Tanner Almon

Hello, A while back I shot this spec video for the Modest Mouse song Wild Pack of Family Dogs. I finally got it processed and transferred and figured I'd post it here to see if I could get any feedback. For any Super 8 enthusiasts I shot with the Eumig Nautica and the film I used was Kodachrome K40. Spectra Film and Video in North Hollywood, CA did the transfer. Anyway, here's the link... WILD PACK OF FAMILY DOGS I know it's asking a lot for anyone to take time out of their day to watch this. In case it helps it's 2.5 minutes long. Cheers! Tanner

Hello, So I'm going to be shooting a project in a few weeks in a Motel Room with the Nikon R-10. The film stock I will be using is Extachrome 100D from Spectra Film and Video. I have a few questions... 1. Can the R-10 read that film properly so that the camera will correctly expose the film? 2. Should I insert the filter key into the slot that is on top of the camera? 3. Has anyone used the lens in Macro Mode? If so I'm just curious as to how clear images are in this mode. 4. Also wondering if anyone has any tips for shooting in single frame mode. Will the camera still auto expose? Thanks so much. Any help would be much appreciated. Best, Tanner Almon

Thanks guys. Yeah, hopefully we'll be shooting our next project with the Panny HVX or Sony EX3. And hopefully we'll have more space than my apartment so that we can get that screen out of focus. One thing that is certain is that we will have a green screen and not a purple screen. I never even realized there was a chroma red. I think the one advantage that the purple did have over the green is that it probably did not reflect near as much as green would. I think that's probably one negative thing about the color green, that it's hard to control the bounce . Anyway, thanks for checking it out. If anyone has any thoughts as to which would key better (HVX or EX3) I'd be happy to hear. Best, Tanner

Hey everyone, So here is a link to my first attempt at "green screen" (We actually used purple fabric because we wear green in the video). Super Steve (Purple Screen Test) Obviously it is far from perfect, especially in the shots where I am wearing blue (Had I not put a blue background behind that shot it really looked bad). This is a bit of a problem because my friends and I have a film we want to shoot this January where there are a lot of driving shots that we would like to do with green screen. Listed below is the setup I used, and if anyone has any ideas on how to improve I'd definitely appreciate it. 1. I shot with a DVX100A in 24P Advanced. I shot in 4 X 3 to maximize resolution. The gamma I used was cinegamma. 2. We (my fiancee and I) were standing about four feet in front of the purple screen. The screen was lit with two tungsten balanced Kino Flo Diva Lights. We were lit by two diffused Arri 650 Fresnels. And we were backlit by an open Arri 300. 3. I edited in Final Cut Pro and used the chroma key tool to key out the purple. 4. The fabric was purple felt. Anyway, I thought we were pretty well separated from the purple but obviously it did not key perfectly. I get that having a better camera would obviously help, but if you have any ideas on how I could have lit better please share. Sorry for the long message. Any suggestions at all would be appreciated. Please, if I did a horrible job please let me know. I need to learn how to get looking seamless. Best, Tanner

Steve, Thank you so much for writing back so soon. Your advice is exactly what I was looking for. I do have one quick question about the filter key. Unfortunately I do not have one, but I have read on here that a quarter would work. I was just wondering if you (or any one else) has had actual hands on experience of using a quarter as the filter key with the R-10. Thanks again, Tanner

Hi, next week I would like to shoot a test roll with a Nikon R-10 for a project that I am hoping to shoot soon. My test will be shot all outdoors in the desert. I will be shooting with Velvia 50D. My question is this. I really would like my skys to pop (be really blue), and thus I am thinking about getting a Polarizer filter for my lens. Here are my three questions... 1. Is a Polarizer filter the correct filter for getting bluer skys. 2. Is there a specific filter anyone would recommend that would fit the R-10. 3. Using the Velvia would I need to use the R-10s filter key or leave it out? This really confuses me. That's pretty much it I guess. If anyone has any input at all I would definitely appreciate it. Cheers! Tanner

Thanks guys. I figured it out. Oh yeah, I'm shooting my last few rolls of Kodachrome!

