Gareth Blackstock

G'day, I recently posted a query about prime lenses, and from the advice went out and bought a Super Takumar 55mm prime. I attached it to my K-3 and went shooting. My question is: with these lenses being quite affordable, and high in quality, should I stock my kit with a 28, 85, and 135mm lens? I am guessing they offer better quality optics than my Zenit zoom lens, but are they substantially better? I do not intend to shoot film aimed at attaining the highest quality image for blow up to 35mm. For short filming purposes, is the Zenit lens more than enough? Is stocking up on primes over kill? I intend on getting my footage transferred to digital eventually and editing on the computer. Would the difference between a prime and zoom lens knock me out, or is the difference only noticeable when you spend hundreds on 4K telecine from the best lab? It may be a simple or daft question, but if I were commuting to work would I need a ferrari or a toyota... Cheers, Gareth

Hello, I have not come across a specific number of turns when winding, I guess everyone is different, but stop winding when you get resistance, then time how long it takes to run out and you will know how far to wind it in future. Concerning the light meter battery, try:http://www.k3camera.com/k3/k3batt.php But most people use a hand held light meter anyway, apparently the K-3 is not reliable light meter wise. cheers, Gareth

G'day, When ever I take a camera apart I always have the camera close, it got to a point where I ended up with a site devoted to dismantling and repairing Super8 cameras. http://canon-s8-repair.yolasite.com/ After awhile I got sick of temperamental canon cameras and jittery Kodak footage and bought my own K-3 with M42 mount, I really hope I do not do many repairs, at least not enough to justify another repair site. Cheers, Gareth

G'day, great tip on the pentax forum. i read through some reviews and decided to watch out for these lrnses: PENTACON MC 50mm f1.8 Super-Takumar Portrait Lens 55mm F/1.8 It will be good to have some options for the K-3 cheers, gareth

Thanks for the great tips, now I can look around fleabay with a bit of knowledge under my belt. I will be after a multi-coated lens, and in Australia there seems a large selection for pretty good prices.. cheers, Gareth

Hello, There is a lab in Australia, http://www.nanolab.com.au/ they are reliable, cheap, and offer good quality services. I have used them myself over the years. Other companies are listed here: http://www.mishkin.yolasite.com/australian-super8.php There are a few around this end of the world.. cheers, Gareth

G'day, I recently got myself a Krasnogorsk 16mm camera, and having been doing a wee bit of shooting, and am loving it, and not finding the threading too bad at all, easier than changing a nappy on a squirmy baby! Anyway, I have been reading the odd post about lenses etc, and toyed with the idea of getting a 50mm prime lens. On fleabay there are many, super takumar seems to pop up on cinematography.com a lot, but there are others, yashica yashinon, pentacon, auto chinon, etc. Am i missing a basic fact about lens, or can I buy any of them as long as they have an M42 thread? Cheers, Gareth

G'day, Have you run it to see if you have fixed it? After years of working on car and bikes engines, you would be amazed with what you don't need... Good luck

Check out this website : http://www.minidisc.org/minidisc_faq.html I think a minislate plugs into your camera and automatically slates when you star rolling. Anything that clicks is fine, cigarette case, ball point pen, or clicking your fingers as suggested. My mini disc starts recording when it detects a certain sound level. Whatever you buy be sure it runs on AA batteries, some came with their own rechargeable batteries that by now cannot hold a chage well. cheers, Gareth

G'day Although I have only used one a few times, I reckon your average mini disc recorder is perfect for the job. They are cheap to buy, around $50 gets you a very good one, they run on AA batteries mostly, they record sound digitally, easy to upload onto your computer, and they will record for an hour easily. Get a mini DV microphone, and plug it in to the mini disc. Get a free audio program of the net to edit or save your audio file. I think this would be the best solution. cheers, Gareth

This site was linked in the Super8 forum, thought I would link it here as well, great reading for Bolex H16 users. http://cinetinker.blogspot.com.au/2013_02_01_archive.html Cheers, Gareth

This is very nice, clear pictures and good instructions- although I think I would be nervous about under taking such detailed work without experience. Cheers, Gareth

Neglab has re-opened in Sydney Australia to facilitate processing negative film. The press release and price list is posted here: http://www.mishkin.yolasite.com/press-release.php Together with Nanolab in Victoria specialising in reversal processing, Australia seems fully covered for film production... Yay for us. G.

