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Just purchased a canon 518 SV and Tri-X film


Dallas Young

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I myself have never used this camera, but somehow I know a couple things that may be of help to you about it.

 

The 518 SV lens specification is the same as the Auto Zoom 518 but the camera has a fully-closing iris for fades. As well, the viewfinder includes over/under exposure warning signals. There are two film speeds: 18 and 24fps as well as slow motion and single frame.

 

Hope thats some help :)

 

Dan Goldberg..

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Good to know. I can't figure out how to open it to load the film. Also, once I load it and turn it to R and shoot, is it automatically correctly exposed? I see where I can pull out the dial to manual and change the aperture but I'll probably just be shooting on Auto.

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Here's a good general usage guide for all Super 8 cameras:

 

Super 8 manual

 

As for loading the film, there is a hinged door on the right hand side of the camera. You unlatch it by sliding the big square catch towards the back of the camera (the latch has an arrow on it in this photo.)

 

canon_518.jpg

 

Actually Dave that's the wrong camera. The SV is part of a later model and in the Autozoom E "family".

 

Dallas, there is a small black button at the back of the camera, beside the viewfinder. Press it and the back door will pop open. Load film here.

 

I recommend you avoid shooting in auto unless you absolutely must. With the camera in auto take a light reading (look at your subject and see what the aperture needle - in the viewfinder - indicates). Pop out the dial and manually adjust it to that f-stop. Every time the light changes, or you change shooting speeds (fps), go back into auto, take a new reading and re-set the exposure. This is an admittedly crude instruction, but hopefully you get the point. If you want to be more particular you would use a gray card (18% gray, available in photo stores) and you point at that to determine the best exposure. I often use the palm of my hand.

 

If you shoot in auto avoid extremes (bright backgrounds).

 

Oh yeah, those are nice little cameras.

Rick

Edited by Rick Palidwor
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Hi Dallas, the HTTP Links below will help you. The TRI-X Film is B&W. You can purchase Kodak's E64T Colour and other Colour Films from 'Spectra Film & Video'. Just Google their name to get their Website.

 

INFO FOR SUPER8 NEWBIES

You can find useful info on Super8mm by clicking the Threads linked below. If you would like to record Sound with your filming, log onto the Website www.geocities.com/filmanddigitalinfo which provides info on recording synchronous Sound. Good luck to you.

 

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=20597

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=20645

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=20939

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=20634

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=21857

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Hi Dallas, the HTTP Links below will help you. The TRI-X Film is B&W. You can purchase Kodak's E64T Colour and other Colour Films from 'Spectra Film & Video'. Just Google their name to get their Website.

 

INFO FOR SUPER8 NEWBIES

You can find useful info on Super8mm by clicking the Threads linked below. If you would like to record Sound with your filming, log onto the Website www.geocities.com/filmanddigitalinfo which provides info on recording synchronous Sound. Good luck to you.

 

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=20597

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=20645

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=20939

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=20634

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=21857

 

Thanks a lot for this and to Rick for that walk through, lots of good reading material. However, when the camera is on and on Auto or even Manual, the aperture needle doesn't move on its own. The only time I see the needle is when I manually move it using the dial. In Auto, the needle is on the side in the red, faintly visible.

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Thanks a lot for this and to Rick for that walk through, lots of good reading material. However, when the camera is on and on Auto or even Manual, the aperture needle doesn't move on its own. The only time I see the needle is when I manually move it using the dial. In Auto, the needle is on the side in the red, faintly visible.

I personally only recommend using "Duracell" Batteries which are by far the most reliable. Some Cameras have a separate Battery for the Auto Aperture, but some don't. You can check the Battery Compartment to figure it out. As Alessandro said, you really need to point between a bright light and dark to see the needle move. You can point to the sky, and use your hand to cover over the Lens to see if the Aperture moves. You can also point a Flashlight in the Lens to check for Aperture movement. Also, verify to make sure if there is an "off" position -- usually a lock position for the Switch. On my Sankyo, if the Switch is not "locked" in the "off" position, power continues to be supplied to the Auto Aperture even though the Camera Motor isn't on.

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  • 1 year later...

I personally only recommend using "Duracell" Batteries which are by far the most reliable. Some Cameras have a separate Battery for the Auto Aperture, but some don't. You can check the Battery Compartment to figure it out. As Alessandro said, you really need to point between a bright light and dark to see the needle move. You can point to the sky, and use your hand to cover over the Lens to see if the Aperture moves. You can also point a Flashlight in the Lens to check for Aperture movement. Also, verify to make sure if there is an "off" position -- usually a lock position for the Switch. On my Sankyo, if the Switch is not "locked" in the "off" position, power continues to be supplied to the Auto Aperture even though the Camera Motor isn't on.

Can anyone tell me what the r and rl stand for? They are on one of the dials. Thanks

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Can anyone tell me what the r and rl stand for? They are on one of the dials. Thanks

 

R = "run"

RL = "Run-Lock} For run lock, start on R, pull the trigger and turn toward Run-Lock. The camera will now run even after you let go of the trigger. To stop it turn it back toward R and it will click off.

Rick

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  • 1 month later...
Does anyone know how to switch te daylight/tungston filter on this camera?

Is here one?

Thanks,

Dean

 

The default setting is daylight. To remove the internal filter for tungsten shooting, you have to slip the special key into that slot at the top of the camera. If you don't have the key you can make one from stiff plastic. Cut the plastic to the right width and slip it in and you should hear a small click.

Rick

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The default setting is daylight. To remove the internal filter for tungsten shooting, you have to slip the special key into that slot at the top of the camera. If you don't have the key you can make one from stiff plastic. Cut the plastic to the right width and slip it in and you should hear a small click.

Rick

 

Thanks,

What shape is the key?

Is it square?

Dean

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Thanks,

What shape is the key?

Is it square?

Dean

 

The end you slide into the slot is normally square yes, but it probably doesn't have to be perfectly square. As long as it slides into that slot you should hear a "click". To check that it worked open the back door and run the camera with no film loaded. Point at a bright area and slide the key in and out. You should see the light through the lens go from white to slight orange.

Rick

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  • 4 years later...

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