16:9 in super 8 land

Grant Wilkinson · November 9, 2006

right, I was browsing cine-porn on mondofoto.com and came across this image, which seems to suggest that this little beaulieu has been set up with a 16:9 lens...

can anyone out there tell me what this setup actually is? I'm most impressed that the lens is still attached without a support system!

anyone with any pointers on getting a useable, and preferably not mega-expensive, anamorphic/16:9 set up on a C mount super 8 would be helping my head stop hurting ;)

cheers!

Matt Irwin · November 9, 2006

Check out Pro8mm. They created Max8, a 16x9 8mm format, and sell modified Max8 cameras.

Not sure how much help this is since I see you're in the London (Pro8 is in Burbank), but at least it's a start.

John Adolfi · November 9, 2006

I have not had the chance to look through one but my limited understanding is that the 16x9 is etched or cropped on the viewfinder if you care to shoot 16x9 in standard 3x4 format.

alfredoparra · November 10, 2006

Pro8mm did not create the MAX 8, there trying to take the credit from another fellow that called it the super duper 8, I did the modification to my camera my self and anybody can do it on a Beaulieu 4008. remove the two screws from the film gate, then remove the gate, then pull out the brass gel frame, theres a spring on the top holding it, take a pin and push it up as you pull the gel frame out, you can throw the gels and brass frame in the trash! you cant shoot wide with the gels in! file the gate on the left side using a small flat file, do it even and slow! at this point you should have a strip of super 8 film, as you file a step at a time put the film on the gate and look at it in a bright light, keep filing until you clear the film! at this point if you want you can have the gate nickle or chrome plated for extra smooth surface! reinstall the gate and screws now your done! next step would be to send your camera to www.super16inc.com and have the master collinmate the lens, while its there the master can mark the glass for 16x9 framing. There now you have a max 8! if you dont want to mark the viewer 16x9 you can guild your shots with the notch on the right inside the viewer. have fun shooting the new format!

Edited November 10, 2006 by AXP

Rick Palidwor · November 10, 2006

anyone with any pointers on getting a useable, and preferably not mega-expensive, anamorphic/16:9 set up on a C mount super 8 would be helping my head stop hurting ;)

cheers!

We shot our super 8 feature Sleep Always in "super duper 8", our own widescreen mod. Check www.friendlyfirefilms.ca for details. You can convert almost any camera yourself or Mitch Perkins will do it for $50 (www.photoplays.ca). The key is access to widescreen transfer.

Rick

Robert Houllahan · November 11, 2006

Hi

Have you guys found there to be problems with image sharpness across the whole film plane with Super-Duper8? When I built the first generation of our skid plate for our Rank gate I had the machine shop make it so there was a cutout for full frame at the aperture.

I did a few transfers for someone at that time which were 16x9 and I though there was a bit of softness at that end of the frame, perhaps that customers camera modification had a problem?

I would love to know more about peoples thoughts about this as I am working on a 4th generation of the skid plate with spring loaded guides and had planned to address widescreen Super8 in this version.

Thanks

-Rob-

Rick Palidwor · November 12, 2006

Hi

Have you guys found there to be problems with image sharpness across the whole film plane with Super-Duper8? When I built the first generation of our skid plate for our Rank gate I had the machine shop make it so there was a cutout for full frame at the aperture.

I did a few transfers for someone at that time which were 16x9 and I though there was a bit of softness at that end of the frame, perhaps that customers camera modification had a problem?

I would love to know more about peoples thoughts about this as I am working on a 4th generation of the skid plate with spring loaded guides and had planned to address widescreen Super8 in this version.

Thanks

-Rob-

All lenses get softer toward the edges, so it makes sense that the image would be a little extra soft on the right-hand side, since it is drawing from the far edge of the lens. Whether it is unacceptably soft or not would depend on the overall softness of the image. If I shoot with the aperture wide open and at the widest angle setting, the image is noticeably soft, especially on the far-right edge. But I have shot stuff that's sharp (f2.8 or better, and not at the widest angles) and the overall image is noticeably sharper and I did not notice that edge. But in relative terms, it is going to be softer there than elsewhere. The full-modifications where they re-centre the lens would take care of that I presume. I have only worked with the crude modification, where the gate is simply filed out.

Rick

November 12, 2006

The full-modifications where they re-centre the lens would take care of that I presume. I have only worked with the crude modification, where the gate is simply filed out.

Have you found any cameras that are better candidates for modification than others? And who does the "full modification" with lens re-centering?

Thanks,

Aaron