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Eclair NPR newbie questions (with pictures!)


Duncan Brown

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I've read all the other "I just got an NPR and I have so many questions" posts...and so I don't have so many questions.  But I have a few obscure detail queries, so I thought I'd post them with pictures just so it will be more fun...

Is this motor a non-crystal sync version with a 50Hz pilotone signal?  And does the pilotone come out of that 3 pin connector on the side?  Anyone have a wiring diagram?  (Yeah, I know, a screwdriver and/or an oscilloscope would give me the wiring diagram in short order, but I figured someone might just have some documentation handy.)

Duncan

eclair_npr_perfectone_motor_01.jpg

eclair_npr_perfectone_motor_02.jpg

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I did figure out, taking apart that battery pack, that the charger is definitely not original.  The battery pack was rebuilt in 2001 in Australia.I found the original 250V charger buried in the case.  Two small 6V sealed lead acid batteries wired in series that weigh a ton and only produce 3500mAH.  I'll whip up something better than that (but I can't test the camera until I do since the SLA batteries are dead.)

Duncan

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That's a late serial number. The motor is an early one. Those motors were heavily modified, so it's very difficult to say if it is in the original condition. It makes sense that the XLR connector on the sides carries pilotone signal, but is that helpful today?

Several motors were converted to crystal sync back in the day and AZ spectrum can convert them today, but the guy is always busy. I don't see anything wrong with the base. It was a modular camera, there were several motors, viewfinders and bases available, so it may not be a Perfectone one, but looks like it is for Perfectone.

I've never seen an original battery per se. I mean there was not a case like the ones used on the Eclair ACL. People used battery belts and big batteries back in the day because cells were not as efficient as they are today. I use lead acid batteries to power my camera (4 & 7Ah) but you can use pretty much any 12v battery with 4Ah or more.

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28 minutes ago, Ruben Arce said:

I don't see anything wrong with the base. It was a modular camera, there were several motors, viewfinders and bases available, so it may not be a Perfectone one, but looks like it is for Perfectone.

 

Oh it's probably the original base.  I was referring to the 14 or 15 extra holes drilled and threaded in it!

I have some mad-scientist plans for Pilotone so yeah, if that's an additional place to grab it that might be interesting to me.

Duncan

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Well seeing as how I started with a bunch of pictures, might as well turn this into the NPR-porn thread.  I know I sure would have appreciated some more high quality pictures on the net when I was considering buying one, so I'd better understand what I was getting (and getting into!)

Duncan

 

eclair_npr_camera_01.jpg

eclair_npr_camera_02.jpg

eclair_npr_camera_03.jpg

eclair_npr_perfectone_motor_03.jpg

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More questions with pictures!  What's the weird screw within a screw above the viewfinder port?  What's the stud with a hole in it on the other side of the handle from that?  And what kinds of things mount to the bottom plate?  I've seen on some cameras a single round rod mount bracket, like for a matte box or something - anything else?

Duncan

 

eclair_npr_screw_01.jpg

eclair_npr_stud_01.jpg

eclair_npr_bottom_plate_01.jpg

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  • 1 month later...

Hey Duncan. I had you pegged as prob'ly NSFRTFM.

The rounded corners frame looks like the TV safe area, the area assumed to be received on the goggle box. Visual products have a nice picture with definitions...

- projected area

- transmitted area 

- "safe TV action" area on the receiving TV.

https://visualproducts.com/equipment-for-sale/s16-16mm-cameras/

scroll down...

It's a big crop to TV safe, especially when you think of the lower resolution film stock back in the day.

 

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