Mike Currell

Hi all and merry xmas I am looking at doing some time lapse of the stars and moon. So far my research has led me to the Bauer royal series of cams ie 8 and 10. These cams allow you to vary the exposure time for each frame. However I read thru a manual for the royal 8 macro and it seems that they will only allow you to do this for 12 secs of projection time at 18 fps and it seems that it is going to automatically adjust the aperture even tho the cam seems to have a manual aperture setting. I remember reading somewhere that you can overide the 12 second thing by gaffer taping a knob and stopping it from moving?? can't be good for the cam?? Has anyone got one of these german cams - they look like fun! Also, does any form of the Nizo'S do this sort of thing ie time exposure with intervalometer?? Another thing....I have a new (new to me) 1014xls. What about pointing it at the moon with shutter (shutter will open to 220 degrees) and aperture wide open and using some very fast film.....do they sell 500 asa colour reversal anywhere? It seems that Pro 8's fast stuff is all negative. Sorry to be full of questions....better than being full of sh%$#t! Cheers all

Andrew Thanks a lot for the gr8 info

Isn't it like saying that because people don't buy rump anymore we are going to do away with the whole cow? As long as people are still buying T-Bones the cow survives!?! Read T-bone = S8 64t & Rump = E64t still Mad cow disease.....I know :lol:

Im looking for a useable vintage tripod. Has to have a reasonable head with extension arm for moving pictures ie small film camera. Dont mind if it needs a little work and I am particularly fond of Craig Thalhammer model as seen here http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT Pm me if you have anything like it Cheers Mike

Daniel, this is some of the sharpest super 8 footage I have seen! It is the first time I have bothered to allow Vimeo to download in HD as my PC is a bit slow....worth the wait! Please tell me how you did the telecine?? Yes Moises I would love to see the setup I will email you now Cheers Mike

Sorry Alessandro, I understand your second paragraph having re read it!

I understand your point Alessandro - thanks. What are super 8 batteries? you mean ordinary alkalines? Basically I have plenty of NMH batts that I use in my radio mics and intend trying them in the cam. My main concern here is that I don't blow the cam up! Don't see why it should except that older electronics may not take kindly to a higher float charge when the batts are first put in and the cam is switched on? And why as I disscussed in my first post is there a warning on my GPS not to use rechargeables? There must be a reason!! I hope this reason doesn't relate to S8 cameras. Your other points re cartridges and having the cam serviced are well recieved too. Quote "Then there is the issue of twacking the film cartridge like a pack of just opened cigarettes to loosen up the film. Plus turning the film cartridge spindle a couple of times in the correct direction can also help reduce film take up friction". You should really give up smoking, it is not good for the camera!! :rolleyes: Cheers Mike

Geez forchrissake! I just got into the hobby and have spent many $ on getting set up. Are there any other alternatives if it goes away?? I've heard about Fuji Velvia. Is this a current stock or are we just finding it here and there on flea bay? Mike

Greetings film lovers There is a lot of chatter re Alkaline, versus Nickel metal hydride batts along the lines of safety. I even read a forum post that blamed rechargeables for frying his s8 camera?! I have a handheld GPS which takes two AA's....the instruction manual warns against using "rechargeable" batts but gives no reason? I believe that NMH can have a much higher float charge (voltage) after charging - is this a prob for older technology?? I've just realised that my Kodak NMH's are 1.2v wheareas Alkaline AA's are 1.5v - is this a prob? My NMH batts are rated at 2100mAh- I hope to use them in a Canon 1014xls. They have been doing a sterling job in my radio mics. Obviously S8 cams where designed when batt technology was in its infancy. Should we use NMH batts in our cams? I certainly dont want to harm the Canon 1014xls that I have on order! Any disscussion from the "sparkies" amoungst us would be appreciated....anyone have a bad experience with MNH's? Thanks youse guys! Mike

Thanks all for the responses. My only concern is the framing and trying to guess it. Adam, your footage is gr8. I am also looking at aquiring a 1014xls and having seen your footage I am just about convinced. May I ask how you did your telecine for the vimeo vids? Also on the Vimeo page you respond to some comments re using different lenses (wide angle) on the 1014xls - are you talking about adapters here? as I thought the canon lens was fixed?? Thanks all Mike

Hi Just wondering about achieving 16x9 when using super 8. I have heard about max8- too much hassle and dollars, and I realise that it can be converted during telecine but how about this, Would a 16x9 "mask" fitted into a mattebox (kompendium) do the business? Having a reflex viewfinder ie.. u see wat the lens sees....you would also see 16x9 in the eyecup. Would it work on a zoom lens as well as prime lenses? :blink: Any comments?

Thanks guys for your help

I feel a bit guilty asking all these questions and I do spend a lot of time trying to research the net before posting...but info from a lot of sites can be very convoluted..I will hopefully one day be able to pay the forum back as it were. Two questions Is a cable release a standard thing ie standard thread for attachment. I want to buy one off ebay and they dont describe it well - anyone know if the following will fit my Bolex B8L? When I search Bolex release cables, they are all overseas, cost and postage prohibitive. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/50cm-Shutter-Releas...=item2a02573f8f Secondly I have learnt that films should be cleaned when nesseccary. My research shows me that there are film cleaning kits out there but can one use something thats lying around the house like a microfibre cloth and some metho or something? Maybe alcohol, there's plenty of that lying around! One more thing, is there a simple universal splicer for both standard and super 8? Thanks

Thanks guys re notch. I can meter but notch is good for hit and run? Still wondering if anyones had a play with this model before I pay the freight on it. Not about to pay a lot of dosh for it as I know that old electronics can be a prob. However this may be a nice litle S8 cam. Isn't Eumig aligned with Bolex in some way? Adios Amigo's :ph34r: Ps Pav....I am not seeing the wiki page that mentions "not having 64t" can you post a link?

