Beaulieu 4008 vs Canon 814e

[themagickite]

hey, not asking which is better, pretty obvious really ;)

it's just that i've only ever worked with the 814e and am thinking of getting a Beaulieu 4008, i pretty much know all the spec differences but i'd like to know how these 2 cameras compare in use.

a few things i'd like to know

1. noise, the 814e is pretty darn noisy (at least mine is) is the Beaulieu substantially quieter, how does it perform as a sound sync camera?

2. viewfinder brightness/clarity, i find the 814e viewfinder pretty good but not 'ideal' is the Beaulieu any better, bigger, brighter, more clear? does the flicker make it hard to see during filming?

3. registration, i find the 814e renders a fairly steady image which i suspect is due to the fact that it was in pretty good condition when i got it, but is the Beaulieu typically more steady?

cheers,

[MIKI-814]

hey, not asking which is better, pretty obvious really ;)

...thanks 8)

[morales72]

Hi to all!

I guess that the main problem if you are used to the Canon's reliability (I do myself) is that you will hate the Beaulieu, but it's a question of taste, really. I wouldn't change mine, though it's noisy too.

Best regards,

Morales.

[BK]

A good condition and serviced Beaulieu 4008 is not as noisey as a Canon 814E, both needs a blimp for any sync sound work especially indoors.

The viewfinder is huge with the Beaulieu, flicker is not a problem but it will be darker when using smaller apertures because the reflex mirror for the viewfinder is placed behind the aperture of the lens, unlike the majority of other super 8 cams the prism is before the aperture so you always get full brightness viewing.

Registration is excellent with the Beaulieu, no worries here.

The Beaulieu 4008 is more of a cinematographer's camera, and it's not as fool proof compared to the Canon. Choice of lenses is unlimited, and it's more enjoyable to use and nice to look at, it's a piece of art.

Bill

[themagickite]

hey, not asking which is better, pretty obvious really ;)

...thanks 8)

haha don't get me wrong i love my 814! and would only get rid of it if someone with super human strength pried it from my cold dead hands.

yeah that fact that it gets darker when stopping down is music to my ears, you can always frame up wide open then stop down, shame to hear the Beaulieu is not as reliable, how bout a serviced model from pro8mm? likey to give any grief soon after purchase?

I'm just getting a bit frustrated here and there with certain aspects of the canon, the floating focus system... sigh, the beam splitter....sigh, the fixed lens....sigh, having to squint at the top of the viewfinder to see what aperture i'm on and using that little wheel thing to change it....sigh (i love real aperture dials)

thanks for the responses! there's only so much you can learn about a camera by rereading the specs a hundred times over ;)

edit: one of my teachers has 3 or 4 814Es he's got a 1014E too, but reckons it's too heavy to be practical in most situations, and only uses it when he needs those extra features.

any ideas on how to make a blimp, i tried wrapping a jumper round the canon but didn't do much other than obscure the controls.

[themagickite]

how bout the 814 or 1014xls for sound?
they quieter than the 4008? and are they crystal synced?

[unit22]

The Canon XLS models are not crystal synced, from what people have told me they do run more consistent timing than the non sound models. They can be modified by peolpe such as The Film Group.

There are other options too such as pilotone or software syncing, but these may come at a loss of quality and consistency.

[arnaud]

I own 2 4008ZM4 and a few primes, serviced by Bjorn I never had any problem shooting around 70 carts for the last 3 years. With a nice 10mm, the camera is fairly light and small (I use it as a diary tool). It is one of those that makes you want to shoot all the time.
a.

PS. I'd raher send the camera to be serviced by Bjorn (or other?) than buying the berserkly overpriced Pro8 model.