Simple fixed focus cameras

[Pj]

Getting back to basics I am now using some simple Super 8 cameras, like the Kodak M2 it has a fixed lens, no zoom, no focusing, no auto exposure and just 18 frames. Despite the simplicity and the diffulty of the parallex viewfinder I have got some very sharp and steady images. I know the lens is the key in getting sharp images. But do such cameras always give sharp images, because there's just one fixed lens? The cartridge ran through the camera very smoothly resulting in very steady images. I have got an Agfa Family camera that has an Agfa Movaron 10 mm lens. Will this give sharp images?


Thanks

P

[Angus]

My first experience with super 8 was the incredibly cheapo-crap and simple Mupi Zeta 2. It has a fixed lens, and exposure is set by means of a lever with pictograms for sun, shade, cloud and a bulb. This was 'calibrated' for use with K40 or A40. It ran at 18fps only.

And you know what? At its best, it produced films every bit as good as a modern digital camcorder. But the paralax viewfinder was not the correct aspect ratio so often I'd find things in the final picture that had not been in the viewfinder. It was the opposite of cutting heads off, there was more picture above what I'd seen in the viewfinder. Also the motor would labour once the batteries started going down, if they weren't fresh the frame rate would drop.

I've used a couple of Quarz fixed lens reg 8mm cameras and they produced good images. As long as you are able to live with the limitations of a fixed focal length, and as long as the lens is of reasonable quality, such camears can produce images which are as good as anything else in the format. Today's Ektachrome (and neg) films have greater latitude than Kodachrome so if your camera literally only has different aperture settings you're less likely to over/under expose these days.

I wouldn't use such a camera today, as I have an Elmo Super 103 which is actually smaller but has a very nice 3x zoom. But don't necessarily discount them....they can be fun.

[BK]

The Kodak Instamatic 22 was my favorite, pin sharp and rock steady images with manual exposure, too bad it had the cheese drive gears though. Halina was the other fixed focus camera that I really liked for it's sharpness, but the auto exposure is just a little too sensitive and consistently give under exposed shots especially in back lit scenes.

Of course a simple prime lens will give you the sharpest image, rather than a complex zoom.

Nowadays the super 8 camera that I use to capture top notch quality pictures with sparkling beautiful colours is the Leicina Special with the 10mm Cinegon which is comparable to the Kodak Instamatic in terms of quality but at about 100 times the price, and it's just another box with a simple lens but with that glowing red badge that you pay extra for.

Bill

[Rollef]

I have the Konica Compact wich is a tiny all metal (exept the handle) fix focus camera and it works like a charm, with bautiful results. I also find that the Eumig Nautica is very sharp and clear. It has sort of a fix focus lens with a zoom. Sharp and nice.

[nickrapak]

Until I dropped it while getting on a train (long story), My Kodak M4 was my go-to "travel camera". It exposed K40 and E100D perfectly, and with an ND gel over the meter, it could even take 64T. In fact, I'm looking for another one right now.

[71er]

I have got an Agfa Family camera that has an Agfa Movaron 10 mm lens. Will this give sharp images?

I used a Agfa Family camera once and it did not give very sharp images. I don't think this camera is worth a try.

[Pj]

I used some 100d in my old Agfa Family camera and wasn't expecting much, but I have been surprised as the images are incredibly sharp. I had read somewhere that its lens is plastic and not good at all. I'm now not sure if that's true as the images are some of the sharpest I've seen in Super 8. The picture is very steady and stable too with no jitters. I will put a clip online soon.

P

[wahiba]

I used a Fuji P2 single 8 when we went hiking and found it ideal for the job. It is only recently that digital camcorders have near the compactness of that camera.

While zoom lens are great, there is nothing like a fixed focus camera for making one think about what one is filming.

Interestingly the move towards digital cameras in mobile devices has resurrected the fixed focus concept.

[Mana]

That Fujica P2 is a great little camera, fast fixed lens and it only needs 2 AA batteries.

Didn't Bentley make a Super 8 version similar to the P2? I remember seeing them on Ebay from time to time, but never looked into them.

[pablogustav]

I use a Elmo F20s-xl per super 8 man's suggestion; fixed focus super wide angle. It is a plastic cheesy sound camera; but whoa! Press the button and stick the end of that thing anywhere and it is a hoot. Great piece of junk!