EUMGIG NAUTICA HELP

Tanner Almon · December 23, 2005

Hi everyone, I posted a few days ago about a Nizo 801 Macro that was having focus issues. After testing a new roll of kodachrome and using measuring tape to set focus my images still came out really soft (and the background was in focus, go figure). Clearly something is wrong, I'm just not sure what.

So anyway, my parents ordered me a Eumig Nautica for Christmas which I had intended to use solely underwater. However, I have something I really need to shoot on Monday, and I am stuck using the Nautica (which I love, but it lacks the 24fps and zoom of the Nizo). Unfortunately my Eumig lacks a manual and no matter how hard I try I can't seem to find one online.

So here are my big questions about the Eumig Nautica, any help would be much appreciated (I HAVE NO MANUAL)....

1. How close can I get to the subject and have it remain in focus?

2. Does the distance change once I put the wide angle lens on?

3. When the wide angle lens is OFF, should the lever on the side of the camera be up (9-30mm) or down (PMA water)?

4. When the wide angle lens is ON, should the lever on the side of the camer be up (9-30mm) or down (PMA water)?

5. Can I use the zoom when the wide angle lens is on?

Those are my only questions I guess. My main concern is that I'll accidently have that lever in the wrong position and all of my shots will be out of focus.

If anyone can help at all you would totally make my Christmas!

Thank you so much,

Tanner Almon

Steve Wallace · December 23, 2005

Short answer, if you have plenty of light, basically the entire frame wil be pretty much in focus. I know that is a bad answer in a technical forum, so I'll answer your questions from the manual.

1. How close can I get to the subject and have it remain in focus?

@ 9mm focal legth minimum sharpness in bright sun .5 meter, under clowds 1 meter, underexposed 1.5 meters

@ 30mm focal legth minimum sharpness in bright sun 2.2 meter, under clowds 4.6 meter, underexposed 6.6 meters

2. Does the distance change once I put the wide angle lens on?

Yes, @ 5.3mm focal legth minimum sharpness in bright sun is .17 meter, under clowds 31 meter, underexposed .85 meters

3. When the wide angle lens is OFF, should the lever on the side of the camera be up (9-30mm) or down (PMA water)?

Up for normal filming (9mm - 30mm), down for Macro ( 15.9 cm / 6.25 in ). Also, when in macro make sure he zooom is all the way down.

4. When the wide angle lens is ON, should the lever on the side of the camer be up (9-30mm) or down (PMA water)?

Down, and the zoom should be down. Giving you a focal legth of 5.3mm.

5. Can I use the zoom when the wide angle lens is on?

I wouldn't, you may experience focusing issues.

Those are my only questions I guess. My main concern is that I'll accidently have that lever in the wrong position and all of my shots will be out of focus.

You can tell if the lever is the worng position. The viewfinder is all blurry. Obviously, you can't tell if you are inside the minimum sharpness spec though,

Mark Dunn · December 23, 2005

Sounds like your Nizo focusing ring is out of alignment. Perhaps it's been dropped and incorrectly adjusted. Happened to me once. You'll need to test again. If your background is sharp whilst focusing close, then the lens needs to be further away from the film. You need to loosen the focusing ring and rack the lens out more, then re-tighten the ring. Exactly how much, you'll have to test, making small adjustments each time, and shooting at a wide aperture and at a long zoom setting to minimise depth of field.

Tanner Almon · December 23, 2005

Thank you teadub and mark, I really appreciate the quick replies. I have a few more questions if you don't mind...

EUMIG NAUTICA QUESTIONS...

1. In terms of shooting macro, do I follow the following steps...

a) Leave the wide angle lens OFF

b ) Place the lever in the DOWN (PMA) position

c) Zoom all the way out

2. Is there any gauge/light type gizmo in the viewfinder that lets me know if there is enough light

for proper exposure? Basically, will the camera warn me if there is not enough light for exposure?

3. Does moving the knob in the side of the camera to the plus sign (+) simply increase my exposure by

one stop? Is this only really for when someone is in front of a bright sky?

4. Does anyone have any experience shooting indoors with the Eumig?

NIZO 801 MACRO QUESTIONS

1. Another issue is the focus constantly going in and out of focus. It is very frustrating. Oh well.

Cheers!

Thanks again for the great responses. Have an amazing day!

Tanner

Edited December 23, 2005 by Tanner Almon

Steve Wallace · December 23, 2005

EUMIG NAUTICA QUESTIONS...

