry apart the windup arm to open it or cut the pin off that runs through it, and I don't want to possibly destroy it.

I have an Argus m500 projector that works perfectly and I already have some 8mm film. So, I really want to stick with double 8 at least for now. I understand it won't be 16mm or super 8 quality, but I'm fine with that. Though, when I get a little more into it, I'll look into those super 8 cameras. I bought the kodachrome just to test the camera, and to practice loading and unloading the film with. Good point about the shakey images, I have tripod I plan on using. I'm going to look into other 8mm cameras for now.

[Kim Trampus]

I bought my first single 8mm movie camera at a pawnshop when I was 14 year of age. It was a Yashica with a manual zoom lens. It took pretty sharp images and I got pretty good at loading the camera in a dark bag.

[David M. Leugers]

Double 8mm (R-8mm) can, and often does, look better than the majority of S-8mm footage. Great glass lenses were the norm, instead of cheap plastic lenses like on many S-8mm cameras. It all depends on the camera, the lenses used, and the operator. Get a Bolex H-8, put it on a tripod and start amazing yourself. Don't sell Double 8mm short.

[Brian Fretwell]

Also most double 8 colour film was daylight balanced and 25ASA not 40ASA so finer grain and no filter in daylight to degrade the image if not perfectly clean.

[Ken Finch]

I agree with you Brian. I have seen a lot of standard 8 and super8 and the image quality of the 25 ASA Kodachrome produced first class images. The main problem some users had with this stock was when reloading for the second run through. Twenty five feet of double exposed film followed by 25 feet of black leader! 😉

[Ken Finch]

On another point, for the benefit of any newcomers to cine film. Kim mentions single 8 and I think, as he loaded his camera in a dark bag, he meant standard8 or double 8 which was supplied on 25ft spools or larger for some cameras. Super 8 was mainly supplied in a cassette, single 8 was the same as super8 but also supplied in a cassette which was almost identical to the 30ft chargers we oldies used on 9.5mm. Confusing in it! 😉

[Joshua Rodrigue]

That Bolex H-8 is beautiful. I might have to save up some money for one of those in the future. Can anyone find 25 ASA double 8, I know 40 is pretty easy to get a hold of, so I was going to go with that. I have a light meter and some experience with film cameras, but I know it will still be a learning experience.

Thanks for clearing that up Ken.

[Simon Wyss]

If I can recommend something, look for one of the latest H-8 S models or an early one. The young accept crystal controlled EMS and have a big base. Maybe you want to have synch sound. Camera will eventually need to be blimped.

An old model offers to rewind mainspring during a take and has 190 degrees shutter opening angle. Together with Switar 13 mm, f/0.9 you can shoot in low light situations. Other fast lenses exist, some usable via adapter. A 200-degrees angle you have with a Bauer 8 or 88.

All standard H-8 afford critical focusing and framing free from parallax down to when the object touches the lens in conjunction with the rackover accessory.

The Agfa Movex Reflex runs for two minutes and five seconds straight on a wind. The Specto 88 runs for more than a minute, is very handy. In case you like the Kodak 25-ft. magazine (to be reloaded by yourself or bought from FPP) have a look at the turret De Jur-8 which runs for 50 seconds.

[Shane C. Collins]

Double 8mm (R-8mm) can, and often does, look better than the majority of S-8mm footage. Great glass lenses were the norm, instead of cheap plastic lenses like on many S-8mm cameras. It all depends on the camera, the lenses used, and the operator. Get a Bolex H-8, put it on a tripod and start amazing yourself. Don't sell Double 8mm short.

That was true back in the old days but today things are different. Kodak's current Ektachrome (7294) color reversal Super 8 film has a higher resolution compared to those older stocks. Kodak invested in new technologies to enhance the sharpness, and contrast of modern reversal, and it shows. I just shot 2 carts of 7294 in August while on a trip to the beach. I filmed with an Elmo Super 110 that has an extremely sharp lens. Now the trick these days is to expose 7294 at +1 for better resolution, and sharpness. When those films came back from the processing lab, and were projected, the results were stunning! I ran these films on a Eumig Mark S Super 8 projector using a Eumig Suprovar 1.0 zoom from the mid 60's. The sharpness, and contrast on screen was beautiful to say the least. These films almost looked like 16mm, I kid you not! Film has come a long way since the days of Kodachrome. Modern 7294 being E6 also has good archival properties that should last a long time. Anyways if you haven't shot film lately grab some 7294 and shoot something worth saving for posterity, it's well worth it!

[Kim Trampus]

Shane, I'm sure most of us would like to see the 7294 film looks like. If you get the chance, share some screen captures or footage with us.