REGULAR 8

[super8man]

How much will that cost for the super 8 camera to get factory servicing?

[Charlie Blackfield]

How much will that cost for the super 8 camera to get factory servicing?

They quoted 230 pounds including delivery back from Switzerland to the UK and 6 months warranty. I know it's quite steep, but I'm thoroughly fed up with unreliable cameras.

[ricohmite]

I think it is better to give cameras away for parts rather than put them in the dumpster. One man's trash...

I have several Bolex's and have found the cache that people attach to them interesting. Rather like a Porshe Boxster. There are faster. more dependable, more maneuverable cars for a lot less money but-- it IS a Porshe...

The matter of the type of lubrication used inside the Bolex is interesting. I have never purchased a Bolex pocket camera that did not have sticky internals. I have, however, purchased many other spring wound cameras of the same vintage that are rarely sticky. In fact, I can only think of one, a Eumig C3M that responded very well to a few drops of oil carefully applied without cracking the case. I have other Eumig C3Ms that run very smoothly.

I have the first Carena--it purrs like a kitten. I have many regular 8 Carena's and have always been surprised they aren't bruited about more. They are beautiful cameras with frequently the same optics as the Leicina SV. They were built to the same exquisite standard as the Bolex. They have less features but how often do we really use those? The early ones are literally no bigger than a Fujica P1. The people who bought them evidently treasured them because they are always in pristine condition. They are never sticky. They are dead cheap on Ebay for what you get.

My humble observations...

[BetterSense]

I inherited an Eumig C3 which is why I shoot regular-8. It has great sentimental value to me and works perfectly, although the metering doesn't work and the rather long lens is limiting. I saddens me to think that film will become unavailable in my lifetime.

[Juno]

[quote="Charlie Blackfield"][quote="Blue Audio Visual"][b]Earlier today I asked Bolex for an estimate to service my 53-year old 8mm camera[/b]

Do you mean Bolex in Switzerland, or their approved agent here in the UK?[/quote]

Bolex in Switzerland. Unfortunately, it's bad news: they no longer have any parts for the B8, so won't be able to service it. Well, the camera still works, records about 8ft of film with a full wind, so I just have to take care of it. Slightly better news (although not in the context of this particular thread): Bolex still repair their old Super 8 cameras, so my 551XL will shortly be off to Switzerland.[/quote]

ProCam in Arizona works on those cameras. Veder, the owner, is a licensed Bolex technician and has been servicing those cameras since 1965. He has a large inventory of parts and cameras. However, it might be cheaper just to buy another camera if it is just a simple pocket sized one.

[8mm]

Has someone ever tried to lubricate a Eumig C3?
I am unsecure were to apply the oil as the claw mechanism compartment doesn´t seem to be able to unscrew. I have however lubricated a Pillard-Bolex B8 with good result, sadly the film camber door lock is broken so it doesn´t stay closed.

[BMasson]

I am a big fan of the Bolex 8mm cameras. I have sent two of them out to reps for overhaul, and they did a good job, but in my eyes they were not perfect. I thought if I want to continue using these cameras I was going to have to learn to do the work myself. I got hold of a shop manual and started working on some of the simpler models. After a while, I got the hang of it, and discovered some secrets that realy make these cameras outstanding performers. Registration is very important to me. Their are a few areas that you need to be concerned with: The take-up spool has to provide just enough tension to keep the film from concertining--it should not be jerking the film through the gate. The surface of the pull-down claw has to be FLAWLESS! This is the area that makes contact with the film sprocket hole. This is a rather easy operation, but this step was missed by the two reps I mentioned earlier. The spring tension on the preasure plate sometimes needs to be increased. On a B8 model, I once added two springs to the plate, thus increasing plate preasure; this worked wonders. The lid spring which presses against the edge of the film, sometimes needs to be increased as well. Do not bend it up or down, as the spring needs to be perpendicular to the film at all times, but press the sides of the spring "inward" with a vice; just a little at a time till you get the results your looking for. Do not use a pliers as you will surely go to far and flatten the spring like a pancake. The metal parts of the gate itself also need to be checked; their should not be any dings, grooves or scratches in the gate. When cleaning and lubricating the gate, I found Xecote to be the best product; I have tried others, but Xecote works for me. It takes me about 5 hours to overhaul a Bolex. The B8/C8 models seem to be the best performers, and the most quiet in operation. I have thought about restoring these cameras and offering them for sale to avid 8mm users, but after getting them up to snuff, it is hard to part with them. I hope that these little tidbits of information will be helpfull.

