Modern Timer compability with old Super 8 cameras?

[Jari Hakli]

Hello!

 

I am wondering if these modern remote controls with Timer / interval capabilities work with super 8 cameras?

 

Original accessories is seemingly hard to come by. I have found some, for example Canons remote and interval timers.

 

I have Sankyo xl-420 and it uses the very small 2.5mm jack in remote. Some modern Timer controls and remote controls use the same jack, some use the bigger (and usual headphone) plug 3.5mm. But I can use adaptor.

 

But I am wondering if these modern remote controls and Interval timers work with my old super 8 camera. Because there are some cheap modern controls available from China and Hing Kong on eBay.

 

Here are a few examples:

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Timer-Remote-Con...id=p3286.c0.m14

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Timer-Remote-Control...id=p3286.c0.m14

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Timer-Remote-Cord-fo...id=p3286.c0.m14

 

 

...have any of you any experience with this? I don´t know what kind of signal it transmits, and how it is different comparing modern and old systems.

 

If this is possible it would be great to know for people in similar situation like me.

[Guest Patrick Nuse]

Hello!

 

I am wondering if these modern remote controls with Timer / interval capabilities work with super 8 cameras?

 

Original accessories is seemingly hard to come by. I have found some, for example Canons remote and interval timers.

 

I have Sankyo xl-420 and it uses the very small 2.5mm jack in remote. Some modern Timer controls and remote controls use the same jack, some use the bigger (and usual headphone) plug 3.5mm. But I can use adaptor.

 

But I am wondering if these modern remote controls and Interval timers work with my old super 8 camera. Because there are some cheap modern controls available from China and Hing Kong on eBay.

 

Here are a few examples:

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Timer-Remote-Con...id=p3286.c0.m14

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Timer-Remote-Control...id=p3286.c0.m14

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Timer-Remote-Cord-fo...id=p3286.c0.m14

 

 

...have any of you any experience with this? I don´t know what kind of signal it transmits, and how it is different comparing modern and old systems.

 

If this is possible it would be great to know for people in similar situation like me.

The pinout on that remote is:

sleeve = common

ring = focus

tip = shutter

 

to trip the shutter the timer will close a connection between the sleeve and tip. Those contacts are compatible with most movie cameras that use an 1/8" plug with just a sleeve and tip connection like the canon xls 540. So just use an adapter to change the size of the plug if you need to. Have not used one of these timers, but that is the pinout anyway.

[Jari Hakli]

The pinout on that remote is:

sleeve = common

ring = focus

tip = shutter

 

to trip the shutter the timer will close a connection between the sleeve and tip. Those contacts are compatible with most movie cameras that use an 1/8" plug with just a sleeve and tip connection like the canon xls 540. So just use an adapter to change the size of the plug if you need to. Have not used one of these timers, but that is the pinout anyway.

 

...Hmm... I am not sure what you mean. What are you referring to? On what remote? What is pinout?

 

..So ring that controls focus id not compatible.

[Guest Patrick Nuse]

...Hmm... I am not sure what you mean. What are you referring to? On what remote? What is pinout?

 

..So ring that controls focus id not compatible.

 

Sorry, pinout refers to what the contacts do on the plug. The RS-60E3 has a plug with 3 connections. the "sleeve" referes to the connection that is at the very back of the connector and the "tip" is the contact on the very end. The timer will connect those two contacts together when the shutter is supposed to be tripped. That should be compatible with any movie camera that uses a two contact plug (just the sleeve and tip). The timer has a third contact ("ring", the middle contact), and that is used to trigger the focus function on most DSLR's, so you wont need to do anything with that contact.

[Jim Carlile]

They should work. The super 8 camera's remote devices were just simple on-off switches that completed a 2-pole circuit. A very small voltage then kicked in a solenoid to start the motor. That's why you could run remotes with hundreds of feet of wire.

 

The very newest cameras were controlled by logic circuits, where the voltage turned on a gate, which signalled the electronics. But it was the same on-off switch idea.

 

Now the very earliest cameras didn't work this way. With these, the remote switches were actually external power supplies, where the operating current ran from the switch unit itself. But we're talking like before 1968 or so. With those cameras the simple switches will not work.

[Jari Hakli]

They should work. The super 8 camera's remote devices were just simple on-off switches that completed a 2-pole circuit. A very small voltage then kicked in a solenoid to start the motor. That's why you could run remotes with hundreds of feet of wire.

 

The very newest cameras were controlled by logic circuits, where the voltage turned on a gate, which signalled the electronics. But it was the same on-off switch idea.

 

Now the very earliest cameras didn't work this way. With these, the remote switches were actually external power supplies, where the operating current ran from the switch unit itself. But we're talking like before 1968 or so. With those cameras the simple switches will not work.

 

Yes, this was what I thought also, basic On/Off signals. Maybe some other models or systems have more complicated signals, like "How are you today?" and "I´m fine thank you" :D .. No i´m just kidding but something like that. ;)

[Jari Hakli]

Sorry, pinout refers to what the contacts do on the plug. The RS-60E3 has a plug with 3 connections. the "sleeve" referes to the connection that is at the very back of the connector and the "tip" is the contact on the very end. The timer will connect those two contacts together when the shutter is supposed to be tripped. That should be compatible with any movie camera that uses a two contact plug (just the sleeve and tip). The timer has a third contact ("ring", the middle contact), and that is used to trigger the focus function on most DSLR's, so you wont need to do anything with that contact.

 

 

Thanks man for answer! Now I know more about these things also. I feel confident that these modern timers will work now. I would like to do some cool time-lapse recording and feel this is the way for me to go.

 

So, you own a RS-60E3 or what? Some personal experience with that, it ha Time-lapse capabilities?

[Patrick Cooper]

I have an electronic remote control / release designed for a Canon EOS 30 35mm SLR that works perfectly when plugged into a Canon 1014 Autozoom Electronic in single frame mode. Having seen that in action, it would be a safe bet that a modern interval timer may also work with a super 8 camera of the same vintage.

 

By the way, it took me months to track down the Canon interval timer E that was made for the 1014. Ive had it for a few years but now it looks like it has gone astray. When these rare old timers do come up, they usually sell for about $25. I'll have to check how much the modern interval timers sell for.