"Super 8 editor/viewer" which model should I buy.

[Chris-B]

Hi All,
I needed some advice on which Super 8 editor/viewer to buy.

I was offered a Goko PM2 sound editor/viewer (it has a motorised wind) for the same price as a non-sound editor/viewer.

Is this motorised wind a good thing or would I be better off with the usual hand wind editor? I have no sound film so the sound function will not matter to me.

Thanks,
Chris.

[wahiba]

Goko are a reputable make so quality will be fine.

If you are cutting then assembling the usual amateur efforts then a hand one is fine. I suspect the sound version has a motor purely to ensure a constant velocity for sound reproduction.

[Pedro]

I would suggest you not to take that model with motorized wind, but the MM-1 ore Erno EM-1801 with motorized sprocket drive and friction drive for the wind.
If work with motorized winding, the risc of film scratching increases with every feet that is added to the take up roll, as the film surfaces may scratch each other during forced winding.
But when driving the film with a sprocket near the gate, as the MM-1 or the EM-1801 does, all the load is taken by the sprocket and not by the wind up roll, minimizing the scratching risc that way - and the speed keeps rather constant for the whole reel.

Pedro

[David M. Leugers]

For my money, the best basic hand-driven viewer for S-8mm film is the Minette S-5. Terrific image and build quality will not scratch your film. Minette made some very professional equipment for both 16mm and S-8mm and this viewer shows it. It cost over $100 twenty five years ago but can be had for less once and awhile on eBay. My two cents.

[basstruc]

I have the PM2 also.Great but you might have to recalibrate speed yourself ( not very difficult ). I don't use this one that much because I also got a terrific viewer editor, the prestinox prestiview : the biggest screen I found, the better image I saw ( not a crappy plastic ground glass but a large condenser ( I think ) ), 1 to maybe 60 fps ( motorized ) , stereo sound base ( option ), ect...
Matt

[Chris-B]

Thanks for your help guys!!

I'm really after something cheap and easy to get hold of as I need the film to edited ready to show at Super8 show on June 27th. I might only use the editor/viewer once or twice more after that so I don't want to pay too much.

I can get hold of the Prinz Oxford 400, 800 and 900 each of them for the same price. I think I'll go for either the 800 or 900 as these are dual 8mm.

Are these models to be avoided or are they ok for a beginner, as I've never edited on S8 before I've only ever transferred to video to edit before now.

Thanks,
Chris.

PS I didn’t know which splicer to buy and just went for a AGFA Automatic F8S (type 5258/222) on ebay. It’s so easy to use and only cost £10.50 including about 30 tapes, I can’t wait to get editing!!!