I was looking over my camera collection tonight - I have most of it in my dorm room right now and I was looking over my two (working) 8mm movie cameras, and I was thinking about some of my favorite cameras. For still photography, I prefer my RicohFlex IIIb by far. It's pretty much the cheapest Ricohflex ever made, but I love it for its simplicity.
Then I came to realize that among my 8mm collection - a Yahica 8 E-III and a Keystone K-25, that I much prefer my Keystone for roughly the same reason.
It my opinion, having a camera with less features or choices to make allows the artist to focus on being more original - more creative. My Keystone allows me to select either 16 fps, or single frame, with the choice of three fixed focus lenses. Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot! Of course my old Univex which I haven't used could never rank, because it just has too few features - a single fixed focus F 5.6 lens and no single frame mode just doesn't seem like it could be convenient for a serious artistic venture (not that you couldn't make something good with such a camera)....
Of course others probably have different favorites, particularly in the typically more heavily featured world of Super 8.
So let's hear it from you now - what is your favorite 8mm camera and why?
Your favorite 8mm movie camera and why...
Moderator: Andreas Wideroe
Elmo Super 110. It was only the second cine camera I used, the first I owned. I've had it for over twenty years and I suppose I am very familiar with it. But its not just time, I've had my Sankyo MF606 just a few months less and don't get on with it as well.
Its somewhere between simple and complex...it has multiple film speeds and a great 10x zoom lens but none of the real gizmos such as variable shutter or intervalometer.
It just works for me, I am a big person (always have been) so a big camera is no problem for me. It produces excellent pictures and has been reliable...its never let me down....oh and its near silent.
Its somewhere between simple and complex...it has multiple film speeds and a great 10x zoom lens but none of the real gizmos such as variable shutter or intervalometer.
It just works for me, I am a big person (always have been) so a big camera is no problem for me. It produces excellent pictures and has been reliable...its never let me down....oh and its near silent.
The government says that by 2010 30% of us will be fat....I am merely a trendsetter 
For me it's a toss-up between the Beaulieu 6008/7008 series and the Nizo 6080. I've worked with both, and each has features that I really wish were in one camera instead of split between two.
I love that you can use C-mount lenses and set the film speed (ISO) on the Beaulieu. The slo-mo speed is pretty cool too, but I don't really like being limited to just 24fps if you have a crystal-synced model. It shouldn't be too hard to limit the crystal control to 24fps, and have all other speeds controlled by the camera's internal electronics. The other thing is that I'm used to the "XL look" where the wider shutter angle makes the action seem smoother. Some of the footage I shot with the 7008 looks like the footage from "Saving Private Ryan" where Janusz Kaminski used a narrower shutter angle. It doesn't look bad, but I like the other look better.
On the other hand, I love the way the 6080 feels--everything is very smooth, and it's incredibly quiet. Unfortunately, you can't set the ISO manually, so you're at the mercy of Pro8 in hoping the carts are notched right (which they claim that they will be from now on because the Pro814 will have to read them correctly), and I'm still wary of newer Nizo cameras after my experiences with the two Integrals I've owned.
Still, if I ever found either one of these cameras at a really good price, I wouldn't even hesitate to pick one (or both) up. I daresay that both of those cams, along with the Canon 814/1014XL-S, are the gold standards of what good Super-8 cams should be.
I love that you can use C-mount lenses and set the film speed (ISO) on the Beaulieu. The slo-mo speed is pretty cool too, but I don't really like being limited to just 24fps if you have a crystal-synced model. It shouldn't be too hard to limit the crystal control to 24fps, and have all other speeds controlled by the camera's internal electronics. The other thing is that I'm used to the "XL look" where the wider shutter angle makes the action seem smoother. Some of the footage I shot with the 7008 looks like the footage from "Saving Private Ryan" where Janusz Kaminski used a narrower shutter angle. It doesn't look bad, but I like the other look better.
On the other hand, I love the way the 6080 feels--everything is very smooth, and it's incredibly quiet. Unfortunately, you can't set the ISO manually, so you're at the mercy of Pro8 in hoping the carts are notched right (which they claim that they will be from now on because the Pro814 will have to read them correctly), and I'm still wary of newer Nizo cameras after my experiences with the two Integrals I've owned.
Still, if I ever found either one of these cameras at a really good price, I wouldn't even hesitate to pick one (or both) up. I daresay that both of those cams, along with the Canon 814/1014XL-S, are the gold standards of what good Super-8 cams should be.
"You made me choke a chicken on national television...twice in one day!"
--Kevin Smith, after killing a tic-tac-toe playing chicken in Kissimmee, FL, "Kevin Smith's Roadside Attractions"
--Kevin Smith, after killing a tic-tac-toe playing chicken in Kissimmee, FL, "Kevin Smith's Roadside Attractions"
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David M. Leugers
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I understand the thread to be about favorite R-8mm cameras. There are lots to admire. I like the Bolex C-8, B-8, D-8, Canon Eight, Bell and Howell Filmo with 3 lens turret and focusing tube, but I have to say if I can only have one camera it would be the Bolex H-8. Either rex or non-reflex version would do. Great lenses, 100ft reel capacity, the best registration for any R-8mm camera, etc. Plus it is a knockout beauty-wise.
