Elmo 8-TL with 100 ft. magazine attachment-lens change ?

Post by **super-8-epiphany** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:42 pm

I stumbled upon one of these 8-TL cameras for cheap money without the magazine, and bought it. Later, another one popped up for sale that did not work, had a loose lens- but a complete working 100' magazine attached- got that one too. Cross breeded the good magazine to the good camera...and got it working.

These Elmo standard/double 8's are noticeably higher quality than any other camera I have, and even rival my Canon 1014 in build quality. Certain aspects of the Elmo seem even better than the Canon- the Elmo appears to be more highly refined build quality.

For the record- the 8-TL magazine has its own battery pack that installs inside the magazine, and takes 4 "AA" batteries- it's the same plastic battery box as the camera itself takes- they are interchangeable. There is no "external" battery pack for the magazine. When it's all loaded up and ready to go, there's 4 "AA" in the camera, and 4 more "AA" in the magazine- plus the small mercury battery (replaceable by stacking 3 large modern watch batteries). The end result is a camera only slightly taller than a Canon 1014, and about the same weight.

I like the idea of having 13.3 minutes of film time in that magazine- but no doubt flipping the film reels is a bit of a hassle at the halfway point.

Now the question- how does one change a lens on these ? The parts camera has a larger power zoom lens, that I'd like to put on the good one. Rather than go in uninformed, has anyone here removed a lens from an Elmo 8-TL ?

Post by **super8man** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:23 pm

Sounds like a sure way to ruin a good camera...is the lens working on the camera you have now put together? If so, shoot some film and then see...even a loose lens can be compensated for depending upon the issue.

Best of luck - post a picture, eh!

Post by **leadlike** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:13 am

Tearing up those old elmos is a pretty rough experience-and as you mentioned, they are of a higher build quality and that beater of yours may work with a bit of a tune up. Follow super8man's advice, and send us some pics-we'd love to help ya out.

Post by **gianni1** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:22 pm

Wait around a few months and by next summer (unless you are down under) you may find another one or two of them. I've got one of these (click here for pix) last year. Had mine fixed up by Axco Instruments in North London. They cleaned it up and removed the lens fungus. I didn't ask how they did it, but the serive cost more than I paid for the camera.

Gianni 8)

Post by **super-8-epiphany** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:12 pm

here's an MPEG video of the optional magazine and zoom handle attached, and magazine running- the working camera has a case and is a 4X lens, the beater is a 5x lens- actually it's not really a beater- someone had a piece of tape on the lens to hold it steady, and the motor inside does run on the parts camera- it would work with some tinkering

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=8gjce9l&s=1

still shots below

Post by **super-8-epiphany** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:15 pm

more

Post by **super-8-epiphany** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:20 pm

[/list]

Post by **super-8-epiphany** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:35 pm

gianni1 wrote:Wait around a few months and by next summer (unless you are down under) you may find another one or two of them. I've got one of these (click here for pix) last year. Had mine fixed up by Axco Instruments in North London. They cleaned it up and removed the lens fungus. I didn't ask how they did it, but the serive cost more than I paid for the camera.

Gianni 8)

hmmm...does this mean you are selling your Elmos, or merely suggesting they pop up a few times a year on Ebay ?

I first read about the Elmo 8-TL on this forum- then as if by magic, or perhaps fate, they started popping up like mushrooms, for sale.

the 100' mag is actually worth about 4x the value of the camera alone.

Post by **super-8-epiphany** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:37 pm

leadlike wrote:Tearing up those old elmos is a pretty rough experience-and as you mentioned, they are of a higher build quality and that beater of yours may work with a bit of a tune up. Follow super8man's advice, and send us some pics-we'd love to help ya out.

good point- from past experience with anything this intricate, old, and detailed- one usually has to break the first one, to learn how to fix them, and to learn the "do's and don't's"

Post by **super8man** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 6:45 pm

Yup, I have tossed many cameras in the garbage in the pursuit of knowledge!!!! But, heck, you are really going to end up with WORSE images....the only gain you get is 10mm on the telephoto side, which is useless...and the lens will have more elements and most likely not be as sharp as the 7.5-30 already on the camera (assuming no issues with the 7.5-30).

Nope, that's silly chasing after 10mm in the telephoto range...just screw on an adapter intended for video cameras (using adapter rings) and you are good to go...probably with excellent resolving power...I think you would be mightily surprised at the quality those old Elmo lenses give...

Cheers,
Mike

Post by **super-8-epiphany** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:47 am

yep, my intuitions exactly- thanks for concurring

Post by **super-8-epiphany** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:12 pm

gianni1 wrote:Wait around a few months and by next summer (unless you are down under) you may find another one or two of them. I've got one of these (click here for pix) last year. Had mine fixed up by Axco Instruments in North London. They cleaned it up and removed the lens fungus. I didn't ask how they did it, but the serive cost more than I paid for the camera.

Gianni 8)

GIANNI- where can I get 100' film for this Elmo camera ?

#2, does the film stock come on a spool, that will load directly onto the Elmo magazine spindle ?

i.e. is it compatible ?

I want to run a 100' of film through this and get it processed, and see how it comes out

Post by **gianni1** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:15 pm

I browsed http://www.onsuper8.org for the list and got two vendors, one in the states John Schwind in California sells 8mm in 100 ft daylight spools. He's got Kodachrome, E6 100D and Black and White. I'm in the UK and I've purchased from John Schwind's International Film, and he's good, it's economical with quick delivery. In Europe, Wittner and kahl film both sell 100 foot (33 meter) Regular 8 film stock too, but I have never purchased from them.

I have not tested or ran any film through my Elmo 8TL as of yet. I have some color neg 16mm 2R stock which was reperfed by Mr Nowill in London. Processing Color neg in London is no problem, but nobody here will split it after processing. I did get word over the telephone from andec film lab who are happy to process and split 8mm color neg stock.

Gianni 8)

Post by **super-8-epiphany** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:13 pm

yes, I have spoken to John Schwind before- my concern is, does he sell the film on a 100' spool that will load directly onto the Elmo spindle, in the Elmo magazine ?

you know, like when you buy a new spool of standard/double 8 in 25' size, it loads right into a std. 8 camera

does this film from Schwind come on an Elmo-compatible spool, ready to load in, thread, and shoot ?

anyone else know ? I don't want to buy 100' of film, only to find the spool doesn't fit the spindle in the Elmo magazine- but I'm assuming all this is most likely standardized ?

Post by **gianni1** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:28 pm

As long as the spool had square holes on both sides it ought to be ok. If one of the spindle holes is round, you will have to file a groove into it. Cut the round "O" into a "C>" or "<>" so it can catch onto the turning sprocket which winds the spool.

I suppose that 100' Regular 8 film stock is not too unique relatively speaking, because of all the Bolex H8 cameras that use it.

Gianni 8)