Want to Buy WTB Super 8 Camera

[illumiquest]

Looking for a super 8mm camera, something with a focusing screen and, preferably, a fairly fast lens.

 

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[darinwc]

What are the good super 8 cameras?

 

[Europan]

Almost none, most are plastic conglomerates and need a battery to function. Cybernetics and Cold War time crap

A few high-end cameras were acceptable, Leicina Special, Beaulieu, Bolex, don’t know.
Threw my first and only Super-8 camera away long ago.

I use Double Eight, 16, and 35.

Double/regular 8 is the cheapest and most versatile format. You can easily process yourself since the exposed
film is of 16 mm width. You can print with almost every camera. Gear is mostly well serviceable. Regular-8
projectors outperform many 16mm projectors in longevity, durability, and serviceability. Eumig P8, Paillard-Bolex M8,
Paillard-Bolex 18-5, Bauer T10, Ampro 8, Bell & Howell Filmo 8, and more. Just fine equipment

 

[AgX]

I take a different view. Though my experince is that that the share of defunct samples is higher than with 35mm still cameras.

There is quite a variety in design/features in Super-8 cameras. And not all SLRs have a groundglass.
Also ergonomics plays a major role.

 

[choiliefan]

Canon made some very nice super-8's. Nizo is another possibility.

 

[Kino]

There are many;

Minolta Autopak D10 or D12

http://super8wiki.com/index.php/Minolta_Autopak-8_D_10

http://super8wiki.com/index.php/Minolta_Autopak-8_D_12

Nizo 800P

http://super8wiki.com/index.php/Nizo_800_P_Professional

Canon 814 XL-S

http://super8wiki.com/index.php/Canon_814_XL-S

Canon 1014 Autozoom

http://super8wiki.com/index.php/Canon_1014_Autozoom_Electronic

Looking for a super 8mm camera, something with a focusing screen and, preferably, a fairly fast lens.

 

[Chan Tran]

Damn I saw a good condition Beaulieu 5008 at estate sale for $100. I didn't buy it though.

 

[guangong]

Canons are good but the best super 8 cameras from the viewpoint of design, ergonomics, lenses, and battery power are those made by Nizo. The best in terms of capabilities are Nizo Professional and the 800 series. However, you must do research on the various Nizo models to determine which ones are able to key in current available cartridges. My next recommendation would be a Beaulieu. Their strong point is that the user sets the ASA. Their weak point is the Nicad power supply because batteries hard to find in usable condition and off camera is awkward (I use off camera with my Arriflex but 16mm is a different animal). I have a Leicina given to me by Leitz years ago, plus another I bought...neither one now works. Probably the best super 8s ever made considering frame stability and lens quality are those from Zeiss, but again when they die they are dead forever...they also used the same expensive lens attachments as Contarex. The best Nikon was a no frills camera built like the proverbial tank and like Nizo used AA batteries. Their all frills camera is a beast and never appealed to me. Again, I have several dead unreliable cameras. So, my advice is to look over the various high end Nizo for how much lens you want or the Canon. As a caution, don't buy on the auction site but from a reputable dealer. There is a Nizo store. Also, try Du-all in NYC. Good luck. Also, don't be influenced by those who never shoot Super 8.

 

[AgX]

All cameras designated XL are "fast" ones:

-) large aperture lens

-) low shutter speed

 

[johnielvis]

Pretty much your best bet is getting a converted bolex h8 reflex. JK converted a number of these to double super 8 back in the day. They turn up on ebay relatively frequently. Old Bolexs seem to run forever.

With double super 8, you get all the benefits of double 8 in the super 8 guage. The bolex also has a 3 lens turret to take any kind of lenses, including any c mount lenses out there. Unfortunately, they don't take d-mount, so you can't use the lovely fast f0.9 switar 13mm with the h8 reflex cameras.

 

[illumiquest]

I guess I should clarify that I'm planning on sticking a digital sensor in whatever camera I come across so it's mechanics beyond the zoom/focus really don't need to work. I've experimented with a Canon 310XL and a 1/3" HD sensor and micro DVR recorder and the concept works pretty well and without having to modify the camera significantly. That camera unfortunately does not have a focusing screen, just a clear viewer screen (unless the one I had was messed up?) so focusing was a guessing game.

 

[fdonadio]

I guess I should clarify that I'm planning on sticking a digital sensor in whatever camera I come across

HERESY! BURN HIM ALIVE!!

(kidding)

 

[johnielvis]

Ahhhh...well, have you considered the chinon digital d-mount camera? THIS is pretty cool AND it CAN use the lovely f0.9 13mm switar!

http://hiconsumption.com/2014/04/chinon-bellami-hd-1-digital-super-8-camera/

 

[johnielvis]

OH wait--you want to shoot film but use a digital sensor in place of ground glass? then wait for the kodak super 8--that's what it's made for--straight from the factory--whenever it comes out this year (or so they say).