Hey Super 8 Nation, I have a quick question. Tomorrow I will be shooting indoors with my Nikon R-10 under tungsten lights. I believe that means that I am supposed to insert the filter key plate into the top of my camera. If that is indeed the case, I have a few questions... 1. How far into the camera shoud the key plate go? I assume it goes down just until the circle is sticking out, which would mean only about half of the plate disappers into the camera. Is this correct? 2. This is kind of hard to describe, but I'm not sure which side of the plate is the front and which side is the back. Does it matter which way I insert it? Like, which side should be facing which side of the camera? Thanks so much for anyone who can help! Best, Tanner

Hey Tom, I wouldn't worry much about El Santo. No one here really knows what his deal is except that he really likes getting his super 8 footage put onto his hardrive. If they gave out an award for being "most likely to transfer super 8 film to hardrives" I would nominate him. Anyway, if you ask me the R-10 follow focus you have is one sweet setup. I'm seriously thinking about getting one myself (don't tell you know who). Definitely post some footage if you can, I'd really like to see it in action. Take it easy, tanner

santo, you crack me up man! i don't how you do it, but some of your posts are funny as hell. take it easy, tanner

Thanks Teadub. I read on one forum that the camera may only be able to read up to 100ASA. But the person who wrote that wasn't positive. I'll give it a shot I guess. I'm guessing if it does read it as 100 my film will be overexposed, I'm just not sure by how many stops. Hopefully it won't be too many. Best, Tanner

Thanks for all of your help everyone. Today I shot the outdoor portion of my project with the eumig nautica and am pretty sure that it had not been for your replies most of my wide angle shots would probably have been out of focus. Thank you so much. I do have one more quick question. In a few days I will be shooting the indoor portion on Kodak 200T. Does anyone know if the Eumig reads 200T, and if not, how I could potentially remedy the situation. Would putting and ND filter over the light meter sensor potentially help? Thank you so much and happy new year! Best, Tanner

Thank you teadub and mark, I really appreciate the quick replies. I have a few more questions if you don't mind... EUMIG NAUTICA QUESTIONS... 1. In terms of shooting macro, do I follow the following steps... a) Leave the wide angle lens OFF b ) Place the lever in the DOWN (PMA) position c) Zoom all the way out 2. Is there any gauge/light type gizmo in the viewfinder that lets me know if there is enough light for proper exposure? Basically, will the camera warn me if there is not enough light for exposure? 3. Does moving the knob in the side of the camera to the plus sign (+) simply increase my exposure by one stop? Is this only really for when someone is in front of a bright sky? 4. Does anyone have any experience shooting indoors with the Eumig? NIZO 801 MACRO QUESTIONS 1. Another issue is the focus constantly going in and out of focus. It is very frustrating. Oh well. Cheers! Thanks again for the great responses. Have an amazing day! Tanner

Hi everyone, I posted a few days ago about a Nizo 801 Macro that was having focus issues. After testing a new roll of kodachrome and using measuring tape to set focus my images still came out really soft (and the background was in focus, go figure). Clearly something is wrong, I'm just not sure what. So anyway, my parents ordered me a Eumig Nautica for Christmas which I had intended to use solely underwater. However, I have something I really need to shoot on Monday, and I am stuck using the Nautica (which I love, but it lacks the 24fps and zoom of the Nizo). Unfortunately my Eumig lacks a manual and no matter how hard I try I can't seem to find one online. So here are my big questions about the Eumig Nautica, any help would be much appreciated (I HAVE NO MANUAL).... 1. How close can I get to the subject and have it remain in focus? 2. Does the distance change once I put the wide angle lens on? 3. When the wide angle lens is OFF, should the lever on the side of the camera be up (9-30mm) or down (PMA water)? 4. When the wide angle lens is ON, should the lever on the side of the camer be up (9-30mm) or down (PMA water)? 5. Can I use the zoom when the wide angle lens is on? Those are my only questions I guess. My main concern is that I'll accidently have that lever in the wrong position and all of my shots will be out of focus. If anyone can help at all you would totally make my Christmas! Thank you so much, Tanner Almon

Wow, thanks for the replies. I really do hope that it is the cartridge. I know that my girlfriend grabbed them from a fridge where she works, apparantly it had been there for years. So anyway, I'll just keep my fingers crossed that that was the problem. Thanks again for the feedback. Looking at the camera everything appears to be in tip top shape, so that would be great. I do have one question though, have either of you, or anyone else for that matter, ever actually experienced their image going in and out of focus and confirmed that it is indeed the cartridge? Best, tanner

Hey Super 8 gang, I am hoping to shoot a spec music video next week with my friends Nizo 801 Macro. I recently shot a test roll and every so often the image pops out of focus and then pops back in. If anyone on hear has any advice on how I could potentially remedy the sitution I would really appreciate it. If it helps I was shooting with a very old roll of extachrome that I think has been expired for several years, could that have anything to do with it? My guess it that it either has something to do with my lens coming loose or the film not staying in the film plane. Unfortunately I'm not really sure how to go about fixing either. Any help at all would be much appreciated. Cheers! tanner

