Smooth carts vs textured carts: Jitter difference?

[MovieStuff]

Okay, this poll is to try and determine if the newer "smooth skin" carts are really any better than the older "textured skin" carts that were supposedly the source of jitter in all emulsions. As I noted in another thread, it does not matter what the expiration date is on the carts at this point in time or even the specific emulsion they contain. The date refers only to the film inside and has nothing to do with the cartridge. Perhaps in a year or two the manufacture date will mean something as all the older carts will have been used up but, at this time, there are probably still many of the older carts being used to house new film. That means that the only way to tell if you are getting the newer (and supposedly "fixed") cart is by the physical characteristics and not the expiration date. The newer carts have a smooth skin and the older carts have a textured skin. The smooth skin carts are supposed to be jitter free and the textured skin carts will more likely introduce jitter.

Therefore, please contribute to this poll based SOLEY on you observations about the texture of the carts you've used as they relate to the results you get. Do not post things like,"Well, I had an expiration date of such and such and got this result..." That is totally useless information for the very reason outlined above. We need to know, once and for all, if people are getting jitter in the new smooth skinned carts. We really don't care if you DON'T get jitter in the older carts as that would simply be serendipity. We need to know if the new smooth skinned carts are a "fix" or if Kodak is pulling a fast PR move.

Roger

[S8 Booster]

Posted by Re:
> Scot McPhie I've just got off the phone from the Kodak
> rep I've been dealing with here and he's just received
> confirmation from his technical services manager that
> Kodak in France have admitted to the problem - I think
> they said it was a minor but unacceptable variation in
> image quality - caused by the faulty manufacturing of
> a disc used in the cartridge.
> This has been looked into by them and all cartridges
> numbered 3631 7768 onwards should be free of this
> problem.
> Because there was an official (internal) statement by
> them admitting to the problem I'm also eligible for a
> refund - so will be getting my 40 odd faulty
> cartridges refunded.
> Hope this info helps!
> Scot M
> http://www.mango-a-gogo.com/inmyimage/image.htm

[David M. Leugers]

I just shot a roll of S-8mm Plus-X with the new cartridge. I was very impressed with how much quieter my cameras ran using it (I tested three different cameras with the one roll). NO JITTER! I hope the Kodachrome rolls I bought turn out as well.

[Pedro]

I would be very astonished if Kodak would ever had the courage to use any of their old textured carts again to load new film in it.
All the carts are produced and loaded in France with film coming from Rochester. Since springtime Kodak is accepting any old cart from any customer in order to exchange it into new ones. As the material of the old carts in combination with new film lub had been clearly identified by Kodak to be the reason for the jitter, Kodak would be more than foolish to combine these type of carts with new film. I am quite shure, it only can be old stock of local dealers, when any old textured cart is sold nowadays. And I would return it directly to Kodak, without shooting any frame.
Kodak even included some free bonus carts, every time I have returned old carts to them.
Pedro

[David M. Leugers]

Amen, Pedro! I get tired of all the Kodak bashing that comes and goes on the websites. Sure, this jittery cartridge problem is a nightmare and the worst problem I have ever seen, but they did rectify the problem and I am sure it has cost them a bundle. Give credit where it is due = Kodak is the only major manufacturer still catering to us S-8mm film lovers. Product sold-wise we are hardly a drop in the bucket to them, yet they do care. Out of this mess we get quieter and smoother running cartridges of film. The silver lining to a very dark cloud. Long live S-8mm!

[jessh]

The smooth skin carts are supposed to be jitter free and the textured skin carts will more likely introduce jitter.

are you refuring to the textured area around the label and on the oposing side?(as in they are using a new mold as well as a new plastic) or just the feel of the plastic overall?
now that I feel it this cart I have been shooting seems slicker, almost oily, it still has the textured parts around the label and on the back, but they seem smoother, could just be in my head because I want it to be good :-) the emulsion number is new enough to where it should be good, personally I would like an identifying marking on the cart itself that will tell. I notice it says V2.4 in the bottom right hand corner (the indented part by the film opening), do all the new carts say this? or something different? or did the old as well?

~Jess

[Lucas Lightfeat]

OK, OK, I'm sorry to drag up this old chestnut, but I have to know.

I just got sent a new batch of K40 from Kodak (13 carts) and the serial numbers and expiry date are earlier than the numbers I thought were the safe numbers. I don't doubt Kodak have sorted it out, but I'm examining the cart alongside a 1999 ektachrome cartridge, and I can't see ANY difference in texture at all. I just don't get it! It is the same. The ekta is pre-jitter, and the kodachrome post jitter (hopefuly). The number v2.8 is in the bottom right corner of the cartridge face, which is different from the v104 of the olderr cart.

What is this smooth you're refering to guys? My carts are all patterned on the two square faces. Haven't tried them yet. Not really scared, but a bit confused.

Many thanks

Lucas

[Andreas Wideroe]

Ofcourse there might be some of the old bad cartridges stored somewhere in some warehouse, though Kodak has said to have eliminated the bad cartridges.

What are the expiry dates on your films?

What are the serial numbers?

[Lucas Lightfeat]

Hi Andreas

My numbers are 03/2004 3631 1118

I'd been told that it needs to be at least 3631 7768, and that the expiry date isn't so important.

I'm still really curious about this "smooth" cartridge I've heard of. What does this mean?

Thanks - great website, by the way

Lucas

[Andreas Wideroe]

The expiry date should be correct, however I can't really tell wether they're the good or the bad ones. Some have talked about a batch number, but we do not have any evidence that those mean anything at all.

According to Kodak Norway all cartridges with expiry date 03/2004 should be good.

Have a look at this more extensive thread (click).

Andreas

PS! Thanks for the comment about the site

[David M. Leugers]

Well, that is what I thought earlier this past year. I ordered ten rolls of Kodachrome and they came to me with an expiration date of 2004. I thought I was good to go. However, I suffered the fate of many in that the cartridges were of the jittery version. About half would not even crank through my trusty Nikon at all. I was and still am very disgusted. I can't get in my time machine and go back to recapture one of the biggest moments in my personal life that I missed because of faulty cartridges. Right now I am gun shy about buying any more S-8mm cartridge film until I can be sure it will work properly.

David M. Leugers

[Lucas Lightfeat]

Kodak were so quick to offer to replace the cartridges I had bought elsewhere. They were really helpful and gave me credit for the cartridges and an account credited to the right value. They told me:

The batch numbers which have the new disc start from the following :-

KODACHROME 40 3631 7768
3631 7769

When I ordered new film, they sent me lower numbers (3631 1118) Wierd huh? And not just a little disconcerting. I have written back for an explanation...

Lucas