Heeellloooo again I am trying to work out if the Eumig 880 PMA Super 8 cam can read the 64t notch and whether or not it's worth trying one out? I have seen the wiki spec sheet but it doesnt mention the notch thing! Lots of bells and whistles which I know is a mine field with a cam of this age but hasanyone had anything to do with one? Cheers fellow celluloids! Mike B)

Thanks Dominic I truly understand where your coming from however, I am not going to suggest that he stops trying to pursue his dreams and keep pushing sh*%^&*t uphill! He worked on many projects both for film and television and has quite a few good script ideas locked in the closet (don't we all) Where would the likes of Peter Jackson be had he taken his first knock back seriously? It was I believe an 8mm camera that got him hooked and allowed him to finish his very first film "The Valley" that actually raised eyebrows. Yeah I know we got a lot to learn...a hell of a lot but I know whats possible on video.....just let me loose with film....."space waiting" Thanks Mike

Thanks Richard but bugger! I live a million miles from any cultural hive (Whitsundays) and currently have a backlog of wedding videos to edit over the next few weeks. I would love to attend something like this so maybe next time. I want to learn the basics of cine film and thought 8mm would be a good place to start. Thanks to all replys re 16 mm. I should explain myself and tell you that it wont be for a while that I get to play with a 16mm cam for I have just spent housekeeping on a Bolex B8L plus Paillard tripod plus Eumig "all 8mm gauge" projector from Ebay. My wifes raised eyebrows turned to relief when the cam and projector arrived today and much to our delight both units seem to be in v good condition. The Eumig played "50 years of Mickey Mouse" "super 8 sound" on to the floor (we dont have a take up spool yet!) Sound was gr8, picture was crisp. Extra film gate and standard 8 cogs are evident inside the lamp cover! The B8L also seems to run smoothly and quitely and for about 20 secs at 24fps on a full wind however I want to send it off for servicing before I run fresh stock thru it. Give me a few months, some trial and error and I will then be looking for a good 16mm cam. I just wanted to research both the affordability and availability of cams and stock etc before continuing in this direction. My expenditure on this gear from Ebay was minimal.....shipping has been the largest expense. The B8L was 33 bucks! the projector $99! When I go 16 I will not be fooling around and know I will have to pay for it! My background was in TV circa 1990's with 1 inch tape, old Grass valley switching technology, betacam and then a short foray into the cusp of the digital revolution. I was a producer/director for the WIN network, not a camera man, however had a great respect for camera operators that gave me good results. I did actually shoot a few comercials and played around with both studio floor cameras and ENG cams so I do have a bit of behind the lens knowledge. Win Television was very much a multi skilling envoronment - which was a good thing for me. Since leaving Tele, I set myself up rather nicely with a couple of Pro Hd video cams (jvc) some nice spec built computer gear and downstairs has been transformed into a studio complete with an audio booth for voice overs (I also worked in radio and still have a voice). We do a bit of "Marketing on Hold" and the occasional voice over for TVC's and radio comercials. The wedding video's are a pain but keep us afloat. I would like to offer my clients the option of film so that explains my interest in this forum. I guess I am also tired of making "sausage machine" material however we try and make our weddings look as good as we can. I don't bother uploading my material onto You tube or any tube for that matter as I don't yet have anything that I consider to be good enough to put out there. Clients seem to love our wedding work though. I have recently learnt that a fellow who I work with in another business (charter yacht industry) was actually a key player in the audio production of the original Mad Max!! It is hard to believe that this guy now cleans luxury charter boats!! He keeps telling me that after Mad Max and a short sabatical, that no one would employ him due to the fact that he had no digital experience and that he was getting to old to retrain! We have the occasional smoko together and toss around ideas about short films....tropfest......documentary making etc. We are both around the same age and I tell him that age has absolutely nothing to do with art! So it may take a few years, a steep learning curve and a lot more spondooley but look out for us old farts at a cinema near you! It's great to have found this forum however and I cant thank you all enough for your replys. Mike

Understood, Ill save my money then - thanks Trevor. The 111 suits my current application, mainly weddings and corporates, still think they are a nice camera. Here in the tropics, we are usually shooting in high light with blue skys and emerald/turquoise seas etc. The scenery is breathtaking and when I get everything right the results from the 111 are quite impressive.....point taken tho about JVC shooting themselves in the foot! Mike

:ph34r: hmmmmm you JVC people are a quite bunch! What I'm gathering is that maybe lenses used on 16mm cams are close to one third - is this true?

Thanks so much Chris for answering my questions so well. Your info has pointed me in all the right directions. Cheers Mike "objectphilliac"

Anyone?? :huh:

Hi all Just wanting to ask a couple of questions re 16mm stock Anyone know where to buy it and have it processed in Australia? Does super 16 have the same perfs as standard 16 ie can it be run through a standard 16 cam? My current understanding of super 16 is that in a camera that is modified for it, it exposes a wider frame and is suitable for 16 x 9 aspect ratio - is there more to it than that? Can anyone direct me to a site or thread re DIY developing or is it a waste of time? Any good threads or sites out there for 16mm learners? - Yes I've googled but can't find much. Maybe I'm jumping the gun here (I'm at the begining of my 8mm learning curve having shot on video all my life) but those 16mm Bolex's on Ebay look so goddam sexy!!! :P I think it's called "objectophilia" Mike

Ok Thanks Chris. Am I right in assuming that some of the earlier or non reflex cameras dont have it? Cheers

Hi sorry to ask a question that may have been covered but the plethora of info on this site and on the www makes it difficult sometimes to zero in on info.......thats my excuse anyway! Which of the Bolex reflex cameras have the spindle protruding for motor attachment? Thanks in anticipation Mike