Hey everyone, I just wanted to say thank you for all of your advice. I'm sorry this reply has taken so long, I've been working way too much lately. Anyway, my camera is currently at Spectra Film in Burbank, CA. The $30.00 they charge for an estimate is the best I could find, plus it's near where I live. Hopefully they may be able to figure out the problem. I actually did open the camera myself and quickly shut once I saw the millions of wires and gizmos inside of it. Oh yeah, and I'm still shooting on K-40 for the time being. Once I move to the 64 I think I'll probably get an external light meter. That's pretty much it I guess. Thanks for all of your help. Take it easy, tanner

Cool, thanks John. I'll definitely check that out. I actually purchased my test roll from Spectra, I just didn't realize they could potentially repair Bauers. Thanks, Tanner

Hi, about a month ago on ebay I purchased what was supposedly a "recently refurbished" Bauer S-715XL that supposedly "worked flawlessly". Anyway, as I'm sure you can by now tell, it definitely did not work flawlessly. Anyway, here is what happened... I was shooting my very first test roll the other day and all seemed to be going well, but at 25 ft. the camera made a really bad noise, like the film was jammed. So i opened up the camera and pulled out the cartridge (K40) and a there was a thin tear running between 3 sprokets. So anyway, I then tried running the camera and all that it did was make a slight humming sound but the wheel that advances the film definitely was not spinning. The zoom and light meter still work fine, but something with the motor is probably seroiously wrong. As I'm sure you all know, I cannot get a refund from my fantastic Ebay salesman. He seems like a nice guy, I just wish he'd help out a guy who spent all summer saving up for that damn camera. So I'm not sure what to do. Does anyone know anywhere I can send the camera that is in America. I emailed Du-All camera in New York. However, I live in LA, so anywhere closer would be better. Thanks in advance for any help you may or may not have. Also, if anyone has any horror stories about "the super 8 camera store" in Germany. They at least have a warranty, and I think it may be cheaper to get a new camera then to fix the one I have. Best, Tanner

Hello everyone, Tomorrow I will be flying from Los Angeles to Maryland for Thanksgiving and I am hoping to shoot a short super 8 film when I am home. I have been looking through old posts and from what I can tell the x-ray machines (even the carry-on one) can fog my film. So here is my dilema... I only have four rolls of super 8 and I think that they may be able to fit in my pockets if I wear a sweatshirt. My question is this... Is it safer to go through the walk through metal detector with my film, or to send it through the carry-on x-ray machine? Any help, advice, experience would be much appreciated. If it helps the film I have is K40. Best, Tanner

Wow! Thanks for all responses! Robert: Thank you so much for the manual. I really, really appreciate it. PW and K25: Thanks for the resources to places that may have the manual. I actually did email both of them on Friday to make sure that they carried English versions of the manual. Fortunately Robert saved the day and I no longer have to purchase one. Anyway, I'm not too worried about the Bauer 715 not being able to recognize 64t. My plan all along has been to work with manual exposures, I think I'll learn a lot more that way. Automatic would be sweet for run and gun documentary type stuff, however, there is way in hell I can afford to shoot run and gun right now. Finally, does anyone use the Sekonic L-28c for manual exposure readings? If so, have the results been pretty decent? That's pretty much it I guess. Thanks for your help guys.

Hey Alexander, That's sweet you picked up a 715 as well. Welcome to my world! Anyway, I just recieved the camera in the mail today. I actually purchased it on eBay about a month ago from a seller in Germany. He said that it had been fully serviced recently so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Unfortunately I am waiting to get an English Manual and read it through before I turn on my camera. I spent a decent amount of money on it and definitely do not want to screw anything up. That being said, the camera is a thing of beauty. The lens of course is the best part, the zoom is so sweet! In addition to the lens, the camera seems to be really well put together all around. All of the buttons feel tight and in place. I'm really excited to put it to use. So yeah, anyway, if I come across any English Manuals I'll let you know. I did email two places today, one in the U.S., that supposedly have them. If I hear anything I'll let you know. So anyway, good luck to you man! If anyone else on this forum owns the Bauer S 715 XL and has any tips any advice would be much appreciated. Have a nice day! tanner

Thanks Robert. I did try filmshooting.com and unfortunately was unable to download the manual. If I am unable to find an English version in the next week or so, would you mind making me a copy of your manual (assuming it is still readable). I would definitely be willing to pay. Until then, can you just let me know if it is safe to run the camera when there is no film in it. I just would like to make sure that it actually does run. Best, Tanner

Hi everyone. I am a long time reader, first time poster. Anyway, I finally made my move to Super 8 and in the mail this afternoon I received my Bauer S 715 XL Microcomputer!!! Unfortunately the manual is in German. Unfortunately I need one that is in English. Does anyone know where I can acquire the English manual for this camera? I have a roll of Kodachrome I'm dying to shoot but I don't want to shoot anything until I read the manual. Any help would be apperciated. Best, Tanner LONG LIVE SUPER 8!