Heikki Repo

I have seen the mentioned "breathing" issue only in some of my super-8 films, never on anything I have shot with my ACL. As for flicker, I had a hole in my lens mount. It was fixed by Bernie. I occasionally do still get flicker when strong light comes in from a certain direction and then apparently gets reflected inside the camera. This is a flaw related to the mirror design, one that I'm ready to live with since the same design allows one to use C-mount lenses on this camera.

Take a look at the camera and see if it is "Made in England" or "Made in France". Generally speaking the French ones are better built. As for 400ft mags, Super16inc (which is my go to place for servicing my ACL now) won't even service English 400ft mags...

When buying old light fixtures it's a good idea to make some research first. A few years ago I bought an old broken HMI with the intention to repair/mod it. Suffice to say, when I found inside it an asbestos plate it didn't take long for me to discard my plans and get rid of the light. Unless you have lots of free space I think it is a better idea to just rent lights. Also: if your camera is broken, you can't make films but if your lights are broken, someone might get killed (!)

Feature wise Eclair ACL is a professional 16mm camera whereas Scoopic is closer to an amateur camera. With a later model ACL you get 400ft mags, crystal sync 24 fps and non sync speeds 8/12/50/75. Self blimped. Using a proper adapter you can also use PL mount lenses on it. It is a steady but lightweight camera. Definitely better choice for narrative work.

Sorry, I'm a real celluloid film fan and I want to shoot as much as possible on real film, but there was absolutely nothing wrong with Bladerunner cinematography. It looked really nice and it was a very beautiful movie, at least imho.

The CM ring should allow you to change the zoom fluid resistance (or what ever the right word in English is), i.e. it changes how fast you can change the focal length. Higher resistance for those slow smooth zooms in and out, low resistance for those kung-fu zooms... :)

I have an O'Connor 30 with wooden sticks for my Eclair ACL and even though it is from the day and age of film cameras such as Eclair ACL, thus far I haven't been that happy with that combination. While that head should be (easily) able to carry the weight of ACL, the stiffness or rather the lack of it is my problem. However, in part that might be due to the fact that it isn't possible to balance an ACL with a prime on it, too much weight in the back and the plate slides forward only so much... Next Im going to try this cheeseplate on it, I just thin I'd need second screws to also hold in place the ACL rod bridge plate. As for what worked really well with my camera but is too expensive for me to own: Sachtler Video 25. Had it on one project of mine and it was a very smooth experience.

BTW, there are official "canon" short films set in the universe that expand the movie. Might be worth watching.

Just went to see the movie -- I liked it very much. A stunning piece of art.

Even if you are only doing your own personal projects as a one man band, I really encourage checking the gate. Nothing is as annoying as getting back your expensive, processed and scanned film just to see that hair dancing around in the frame... :)

AFAIK, all couriers x-ray shipped items when it is sent as air freight. So unless you have a local lab (quite few have these days in Europe) you are going to have some x-ray effects on your footage. Even if you are sending it within EU. However, I have sent S16 to US for processing and telecine and I cannot see any damage. So if it has been x-rayed, it is so low powered that it hasn't really affected it.

Adox has been relocating their super-8 production line and because of that the production has been suspended for the time being. Fear not, pan-X should become available as soon as they get their line up and running again.

I myself have been thinking of buying the AZ Spectrum color PAL video assist. Any experiences with that (non flicker-free) one?

Sold.

Sold.

(more photos here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BzGuG3M9LOIMTzdoLWFGWUMxLWc ) I'm selling my personal Eclair ACL II. This is the latest version of Eclair ACL and includes the large orientable Kinoptik viewfinder, large base with XLR power connector, heavy duty motor with speeds 8-12-24/25-50-75. (For more information regarding differences between versions https://eclaircameras.wordpress.com/acl-vs-acl-ii/ ). If you are thinking about trying 16mm film but you'd like to have a professional camera, this is the one you'll want. It's quite lightweight, can be used on your shoulder, it's quiet, it has crystal sync motor and 400 feet mags. While this camera is older than Arri SR16 or Aaton LTR/XTR, it has one definite advantage over them: this camera features C-mount, so you'll be able to use most SLR lenses on it through adapters. On this camera there is also a sturdier second mount (TS-mount) around the C-mount you can buy adapters to in order to use for example PL-mount lenses on this camera. This camera is in working condition, though it wouldn't hurt to have it CLA'd. It is regular 16mm, not super16. This camera includes the internal lightmeter which can be quite useful for run&gun documentary style shooting. I have some telecined footage available I have shot with this camera in the beginning of this year. Included with the camera is one (1) 400 ft magazine, a small purse of in-camera filters and a C-mount cap. As an added extra I'll throw in a 400ft roll of expired Kodak Vision 250D that has been stored in the freezer. Great for testing the camera! An example of a film I have shot with my other, S16 modified older Eclair ACL and some PL-mount Optar Illumina lenses: Asking for this camera 700 Euros + shipping. Camera is located in Tampere, Finland, Europe.

I'm now selling this camera without the lens on Ebay, asking 300 €. If that's too much but you are interested, please make an offer. Camera details in English and photos here http://www.ebay.de/itm/232340799998

It is likely that the reissued Ektachrome is going to be ASA 100 and daylight balanced :)

Hi Paul, I have to disagree with you on whether or not shooting on film matters. Shooting on film is a different experience, even for the director. Knowledge of "film rolling" affects everyone on the set, especially actors. When you are the director you have to know how prepare your actors for a shoot you might not have unlimited number of takes (which, to be honest, is rarely the case even for digital shoots; time on set tends to be even more expensive than film stock due to rentals & wages). Not having the ability to immediately watch your footage is also an experience worth having, in my opinion. I suggest you follow the requirements and produce something on film. I think you won't regret it. :) Is one of the requirements really a film print?

I think I have spotted some GoPro footage even in Walking Dead, season 3 (?). Perhaps it was put there to promote the superiority of film based capture, as that digital footage definitely did stand out and not in a good way ;)

I suggest buying processing and telecine included. My personal experience is that 16mm has gotten much cheaper over the years. Nine years ago I had to pay for 90 minutes of 16mm neg (recans+new) and processing&HD telecine some 4500 Euros (incl. VAT). Now with factory sealed film the same would cost me under 2300 Euros (incl. VAT).

Best option, agreed.

I have done it. It isn't that much work, but in order to do it you have to remove the motor first (carefully), then open the camera base and de-solder the connector. As there is no space for a XLR connector in the ACL 1.5 base, you'd need to have a cable "tail" come out of the camera with the XLR connector in its end and then also find a way to block the opening left by the removal of the Jaeger connector -- then secure the wires inside so that you don't accidentally (by pulling the XLR connector) tear the wires out. This was the more time consuming part of the hack. I can tell the details how I did it if you are interested.

Well, I haven't got any experience with steadicams, but if the batteries do give out 12V, you definitely can run Eclair ACL from that. You'll only need a power cable with the 4-pin jaeger male connector on the ACL side. Building such a cable is easy, sourcing the jaeger connector might not be. Easiest solution might be to source an ACL power cable and then replace the battery end connector with a new one for the steadicam use.

In Rochester N.Y., Building 38. There are no other Kodak MP film factories left elsewhere.