1. In terms of shooting macro, do I follow the following steps...

a) Leave the wide angle lens OFF

b ) Place the lever in the DOWN (PMA) position

c) Zoom all the way out

Yes, take off the wide angle, put the PMA lever down, and zoom out (down)

2. Is there any gauge/light type gizmo in the viewfinder that lets me know if there is enough light
for proper exposure? Basically, will the camera warn me if there is not enough light for exposure?

Yes, a it's a green light in the bottom left corner if memory serves.

3. Does moving the knob in the side of the camera to the plus sign (+) simply increase my exposure by
one stop? Is this only really for when someone is in front of a bright sky?

Yes, and Yes. [really it is for use "only" when you want an extra stop of light, bright backgrounds is a good example]

4. Does anyone have any experience shooting indoors with the Eumig?

Yes it works fine. Just make sure you have enough light.

NIZO 801 MACRO QUESTIONS

1. Another issue is the focus constantly going in and out of focus. It is very frustrating. Oh well.

Tanner

This camera sounds faulty, listen to Mark. Either fix it, get it fixed, or get rid of it. I wouldn't run anymore film thought it untils the optics are worked out.

Mark Dunn · December 23, 2005

Going in and out of focus? Hmm. The cartridge pressure plate isn't that bad. If it's a momentary unsharp frame or two a bit after the start of the shot, well, the film comes round a sharp bend above the gate and can have a 'set' on it, but that fault doesn't repeat. Did it just happen on a single cartridge? If so, it could have had a fault. If not, does the camera sound right? Is the gate clean? I can't think of a cartridge fault that would only affect film flatness without mucking up the film advance and you'd see that.

Try a good clean and a different cartridge. If not, the Nizo's a good enough camera to have repaired. Thing is, it might be cheaper to buy another.

Michael Ryan · December 24, 2005

Hello Tanner,

I'm not famliar with Nizo cameras, but this could be a possibility with your focusing issues: Mainly

all higher end Super 8 cameras have an adjustment (normally a dial that is right behind the eye

cup) that you adjust for your eye sight. Everyone's eye sight is different so you need to adjust this.

Normally to set this function you set the zoom to its longest focal lenght. Now look at an object that is at least 200 feet away. Now, adjust the dail behind the eye cup until the image is in focus. This should

clear up your soft focus issues.

hope this helps,

Mike

Tanner Almon · December 27, 2005

Thanks for all of your help everyone. Today I shot the outdoor portion of my project with the eumig nautica and am pretty sure that it had not been for your replies most of my wide angle shots would probably have been out of focus. Thank you so much.

I do have one more quick question. In a few days I will be shooting the indoor portion on Kodak 200T. Does anyone know if the Eumig reads 200T, and if not, how I could potentially remedy the situation. Would putting and ND filter over the light meter sensor potentially help?

Thank you so much and happy new year!

Best,

Tanner

Steve Wallace · December 27, 2005

Thanks for all of your help everyone. Today I shot the outdoor portion of my project with the eumig nautica and am pretty sure that it had not been for your replies most of my wide angle shots would probably have been out of focus. Thank you so much.

I do have one more quick question. In a few days I will be shooting the indoor portion on Kodak 200T. Does anyone know if the Eumig reads 200T, and if not, how I could potentially remedy the situation. Would putting and ND filter over the light meter sensor potentially help?

Thank you so much and happy new year!

Best,

Tanner

It reads the new Tri-X (7266 asa 200/160)fine, so I would imagine Vision2 200T should be fine too. If you do end up shooting exteriors with V2 200T, I would recommend filtering externally.

Tanner Almon · December 27, 2005

Thanks Teadub. I read on one forum that the camera may only be able to read up to 100ASA. But the person who wrote that wasn't positive.

I'll give it a shot I guess. I'm guessing if it does read it as 100 my film will be overexposed, I'm just not sure by how many stops. Hopefully it won't be too many.

Best,

Tanner

Steve Wallace · December 27, 2005

Thanks Teadub. I read on one forum that the camera may only be able to read up to 100ASA. But the person who wrote that wasn't positive.

I'll give it a shot I guess. I'm guessing if it does read it as 100 my film will be overexposed, I'm just not sure by how many stops. Hopefully it won't be too many.

Best,

Tanner

I see wht you are getting at. If you use the internal 85, you think the camera will meter as though the film is 100 asa. If that is what you mean, than I think you are correct. That is why I suggested using an external filter. After all, the Nautica does not meter TTL.

Also, I noticed I said use daylight mode. Obviously I meant don't use daylight mode. You wouldn't want to use the internal 85 and stick an external 85 on as well. Sorry if I confused the issue...

Just have it on artificial light mode, and use an external 85 screw on filter. This will give you an exposure 1/3 over. Many agree it is a good way to tighten grain.