Roger Haney

Fortunately, all of the cameras I have bought off of eBay have worked to some degree. I would check with the seller to see if they have put batteries in and run the motor. A lot of these cameras have had the battery contacts eaten/corroded from leaking batteries. Ask about that. The best cameras are Nikon R8/10, Beaulieus, Canons, Nizos. Other good cameras are Chinon, Bolex, Elmo, Sankyo, Yashica. Dont buy expensive cameras without assurance from the seller that all of the functions work(not necessarily proving it by shooting film). At the very least make sure the motor runs. You can get by with an external light meter; if the internal meter doesnt work. If the lens doesnt have an aperture ring; you need to make sure the auto-iris works.

Great camera choice(I have two and I'm learning to repair these). This camera has excellent registration for steady images. The zoom lenses that come with these have extremely sharp images;!but you can probably get sharper images using primes. I use Nikon 35mm film primes and I also have access to a set of Cooke lenses. You can get inexpensive "C" mount adapters on eBay that adapt to just about anything. So, good glass for sharp images. As a rule of thumb, the lower you go in ASA film; the less the grain. 50 ASA would be ideal; but I think 100ASA is the lowest they make today(Provia 100 for reversal). Kodak negative stocks will be even sharper. I recommend Bitworks; in Toronto for scanning; as they'd do excellent work with a sprocketless scanner.

The shutter speed for 24fps is 1/48th of a second. Negative film stock has pretty good exposure latitude; so I think as long as you're stopped down all the way; you should be good. The funny quality about film is: the more you expose it to light the less sensitive it becomes and the less you expose it to light the more sensitive it becomes. Reversal is less forgiving. Another way to lessen exposure time is to shoot in slow motion. This is especially useful when shooting reversal film in bright sunlight and you would be overexposing it otherwise.

As far as I know, only Beaulieu 2008 and 4008, Leicina and Fujica ZC1000(Single8mm-which is Super8mm in a different cart) have a "C" mount. I would think the Beaulieu 2008 would be a less desirable model and maybe cost less than 4008's. The wonderful thing about these cameras(I have a 4008ZMII and a ZC1000) is that you can use virtually any lens on these cameras with an adapter. You could use Arri or Cooke lenses; with an adapter. Carrol Ballard used Nikon film camera primes on his Eclair 35mm to shoot the art shots in "The Black Stallion": that's what I use on my cameras. An alternative could be to use Fujica Single8mm cameras. The Fujica Z800 is almost as good as the ZC1000 and the Fujica Zoom lens is an excellent lens.(Fujinon zoom lenses are a premiere lens used for digital cinema). I've been picking up Z800's for around $50-$60; in excellent condition. Because of the cartridge; Single 8mm can be back wound for the entire length. Single8mm is Super8mm in a different cartridge. It is available from Retro8mm(retro8.com)and Provia100 color reversal and Kodak Tri X b/w reversal are available. Since Retro8 has a limited amount of reusable carts; they only sell Single8mm film with processing; so you will return the cartridge. You can email them at mail@retro8.com. Currently, Provia100 is the only color reversal stock available; as Wittner has stopped supplying Agfachrome to the U.S. Provia100 is also available in Super8mm(with or without processing) from Retro8mm. It uses E6 processing; so it can be processed in the U.S.

I just got a Beaulieu filter key for my Bealliau 4008. It has been converted to an external battery; so I'm not sure what else has been done to it. I installed the filter key; expecting to see the filter retract; but saw nothing. I tried it in two other 4008's i am working on and still saw no filter retraction. Am I just not seeing the filter retract; or are there other factors at play here?

Unfortunately, I had bad luck on my first order; which was lost; after I paid for film and processing.(Shipped Japanese Sea Post) After I paid for a second cartridge; Tak shipped it DHL; only because the first one was lost. He explained that DHL was normally quite a bit extra. The U.S. Postal service told me that 13 days was normal for regular mail between Japan and the U.S.

I heard from a reliable source that the new Kodak camera; made by Logmar; will not have the gate and pin registration system of their premium camera. This source also indicated that the premium Logmar camera had issues with the pin registration function. It's really too bad that the turnaround time to receive/process Single 8 film seems to take so long. That is the format I would go with. I have 3 Z800's I would really like to use and would love to get a ZC1000. Right now, I think I'm going to go with my Beaulieu 4008ZMII; using Nikon AL-S primes. Carroll Ballard used Nikons on his Eclair for some of his classic feature films. That Logmar footage is amazing, though! Some shots almost look 3 dimensional. It must have some good glass on it! When R8mm starts becoming more available; I'll start using my Jean Louis Seguin modified Bolex Ultrapan 8 camera again.

