Andries Molenaar

That is a serious and systematic way to determine one's camera's focal properties. But considering the properties of the cartridge and other materials it is a bit a waste of time. Also most Super-8 filmers shoot from hand and not from tripod so most have plenty other worries/opties to improve image quality. Rather then spending $200-300 on removal and adjustments or spending hours and $100-s on testing their equipment. So if nothing is wrong with your filters leave them in. And if you take them out (yourself) just shoot some film and see how focus is. LIkely you couldn't tell the difference :)

So what? Should others work for nothing and still be glad to help you? Thanks to Blue Ciné Tech you have a drop off point in UK, London and local shipping. The return times are likely worst case estimates. You should be glad to have a stock keeping retailer at hand :) Let us call your bluff and see you try sending in the film yourself and see what you actually spend and how long it takes?

Tokyo wasn't involved in the quake or tsunami. I doubt they lost more than one day in time due to quake precautions. Parcels from Japan get to Netherlands 5 days even on cheapest postal transport. Your items are lost. . Only the shipper can enquire so ask mr Tak to enquire with Japan post. Possibly they can wake up Italian post.

With all kind of modern quick delivery services you could look around far beyond NY city borders? I suppose. You could even consider Dwayne's Although one week with now minus one day is a bit short in time.:)

Brand new with dents? :) I have the same black version ZM4 with a large Angénieux. Found it at a photo-faire and it is in top condition. Without dents or scratches. Purs like a kitten in an ocean of milk. Only the serialnumber plate in the filmchamber had dropped off and the modelnumber plate on the outside. A typical issue with these Beaulieux is that the glue gets brittle and these plates and leatherettes start to drop off. Used a mild glue to fix them back on. Of course when you ask a repairman he will recommend to repair. When it isn't broken don fix it. It is not going to the moon or something.

Might just as well be electronics. If all looks wel why change a thing. If you need/want to lube just put a drop of sewing machine oil on the toothed rims of the gears. Let it run with a cartrdige which causes no trouble. Use a Kaccema or find a few old K40s which are useless by now. :(

Indeed interesting and revealing. Unfortunately an hour of labour costs about the same for both service. The only thing is of course pro8mm may the choice when you are around there and have plenty budget. Better and far more affordable service for super-8 can be had at many locations in the world. Only express services are somewhat limited.

A few hours isn't enough. Not even on a new battery. Try to charge, run-till-empty for a few cycles. That would revive the battery a bit so you will have a longer run-tim. The zoom should work when the lens is proper screwed onto the camera i.e. the contacts are lined up with the body. Sometimes these lenses are a bit off. The battery need to deliver 0, 3.6 and 7.2 volt. (hull, mid-ring, centre-pad) Is the 3.6 is too much off the zoom control will not function.

Make sure the aperture is fully opened. Check if the mirror in neutral position, i.e. the camera stopped at a position in between frames. The mirror is then behind the lens and you cannot see through the camera and lens with the door open... Sometime the groundglass is dirty and it darkens the view. Swing it out using the highrise knob on the left side just near the lens.

First take receipt of the thing and check it out. $299 isn't that cheap. It is a good price if it is all OK. If the battery holds power just check other functions and if all seems OK run a film through it. Possibly check it with a out-dated cartridge to see if it can run 50ft through. There should be plenty Kodachromes in S8 at a few dollars :( Check the found aperture against an handheld exposure meter. Be sure to shoot plenty from a tripod and have a few shots at infinity like antennas or electricity pole etc. Check the groundglass for correct focus. Against the distance on the ring. Keep notes on all shots, log exposure, correction, focus, subject, contrast in scene and what more. Then wait for the film to be get back from processing :) If it is OK then use it more. I would not spend $300-400 on lube and adjust jobs if there's nothing wrong. If the battery gets/is lame you could have it recelled or build an external pocket/belt fixed battery-pack with connecting-kit like in the pictures. You could buy these too but everythings seems to cost an arm and a leg. The bondy site is very instructive. :) and not mine

Seller is quite firm with his statement. So it likely is as described. There is only photo. That is a bit lame. I notice there is no eyecup.

There is a border of almost .7 mm which could at max be annexed. The trick is that more of the height can be used as there is less need to crop for a 16:9 So in square mm gain is much better. :) You can always the option to do nothing and just crop. After all it is just trick the get a slighty better deal from a frame. BTW Processing doesn't damage the sides or border of your film. If it does get another lab.

Don't want to spoil a good idea. But of course the non-split footage can only be newly exposed. How much Double-8 gets exposed these days and how much could possibly end up at your scanner? It is certainly a niche market. It could grow a bit if newly exposed Super-8 would have to cease one day.Double-8 can more easily be manufactured from 16mm film then Super-8.