I have been busy keeping my site up to date: http://www.mishkin.yolasite.com/ There have been alot of positive changes in Aussie recently, a lab re-opening, local labs offering new stock, heaps of cameras on sale on flea bay, and a fantastic initiative called "Pozible" great idea! Helps with film maker funding. Viva le Super8 in Australia!

http://if.com.au/2013/10/11/article/Neglab-Reopens-in-Australia-in-Response-to-Demand-for-Film-Processing/DEAMJACATY.html

Hello, It might help to visit this page and follow the super8 repair link. To fix your prob might be relatively easy. Www.mishkin.yolasite.com Good luck, cheap parts cameras are not too hard to find. Cheers

Hello, You are right on the button about corrosion in cameras, the seller has stated the camera has sat on a shelf for 20 years. He sent some pictures of the lens, looks good there. He also stated that he has used the camera, and it used to belong to a T.V station. If the price is right, I will go for most cameras, I have been repairing Super8 cameras for awhile and I am hoping the BL would be easier to fix if it needs work. Otherwise I may be coming to you and getting the "I told you so" look :) I used to live in Melbourne, rented Super8 cameras for awhile, but have now moved into the countryside, at least three hours away from your store, and if this camera stays cheap I will be getting into 16mm. Also, if it stays cheap it will be a good entry level camera I think. Cheers, Gareth

Thanks for the feedback. The camera is being sold as non working, although the seller states it does run, he also says it has not been servised or used in twenty years, hence the cheap price. While I intend on filming with it, I understand it will need to be tidied up. Servicing perhaps does not exist for these cameras in australia.....I like a challenge. Thanks for the help, I will see how the auction goes. Cheers, gareth

I have been shooting super8 for awhile and I recently gave it away for awhile. Now I see this Arriflex 16 BL for sale and I want it! trouble is I have been doing a little internet research on the model, and while I am happy with it's limitations etc. what is the go with the film transport mechanisms, on the net I see around 3 different types, the camera I want to buy is below. Is this film transport normal for this camera, is this a sound camera? If so, will it be fine using normal tri-x silent film stock? Do I have to remove the sound mechanisms? I am somewhat new to 16mm, so a heads up would be appreciated... cheers, Gareth

If you are unable to get your money back, or you face having to wear it and buy another, you could try to work on it yourself. Admitedly proffesional repair is the best idea, yet some repairs can be more than the camera is worth. Over time I have managed to repair simple faults with the Canons, just by doing a little T.L.C http://canon-s8-repair.yolasite.com/ 814 & 1014? Unless you want the extra bells and whistles, the main difference between the cameras is the zoom length, but the price difference is huge, go for the 814. cheers, Gareth

Hello all, For the Christmas season and until early February I have drastically reduced camera rental fees, for my Canon 814 Electronic, 1014, and my trusty 1218, just $15 per day! Plus my other cameras, some even rent free! http://mishkin.yolasite.com/camera-hire.php I figured the best way to get more people shooting film was to make it too attractive to pass up! And if labs sell more film, they will be more inclined to order more… So if you are in Victoria, Australia, give Nanolab or Vanbar a call, buy some film, rent a camera and get shooting! www.nanolab.com.au www.vanbar.com.au Cheers, Gareth

Very impressive! One thing that might be handy is a comparison, or "pro's and con's" of different transfer systems, rank, frame by frame, et all. Great work, please keep it up! cheers, Gareth

Hello all, Although I have been renting cameras for a wee while now, I decided to reduce the bond amounts I was charging as I think that may be the cause of a slow down in rentals over the past year. My Canon 1014's were $250 bond, now $100. I hope it will move things along a little. http://mishkin.yolasite.com/camera-hire.php I never intended to make enormous profits, just to keep them rolling helps prevent "gunk" build up. Australia is kicking along nicely, lots of activity film wise: http://www.retrofilms.com.au/ http://www.nanolab.com.au/ cheers, Gareth

I used around 12 carts a while ago and had many problems with jitter, although most footage was retrievable, it really was the last straw for film in my book, I have always been a keen proponent of Super8, but when you put alot of money into jittery footage.....it bites! A good cure is using virtualdub with the "deshaker" element, it actually works wonders! Good luck

Hello, I reckon buying another one would be cheaper than repair. Do not throw it away or sell it for scrap, try repairing the issue. it might be a simple correction, and if you cannot use the camera, what is there to loose? http://canon-s8-repair.yolasite.com/814-eye-piece-replace.php Good luck, and please post results if you do manage to fix it. cheers, Gareth