Marc Guerriero

According to Martin Baumgarten's site, and other photographic sites where they talk about using older cameras that required the 1.3x2 or the 2.7, it would appear that for every .05 volt extra you have, if your camera uses only one of the button batteries, or .1 volt extra you have if your camera uses two of the button batteries, that would make it underexposed by 1/2 stop. Maybe it would be a good idea to have a voltage meter so that you could measure the voltage of these batteries as the voltage drops off through usage. So if you are using three volts instead of 2.7, that would mean that your light meter is underexposing by 1 1/2 stops. That's my deduction anyway. Feel free to debunk me anyone.

Correction from my above post: "2) if they can produce a cart that maintains a reasonable level of RELIABILITY similar to that from the days of yore. "

I would say that Super 8 will retain it's viability under two circumstances: 1) if it's price does not get too far out of hand and 2) if they can produce a cart that maintains a reasonable level of viability similar to that from the days of yore. Under these circumstances, super 8 will retain it's charm. As Jim pointed out, it's really all about the gear at this point. The size of Super 8 equipment makes it a great gorilla film making format and as one filmmaker pointed out, that means that there is less overhead in the process of using it. You can own the equipment at a lower cost than that of 16mm and the level of automation of these cameras, especially the high end ones, gives you a lot of film making power in a small package. The only thing that really concerns me about super 8 is the cartridge reliability as this has been an issue of recent years. I fear that Kodak does not want to put much effort into fixing the problem and may let it die on it's own accord as people just give up using it because of it's lack of reliability.

Does that mean that the film should not be stored in the freezer/refrigerater before usage even if given ample time to defrost/warm up?

Great camera! Just because a camera is not designed with the "Anyone can service their own camera" mentality does not mean that it is of lesser Engineering quality and design, durability or quality of results in terms of image. Canon cameras have stood the test of time better than any other camera considering the low frequency of service required to keep them running. And there are businesses that will service them and do an admirable job that is not so insurmountable as some "elitist" on this forum would like people to believe. Beaulieus may be designed for easy access but that access might be required every two days considering how "finicky" they are!

Michael, sometimes I don't know how to take you. One moment you seem like the biggest poponent of Super 8 and the next you make a statement like the above. Or do I just not know you weel enough to know when you are being sarcastic?

I am very certain that any outsourcing for lenses that Canon may have done would have been for their lower end and possibly a few middle end cameras. Top models like the 814/1014, silent/sound, models had glass specificly designed by Canon. Even the literature that comes with these camera models specifies that.

I think that he might be confusing the cartridge alignment pin with the pins for reading the ASA speeds.

I agree, these guys are great! Here you have maturity as apposed to "cocky youth". ( I.E. issues with Jante's law except they want the law to apply to others and not themselves-with the exception of the envy part and the desire to see others fall off of their pedestal)

Are you trying to see if you can record the ghost images on film of patients that have passed on to the other side?

Thanks, that was very thurough! I have often wondered where the evolution of Super 8 would have taken us if Video had not killed it off so quickly. surely, many lovers of R8 wonder the same thing in the case of S8 killing it off. R8 was actually making some technical progress in the early sixties with cameras that had electric motors, etc.

I think that Spectra does that. Their web site talks about having a large inventory of spare parts for super 8 cameras. They also have their own machine shop in house to machine any parts that cannot be directly replaced. I have never used them but I get the idea that if you compare them to pro 8mm it is like comparing the good witch and the bad witch in the Wizard of Oz!

Michael, I have read some of your posts about CLA and how many take it for granted. You have mentioned how many treat super 8 cameras like disposable cameras. Funny thing, one professional I talked to referred to the 1014E as a disposable camera. But when you compare it to other cameras like Beaulieau that have a firm infrastructure of service, not to mention the way it is built and with interchangable lenses, then other cameras may seem "disposable" by comparison. Anyway, not to stray from my point here, it seems that you have a relieable CLA source in Germany and I remember that Mitch mentioned that he has found this service to be expensive and often not satisfactory. He lives in Cananda and you in the U.K. It may be fair to point out in this case that the German people tend to be very meticulous craftsman as a general steriotype and in the U.S. there are not very many places that can guarantee that kind of thouroughness. So, there is no wonder that many in the U.S. feel that it is really a crapshoot as to how attentive the repair guy is going to be ( Especially in the old days with Pro 8mm-I have'nt used them recently). And maybe the nature of your job ( I am assuming here) gives you the resources to pay the high prices for a good service ( did you say something like 400 Euros?). Having said that, it is probably a good idea for Super 8 users not to treat these cameras as disposable since they are no longer made. And if a niche market is to survive, it most definitely will rely on availability of cameras. Maybe it is a good idea to salvage all and any cameras to fullest extent even if it means donating the simpler, low end ones to programs that can be used as an introduction to beginners to give them a feel for the medium. Another thought is having a camera bank or dontating unwanted or broken cameras to your favorite repair service shop as a gesture of good will to contribute to parts availability. I am interested in your thoughts on this. ( The end of my self centered diatribe)

I'd love to do a Slow motion Laps dissolve on my 1014E but I just don't want to risk it. I don't even know if I would risk it at regular speed. So I'll stick to the "electronic gimmickry".

Sorry, I guess that it made the second list.

Why did'nt the Canon 1014E make the list? It's got to be ahead of the 814E and with the excetption of low light conditions, it's been reported to be sharper than the Nikon R10.

Do they only accept films that are shot on the Bentley Super 8 cameras?

The Bently B-3 is the ultimate worst Super 8 camera ever made. It is a small piece of plastic that runs on 2 AA batteries with a fixed focus lens made of plastic and no auto exposure.

I recently aquired an Angenieux 12-120 zoom lens with the viewfinder attachment. I got a little "brace" gadget with this lens. It seems like it is intended to align the c mount cup that the lens came with to make sure that the viewfinder on the lens sees what the film gate sees. Does anyone know if this lens is only intended to be used with the Bolex turrett model? The brace looks like it is supposed to attatch to another lens bay in the turrett. If this is the case, then I am missing one more crucial part: the " c screw gadget" that attatches to the "brace gadget" in the neighboring turrett bay.