Your vote please: fix it or dump it

[MusicConductor]

With all the talk here about Leicinas, Beaulieus, Nikon R10s, and Canon 814/1014s, I can presume what the answer might be. Still, I appeal to our helpful, knowledgable friends on this forum for your 2 cents.

A Minolta Autopak-8 D10 was "loaned" to me under the pretense that if I wanted it, I could keep it. It's immaculate and everything is intact -- a lot of accessories. Age is about 35 years. Wonderful lens (no, I'm NOT going to say it's as sharp as your favorite camera), and reads all ASA settings.

The problems: it labors when first running after sitting for awhile, so it needs a lube job. And the auto exposure (which is the only way it was intended to be used) runs about 3 stops dark.

I've sent it in to a reputable place for an estimate on servicing it, and it comes back at $300 -- way more than I was hoping for . (This is reportedly because it's a difficult camera to take apart.) Do I think this camera is necessary? No, not really, but it could prove helpful in the long run.

The rub is that fixing it would divert "project" funds away from previous goals that would then have to be postponed. So would buying a more "desirable" camera on Ebay or wherever.

What would you do? Thanks in advance!

[reflex]

I would try to fix it myself, although I've accidentally destroyed as many as I've successfully repaired.

It's not worth spending $300 to repair - you could buy a dozen similar cameras if you have the time and patience on the used market. Some of my best footage was shot on cameras that cost less than $30.

[Will2]

I think you should politely return the camera to the original owner.

A Beaulieu 4008 ZM II might be worth $300 to get in top notch working order, but that Minolta probably wouldn't hold the same value.

Parting with any camera is a very difficult thing to do, I feel your pain.

[Rick Palidwor]

Actually I disagree a little with the others. The D10 is a good camera and typically runs a couple hundred or more on ebay. So if your only cost of acquiring it is $300 I'd say yes. Of course you can get good, perfectly usable cameras for much less, but I am talking specifically about the D10.

However, if it has an exposure problem, that would change things.

And the auto exposure (which is the only way it was intended to be used) runs about 3 stops dark.

It is not intended to be used in auto only. You can lock the exposure (and should). Are you sure it is underexposing 3 stops? The inner dial in the exposure setting area allows you to tweak a couple stops in either direction, allowing you to get it where you want before locking it.

Rick

[MusicConductor]

Tally so far: two no's and one yes!

I really appreciate the help, guys. Thanks for a smile, Reflex, but for sure don't let [i]me[/i] near it with tools -- it's sure to not survive!

Rick, you're right - I didn't explain myself well. But yes, we have tried the D10 with exposure locked (which is great if using an external meter) and also on auto with the compensation at +2 (still quite dark, but at least you can see the image). Our footage shows that it has a crisp, fine lens and that there's absolutely no way to use it on auto exposure.

[Rick Palidwor]

If you're stuff is dark are you sure the shutter is all teh way open? The shutter is variable and maybe you have it closed down without knowing it.
RIck

[MusicConductor]

Very true, thanks, but we caught that one too. (Manual fades accomplished this way.) The F stop numbers are WAY off -- you get a readout response from almost no light.

Tell me where to make an adjustment -- with paint-by-numbers-simple instructions -- and I'd be tempted!

[Rick Palidwor]

Based on the exposure issues it may not be worth spending $300 to fix.
Rick

[MusicConductor]

Perhaps not, but the estimate is [i]supposed[/i] to include "recalibrating" the light meter -- if it can be done. Based on others' D10s still working OK, it's a little odd that this one has such a severe problem, and makes it seem realistic for this to be fixable.

On the other hand, I could spend hundreds and not have this turn out OK. I've already been told that replacing metering parts is not possible. However, it's not likely to be all [i]that [/i]bad, once things are cleaned up.

[Rollef]

If the camera was given to me I would try to locate the error myself. If I was offered to buy that camera it would have to be a symbolic price. As it is, it is not working, and can not be used.
Cleaning, lubing, slow running, battery acid and other errors are all easy-ish to fix, but those times I have run into problems with the light meter it’s been way much harder to fix the problem, diy style.

Personally I would not spend 300 USD on it to repair it. I would get a Canon 814 AZ-E that I know is on good condition, and spend whatever is left on film.

Then again from a collectors pow, besides being wicked in the design department, awesome looking with the attachments and add-ons, that camera is pretty cool if it's a full kit with the "suitcase" and all….

[gianni1]

Dump the camera by selling it as spares or repairs, after you have successfully shot a few rolls of film in manual mode. If you believe in and enlist the help of the 8mm Goddess, she'll help you find other examples of your dream cam on the internet auction sites.

Gianni

[David M. Leugers]

You might want to hang onto it if you can not afford to repair it right now. At some point, those wishing to shoot in S-8mm will need to make the investment to keep the best cameras in running shape. The D10 is a great camera, if the repair puts it back into stellar running condition it might last quite awhile and you would have a fine camera to shoot with. Are we that spoiled by cheap camera acquisitions, that $300 seems outrageous for a top of the line S-8mm camera?

[MusicConductor]

Rollef appreciates the beauty of this outfit too! Actually, the case and its gear would be cool enough for James Bond -- well, at least it would be if it were a fraction of its size.

David, thank you for a compelling dissenting argument. It just seems like not that many people are willing to consider the D10 a "top-of-the-line" camera, and I haven't had the opportunity to test the lens against "known" top-quality gear. It's definitely [i]good[/i]. The question is, is it excellent.

Anyway, a sincere thank you to all who have replied. This has been informative and helpful, though I can't say it's made my decision any easier. I think what I'm going to have to do is go back to the vendor and discuss the scenario of the light meter NOT being correctable and see if we can avoid paying $300 for a lemon. Then maybe I could try to run a lens clarity comparison test before getting it fixed. If possible.

[Juno]

I would try to fix it myself, although I've accidentally destroyed as many as I've successfully repaired.

It's not worth spending $300 to repair - you could buy a dozen similar cameras if you have the time and patience on the used market. Some of my best footage was shot on cameras that cost less than $30.

It is probably not a good idea to savage our cameras when we can avoid it. The future of the format depends on how many good cameras we can keep running since they are no longer made. Even though buying multiple copies of the same used models may be inexpensive to us, the future of Super 8 depends on the investment that we are willing to make in the present!

[Juno]

Another good idea for those of us that have mid to high end super 8 cameras that are not functioning for one reason or another and we are not willing to pay the price to get them working again, would be to donate them to a good reputable repair facility like Spectra. They can recycle the cameras and offer them to other filmmakers that would appreciate the opportunity to use them.