David M. Leugers
David M. Leugers
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Jim Carlile
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That's not a hard problem to get around. Just use the +/- density trimmer on the back, right under the lens. You can go up or down one f/stop to automatically compensate for whatever metering errors the cartridge may create.cubdukat wrote:...On the other hand, I love the way the 6080 feels--everything is very smooth, and it's incredibly quiet. Unfortunately, you can't set the ISO manually, so you're at the mercy of Pro8 in hoping the carts are notched right (which they claim that they will be from now on because the Pro814 will have to read them correctly), and I'm still wary of newer Nizo cameras after my experiences with the two Integrals I've owned.
Favourite R8 cameras...
Well currently I use my Chinon Master more than any other. Its small, light but noisy...at least it has a working auto exposure meter from 10-400ASA and manual over-ride...and 1,12,16,24 fps which is nice. The power zoom is an optional extra and doesn't really help...but its a nice camera - I believe it was exclusive to Dixons here in the UK.
I have a soft spot for my grandad's old Quarz (the pre-zoom model). Probably because it was the first cine camera I ever handled.
The Admira 8F is nice but bulky......I think there were some weird and wonderful machines produced for R8.
Well currently I use my Chinon Master more than any other. Its small, light but noisy...at least it has a working auto exposure meter from 10-400ASA and manual over-ride...and 1,12,16,24 fps which is nice. The power zoom is an optional extra and doesn't really help...but its a nice camera - I believe it was exclusive to Dixons here in the UK.
I have a soft spot for my grandad's old Quarz (the pre-zoom model). Probably because it was the first cine camera I ever handled.
The Admira 8F is nice but bulky......I think there were some weird and wonderful machines produced for R8.
The government says that by 2010 30% of us will be fat....I am merely a trendsetter
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mattias
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my favorite any 8mm camera is the canon 814e, because it's the cheapest camera that still performs like a pro one. it runs and runs, never fails, has a reasonably sharp zoom, full manual control, and only the most necessary bells and whistles.
my favorite r8 camera is the bolex b8. why? just look at it and tell me if you've ever seen anything cooler. too bad they often don't run too well. :-(
/matt
my favorite r8 camera is the bolex b8. why? just look at it and tell me if you've ever seen anything cooler. too bad they often don't run too well. :-(
/matt
Having never shot super 8, I can't say too much about super 8 cameras, but I agree that regular 8mm has the market cornered on weird cameras.
That said, I tend to have a soft spot for turret cameras. Something about that droopy three-eyed appearance...
Lots of Bolex fans among the R8 crowd. I have never dared to spend the money on them, as finding one in guaranteed working order is pretty tough to come by at a reasonable price. Perhaps someday...
I should add that features I find particularly useful in my Keystone K-25 (my listed favorite camera) include:
1) It's way easier to load than almost any other R8 camera I've seen
2) Has a built in daylight filter for K40 film.
3) Has a "click" Fstop selector that allows you to select by the half-stop. It can be the biggest inconvenience sometimes, but I've found it's generally easier to accurately use the light meter.
That said, I tend to have a soft spot for turret cameras. Something about that droopy three-eyed appearance...
Lots of Bolex fans among the R8 crowd. I have never dared to spend the money on them, as finding one in guaranteed working order is pretty tough to come by at a reasonable price. Perhaps someday...
I should add that features I find particularly useful in my Keystone K-25 (my listed favorite camera) include:
1) It's way easier to load than almost any other R8 camera I've seen
2) Has a built in daylight filter for K40 film.
3) Has a "click" Fstop selector that allows you to select by the half-stop. It can be the biggest inconvenience sometimes, but I've found it's generally easier to accurately use the light meter.
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David M. Leugers
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The Bolex B-8 was the very first camera I ever purchased so I have a soft spot for this incredibly beautiful camera. It is true you often find them today not working properly. Most of the problem has to do with lack of lubrication. I have repaired several B-8's by taking them apart and cleaning and lubing the mechanism. When kept lubed, they will last indefinitely, really a well made camera.my favorite r8 camera is the bolex b8. why? just look at it and tell me if you've ever seen anything cooler. too bad they often don't run too well.
David M. Leugers
Actually, I do like the look of the B8 as well - I've got a late B8SL and a B8L. One of them even has an accurately working lightmeter, still. The lenses produce lovely crisp images, even the standard Yvar models.
Taking the backplate off to lubricate them isn't especially difficult though you need a lot of patience (as I found out a few weeks ago), a couple of spare hours, and a set of small screwdrivers.
Taking the backplate off to lubricate them isn't especially difficult though you need a lot of patience (as I found out a few weeks ago), a couple of spare hours, and a set of small screwdrivers.