Beaulieu 4008 Test: San Francisco on Vision2 7217

Post by **DonFito** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:28 am

My first time using the Beaulieu. Had a great time shooting in San Francisco:

On Blip TV:
http://blip.tv/file/752117/

Or on YouTube:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XEdPn6SaH3U

Post by **adamgarner** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:22 am

Looks good. I'll bet it'd be even more stunning if it weren't overcast! But, when is it ever sunny in San Fran?

I noticed that the registration seems jittery at times. Did you notice that? I can't tell if that's the telecine or the camera. I'd guess it's the telecine. How was it transferred?

Either way it looks nice and clear! I can't wait to get my Vision2 back now. It's pretty amazing super 8 footage when you consider how clean it looks.

I noticed that the Beaulieu doesn't seem to have exposure compensation when you change frame rates on the fly. Is that correct? I'm looking into getting one. I'd love to know what you think.

Post by **Jim Carlile** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:26 am

adamgarner wrote:Looks good. I'll bet it'd be even more stunning if it weren't overcast! But, when is it ever sunny in San Fran?

Between 11:45 am and 1:30 pm.

Post by **greg_8mm** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:11 am

how was shooting with the Beaulieu for the first time? More complicated than you were used to or not? I'm looking into a new cam. I love the Canon xl-s camera's, but the idea of being able to interchange lenses with a beaulieu is very tempting..

Anyway nice footage.. Loved the shot where the cars ramp up. I still have to give negative a try, but I definitely will now.

Post by **alex-rus** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:55 am

adamgarner wrote:Looks good. I'll bet it'd be even more stunning if it weren't overcast! But, when is it ever sunny in San Fran?

I noticed that the registration seems jittery at times. Did you notice that? I can't tell if that's the telecine or the camera. I'd guess it's the telecine. How was it transferred?

Either way it looks nice and clear! I can't wait to get my Vision2 back now. It's pretty amazing super 8 footage when you consider how clean it looks.

I noticed that the Beaulieu doesn't seem to have exposure compensation when you change frame rates on the fly. Is that correct? I'm looking into getting one. I'd love to know what you think.

Vision 2 gives the beautiful image, but in cloudy day the potential of this film less

:? I too am interested by a question: whether I can receive the best image, than gives mine Canon 1014XL-S, having started to use Beaulieu 6008, for example (when i use standard Schneider or Angenieux lens). I think you too would like results of comparison.

Post by aj » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:10 am

Jim Carlile wrote:
adamgarner wrote:Looks good. I'll bet it'd be even more stunning if it weren't overcast! But, when is it ever sunny in San Fran?

Between 11:45 am and 1:30 pm.

Or on calendar photos ?

Post by **TheCircus** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:33 pm

Where can you buy a focus chart?

Post by **jpolzfuss** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:24 pm

TheCircus wrote:Where can you buy a focus chart?

E.g. here:
http://www.filmtools.com/focus-test-wall-chart.html
http://www.blueeye.eu/testchart.html
http://www.aig-imaging.com/Resolution-Test-Charts.html

Or you can print your own:
http://www.fotovideo-club-lohhof.de/dat ... sstern.pdf
http://www.striemerfilm.com/archiv/page ... aukeil.pdf
http://www.tu-chemnitz.de/phil/videostu ... sstern.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_star
http://www.striemerfilm.com/archiv/page ... 20Test.pdf
http://www.striemerfilm.com/archiv/page ... sstern.pdf
http://www.striemerfilm.com/archiv/page ... stern2.pdf

Or simply use a newspaper:
"The best focus chart to use is the Airforce Focus Chart but shooting a newspaper is very good also!"

Post by **cineandy** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:38 pm

:? I too am interested by a question: whether I can receive the best image, than gives mine Canon 1014XL-S, having started to use Beaulieu 6008, for example (when i use standard Schneider or Angenieux lens). I think you too would like results of comparison.[/quote]

A properly adjusted beaulieu with either 6-66 or 6-80 lens will give much better images than a canon 1014 or 814 xls. Canon lenses tend to go soft around f2.8-1.4, where as the 6-80 and 6-66 dont.

That footage looks a bit jumpy to me, has your 4008 been serviced?

Post by **super8man** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:36 am

How come the motion looks unnatural? A bit too fast perhaps?

Post by **jpolzfuss** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:48 pm

super8man wrote:How come the motion looks unnatural? A bit too fast perhaps?

You'll also notice that some of the motion is too slow (at least on the youtube-version). Hence I suspect that the cameraman was playing around with the Beaulieu's different speeds.

Post by **DonFito** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:36 pm

Shooting with the Beaulieu was really fun. Had a cop approach and ask "what are you doing?" Later on some people came up to say how cool the camera was.

Telecine was done on a Rank, unsupervised. The chart was downloaded from the web. All shooting was done in Manual. Using the camera is straightforward, reading the manual is very useful and learning where all the knobs are and what they do before shooting.

Some scenes are over or undercranked, and others have speed ramps. Clip is jumpy, can't tell at this stage if it's the camera or the transfer.

A great fun test.

Post by **jpolzfuss** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:07 pm

DonFito wrote:Had a cop approach and ask "what are you doing?"

Standard answer: "Stand back, Earthling, or I'll desintegrate you, too!" ;)
(Of course this works much better with a Bolex 160 or an Agfa Movexoom 3000 ;) )

Post by **DonFito** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:40 pm

jpolzfuss wrote:
DonFito wrote:Had a cop approach and ask "what are you doing?"
Standard answer: "Stand back, Earthling, or I'll desintegrate you, too!" ;)
(Of course this works much better with a Bolex 160 or an Agfa Movexoom 3000 ;) )

Indeed, the cop was persistent on his question; he kept eying the Beaulieu while keeping his right hand on his holster. He was finally convinced when I told him I was a tourist visiting San Francisco and taking pictures.

Anyway, I'll be shooting more with this 4008.

Post by **Will2** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:58 pm

cineandy wrote:A properly adjusted beaulieu with either 6-66 or 6-80 lens will give much better images than a canon 1014 or 814 xls. Canon lenses tend to go soft around f2.8-1.4, where as the 6-80 and 6-66 dont.

Much better? Not so sure in the middle f-stop range those lenses are THAT much better. In a completely controlled situation and you compared both shot at the same time on the same subject, the Beaulieu would probably look a little better. Those Canon lenses are pretty good.

Now if you talk about the 514 or 314 I'd agree but those high end Canon's push the limits of that 8mm film can show, just like the Beaulieu does.