. Likely they made you stand there because of the tone of your language. Also it is about as travellers are treated when entering the USA. But then all of them :)

I suppose all outside US sellers have the same problem that their currencies are too espensive in US$ Unfortunately it is difficult to get Japan streetprices on Single-8 material :( Unless you have a friend there. Real film is still very common in Japan shops. Even when they are crammed with digital junk :) In Japan you have Retro8.com The website is sloppy and response is sloooow. Mr tak is used to selling internationally. In Germany you have Wittner where you get useful replies even on a sundaymorning. They are well equipped for international sales, speak and write english. Take Paypal and credicard. There is also FFR who is more or less a reseller for Retro8. If you don't mind handwork hobbyism you could also refill used cartridges, Get the long rolls from Wittner.

If you are in USA you better buy them there. You will not find them at the same price in Europe. Likely far more expensive. Even more so in a brick and mortar shop. Depending where you are you could consider ordering from Andec, send exposed film to them for processing etc from where you are and have it returned to your home address. Buying in Paris will be terribly expensive and possible at only a few locations. To my knowledge your personal items will not be x-rayed at Paris tourist sites. I never experienced anything like that. Not even in september 2001. One or two airport x-ray scans will not damage your films. It is a myth.

Nice work en well done. Only telecine is not so good. Incredible grain and stability in a ZC-1000 must be much better. Super-8 and single-8 is capable of much beter images The long exposure machine works like a Beaulieu 4008 long expsore? Or is it a more like a external motor on the drive axis connector. Too bad retro-8 is so slow on his website. Except for the prices which are two times the Tokyo or Kyoto general photographic supply shop prices. :) Fujifilm barely costs a thing there.

mr Brady, your response clearly demonstrates my observation to be spot on. Furthermore, I do have too many personal thank yous to know that people here and there appreciate my information or personal help. I find little wrong with neither of the original of the Beaulieu wedging accessoiries. One fits nicely in the underwater housing thanks to its rims. Or was it design-intended for that? I doubt when the camera can stand up by itself with a zoom is an indicator of anything. I does so with original grip and Angénieux zoom too. It is quite popular to do so when it is on display :) No soldering is needed for a power switch when the grip is taken off. When the switch wiring is fixed to permanent on. Just plug in a remote-control on the 2.5mm connector and use that as power switch. There is one set of the EWA compendium ( East West agency, DDR product) which is specially configured for the 4008 cameras. It takes filters and masks too. No wedge needed although the grip-screw-on holder is not too strong and on a tripod may be a bit too flimsy. If you want a full matte box with french flag on rods, get one from Bollywood, India. Plenty on eBay.

mr Brady is involved with American ciné :) According to their website. No wonder the fanatism.:) There is nothing wrong with the original Beaulieu wedge. Nor with a DIY contraption or the Amercan Ciné thing. Just get the easy and affordable thing you want. As said in reference to the picture of the doublehanded shoulder pod etc. Taking off the grip makes the little Beaulieu camera unusable for standard S8 filming. Where this camera was designed for. That is indeed a bit of a shame. BTW There is no need for perfect alignment with the lens-axis. The lens needs to be protected by the sund-hood, french flag, rear-light-seepage blocker and whatmore. The bearer of the glass is seethrough from 0 or every other small angle. It is just that the camera needs to look through the opening of the Chrosziel or whatever rather than to the sky :)

He is on the film himself. Who's permission does he need to watch it or publish it? Your enquiry seems a like inspired by the anglo-saxon craze where parents are not permitted to film their own children at a schoolplay and such. Totally idiotic. Considering rights the only permission needed would be from the artist who designed the background :)

Most modern video camera have very little distance between their base and the optical axis of their recording lens. Since modern rail-kits/baseplates are aimed on users of these cameras certainly several plates will be suitable for a 4008 without the handgrip. There are also risers available so getting the filterholder ank compendium in the right position should not even be a problem with the grip still in place and using a leveler like the original Beaulieu wedge.

More then $1000 for a Leicina Special? Next time you can have mine :) Or was it a no-brake high-speed version? You are going to produce an adapter yourself for the angled finder? If you CNC-ing something you could consider a run of 10 pcs. I am sure you would find buyers for these...

The image without groundglass is a virtual aerial image. It is only for framing and aiming. Use the GG for focusing, otherwise use the distance markings on the lens. I don't understand how your aerial image can not be sharp when the GG is in focus. S8 has so much depth-of-field that it hardly makes a difference when your are 10cm off at past 1 meter. Good luck.

It would be wiser to list the rather rare RM8008 in sequence rather than 3 together. The selling price will be influenced if you swamp the small market even when briefly. Good luck

Ordering and processing becomes available per April 1st?