 

[guangong]

I agree with johnielvis. I was under the assumption that you were shooting reversal stock. Considering the cost of Super 8 film, the difficulty of obtaining double Super 8, and the cost of processing Super 8, its advantage is compactness. Your Canon 310 is compact. Very handy for street shooting and cheap. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of reversal color film from our friends in Italy or Kodak in both Super 8 and 16 mm stock.
If compactness is not important, 16mm may be the way to go considering all costs. Compare costs of 50 ft S8 cassette and a 100 ft roll of the same film. Also, check out cost of processing. You may be surprised.
About 16 mm cameras. A usable Kodak 100 can be had for very little and they just keep climbing in price. Many, if not most, cinematographers don't own a camera but rent. Try cinematography.net and read its blogs.

 

[btaylor]

Aaton tried to do this, a digital "magazine," but they were not successful unfortunately. Almost none of the reflex focusing S8 cameras had a groundglass, they used an aerial type reflex viewing system 'cuz a gg was so dim. I was going to suggest looking at the Digital Bolex, but I see that they have closed.

 

[Europan]

Alright, I admit to have been fuckered again.
The OP wrote Looking for a super 8mm camera, something with a focusing screen and, preferably, a fairly fast lens, so who would not have ass-umed that he means a film camera? Man, it’s Super Eight or 8, with an upper case S, and it’s about film when you write super 8 or Super 8. That bold attitude can make me angry but for the time being I reckon with a simple novice, a know-nothing, and let it be.

To stick a sensor behind the aperture of a film camera—a bit of a yawn

 

[fdonadio]

To stick a sensor behind the aperture of a film camera—a bit of a yawn

From what I understood, he wants to stick a sensor for a "viewfinder" or "video assist" (that external screen the director watches), not for capturing the images.

But I might be wrong.

 

[btaylor]

A 1/3" HD sensor, I assumed this was not a video assist but an image capture sensor. But I could be wrong. I don't get the yawn concerning the digital mag. If Aaton had gotten it to market they might have survived, and it might have slowed the demise (with few exceptions) of film as a capture medium for motion pictures. But this is APUG, so I suppose we should be sticking to a film discussion.

 

[Europan]

this is APUG, so I suppose we should be sticking to a film discussion.

What I mean

 

[choiliefan]

Having re-read the posts I don't understand why the OP didn't explain what he was actually planning for this Super-8 camera with fast lens. Perhaps English isn't his primary language and the aim was lost in translation. I gleaned something about a ground glass and an unnamed digital sensor he's familiar which worked well but he needs somewhere new to stick it or buy a new one or...?

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Gilles is looking for a film camera. What difference is what he is going to do with it? Geesh.

I wanted to experiment a little with Super 8 a while back and I ended up getting a Yashica Electro Super 800. It has a quasi micro fresnel center area for focusing that works ok. I think it was a decent camera back in the day. Kind of heavy though. The body is completely metal. No plastic at all. Decent zoom, and decent wide angle. 7.5-60mm lens, f/1.6. I ended up buying two. The first one I got off goodwill didn't work of course, but the second off ebay was fine. Only cost $20. I went inexpensive because I was experimenting, but it turned out to be a pretty decent camera.

One thing to keep in mind when looking for a camera is they are all a bit different. I wanted single frame capability, and both 18/24 as well. I would say most cameras were missing one of those, especially the cheaper ones.

Hope that helps you in some way Gilles.

 

[choiliefan]

OP should have been a bit more up front. He would have had some truly usable advise from the get instead of dragging this dead horse through 24 replies and we still don't have a clue exactly the type of camera he wants. Kind of a wast of precious time.

 

[removed account4]

Gilles is looking for a film camera. What difference is what he is going to do with it? Geesh.

I wanted to experiment a little with Super 8 a while back and I ended up getting a Yashica Electro Super 800. It has a quasi micro fresnel center area for focusing that works ok. I think it was a decent camera back in the day. Kind of heavy though. The body is completely metal. No plastic at all. Decent zoom, and decent wide angle. 7.5-60mm lens, f/1.6. I ended up buying two. The first one I got off goodwill didn't work of course, but the second off ebay was fine. Only cost $20. I went inexpensive because I was experimenting, but it turned out to be a pretty decent camera.

One thing to keep in mind when looking for a camera is they are all a bit different. I wanted single frame capability, and both 18/24 as well. I would say most cameras were missing one of those, especially the cheaper ones.

Hope that helps you in some way Gilles.

who cares what he is using it for,

+1

 

[Patrick Robert James]

OP should have been a bit more up front. He would have had some truly usable advise from the get instead of dragging this dead horse through 24 replies and we still don't have a clue exactly the type of camera he wants. Kind of a wast of precious time.

You can just ignore the thread if it bothers you that much. Geesh.