Hello! I recently bought film from Retro8mm and here is what I found: Tak is incredibly busy answering emails from all over the world, so he tends to focus on orders before questions. What I did was just send them money through their PayPal account. It wasn't enough money, so I immediately got a response from Tak, letting me know the balance. I would send them $38 per cartridge(includes processing); plus $5 for shipping(they also ask you to add 5% to cover PayPal fees). Once you've established that you are a serious customer; Tak is pretty good about responding to emails after that. Please not that there are two web pages; one with new prices and one with older prices. I wish I had a ZC1000! I've been collecting Z800's which are very close in quality. Regards.

Tak is very busy answering emails from all over the world; since he's the only one who speaks English. The best way to get his attention is to send money to them via PayPal. I think a roll of film is around $38 with processing--add 5 for shipping. He'll respond when he sees the order come through. Don't know if anyone who services single 8 cameras. It may be cheaper just to buy buy cameras off ebay.

Personally, I use a Fujica Z800; because the image is very, very stable; due to the Single 8 cartridge and metal pressure plate in the camera. Single 8 is the Japanese version of Super 8 and both will run on Super 8 projectors. I also have a Beaulieu 4008 ZMII and this is the camera I recommend for Super 8. It is a professional camera; used by professionals; because you can adapt any lens made; to attach to the C mount lens mount on the camera. I have a C mount to Nikon F mount adapter and I use Nikon 35mm still camera lenses on it. You could be out hiking around and bolt on a 300mm telephoto/zoom lens from a 35mm still camera and take long distance shots; whereas a fixed Suoer 8 zoom may only go out to 70mm or so. The 4008 ZMII is also very light and compact and uses rechargeable Nicad batteries. Rebuilt versions from Pro 8mm show up on eBay and these are very professional. Otherwise, a new rebuilt one(with a widened gate) is around $2500 from Pro 8mm.

If you shoot Tungsten balanced film outdoors; without an 85a filter; it will come out blue. If you shoot daylight balanced film indoors; it will look orange. B/W film does not need color correction filters; since it has no color to be affected by color temperature. There are filters that you can use to increase the contrast, however.

Hi, I have been getting into the Single 8mm version of Super 8 and wanted to post some info. missing from the Retro8mm webpage; for those interested in trying Single 8mm: Their webpage is Retro Enterprises English page. Email is mail@retro8.com. Film is $38 w Processing for Fuji ASA 100/200 color reversal and Tri-X B/W reversal. Their PayPal account is under mail@retro8.com. Add 5% handling fee. Add for shipping: $5 regular air mail. Approx $12 for airmail with tracking and $18 for express mail with tracking. Tak(the owner) has requested that I email him prior to paying; so he can cofirm shipping costs. Tak is the only one there who speaks English; so be patient with him answering emails; since he gets emails from all over the world.

Are there any Elmo GS1200 expert technicians on here? I just got a GS1200 with a few issues I need to fix. I'm sure that these have some very common issue that can be fixed. I just need some direction on where to look and what to replace. I can do repairs on the component level. I'm just much more famaliar with 35mm projectors.

I have done 35mm negatives in Caffenol; but have yet to do reversal. Is there something you can substitute for Sulphuric Acid to make the bleach? As far as not being able to get Color reversal: Kodak will begin selling Ektachrome again in late 2017 and you can buy FujiChrome from Retro8mm in Japan(Website: Retro Enterprises- For $41.40 plus $5 shipping you can get Single8 or Super 8mm; including processing. Order through their PayPal account.)

I would also consider the Leicena Special(they can be pricy; but probably the best Super 8 camera ever made). One overlooked camera is the Agfa Moviexoom 6 and Movexoom 10. These are also German cameras and are probably one of the most underrated cameras. The sell for very reasonable prices on eBay. I think the Bealieu cameras also give you a nice option of putting some very high quality glass on the front end of those.

Hello, Does anyone know the secret to disassembling a Fujica Z800 Single 8 Camera?

Which 16mm projectors are capable of recording on Mag Striped Film? Were there ever any that were capable of recording and playback on a balance stripe? 16mm editors?

Does anyone do commercial Mag Sound Striping on 8mm or 16mm Domestic or International?

Ole, This camera is a sound-on-film camera. They can be capable of recording optical or magnetic sound on film; with a mag or optical record head; or both; in the camera.(Magstriped film is no longer available). In order to record optical sound with this camera; you need to have an optical sound recorder; called a Galvanometer; in the camera. The galvanometer has an exciter lamp that records sound on the film by exposing sound waves on the film as light pulses. You also need to have an Auricon optical film recording amplifier and a 50 ohm microphone that plugs into the camera that allows the galvanometer to work. You must use 1R"B" wound(single perf. film) if you want to record optical sound. The amplifier and microphone are probably available on EBAY, but the Galvanometer may be hard to find if it is not included with the camera. These cameras are self blimped and run extremely quietly for recording live sound. Obviously you can shoot silent if you choose. I hope this helps! Roger.

I am searching for a relatively inexepensive matte box with rails and an adapter plate for an Auricon CM-72. I have a 60mm zoom lens and I am hoping to use an anamorphic adapter. Any suggestions? Thanks! Roger.