[mr8mm]

Nice to see interest in R8 has not died. Good info on the Bolex.
Now some questions to help me make some decisions regarding R8.
1. Currently I am stocking Plus-X 7265 as the black and white stock. Kodak has informed me that I can only have one B/W cat# because B/W has such low sales volume. Would the users prefer Tri-X 7266 to 7265? I can switch to 7266 if users feel that would be useful stock. But 7265 would no longer be available.

2. I currently use Kahl 24(UN54 I believe) as the high speed stock. TRI-X would be cheaper because I don't have to import with the high cost involved. What is the opinion on Kahl 24 for those that have experience with this stock? How does it compare with Tri-X?

3. Kahl also has a color stock, E.I. 50. An ASA 50 stock would be handy for some 8mm cameras that can only accept ASA 40 film. Any comments on the KAHL ASA 50 color stock vs. 7285?

4. Any suggestions that would improve sales?

5. Sales of DS8 film are essentially zero. I have sold only a couple of hundred feet all year. I will stop carrying DS8, if sales don't pick up.

mr8mm

[Juno]

John, is the Kahl color ASA 50 notched by Kodak? Is it an E6 emulsion? How does the grain compare to 100D?

[aj]

Mr Nowill in UK can perforate any 16mm film into R8.

mr8mm could/should/may choose Tri-X as Plus-X and a few others are available from http://www.wittner-kinotechnik.de/katal ... _filmm.php
even in 122meter long-rolls Against Euro prices of course.

[StoneBuilder]

"I hope that these little tidbits of information will be helpfull." Very helpful - thanks ...

[mr8mm]

All KAHL Film is perforated by KAHL. He has the perforators from the old ORWO Factory. The new ORWO company which produces UN54 only has the 16mm perforators.

Wittner gets his R8 from KAHL. Wittner perforates some S8 with his own equipment.

I want someone who has tried KAHL 50 color to give me an opinion about the film so I can decide about ordering. I don't have a clue.

mr8mm

[MIKI-814]

1. Currently I am stocking Plus-X 7265 as the black and white stock. Kodak has informed me that I can only have one B/W cat# because B/W has such low sales volume. Would the users prefer Tri-X 7266 to 7265? I can switch to 7266 if users feel that would be useful stock. But 7265 would no longer be available.

By far I'd prefer to have the Plus-X available in R8 over the Tri-X.

2. I currently use Kahl 24(UN54 I believe) as the high speed stock. TRI-X would be cheaper because I don't have to import with the high cost involved. What is the opinion on Kahl 24 for those that have experience with this stock? How does it compare with Tri-X?

I never tried any of these in R8, but I'd prefer the Tri-X over the Orwo54.

What about the ultra high contrast 7363 B/W from Kodak? Someone in the UK offers it but it's pricey... It is ASA 10 with very fine definition.

3. Kahl also has a color stock, E.I. 50. An ASA 50 stock would be handy for some 8mm cameras that can only accept ASA 40 film. Any comments on the KAHL ASA 50 color stock vs. 7285?

Never tried the Kahl ASA 50 but I really love the E100D, specially in R8 more than in S8 (don't know why). Well exposed is superb for me...

[MIKI-814]

mr8mm could/should/may choose Tri-X as Plus-X and a few others are available from http://www.wittner-kinotechnik.de/katal ... _filmm.php
even in 122meter long-rolls Against Euro prices of course.

The wonderful catalogue from Wittner is almost useless for me, due to the high prices compared to buying from the USA with no VAT. Moreover, I'm not interested in paying something about 30€ for postage when I'm buying just a couple of spools... it's a pity.

[aj]

Well, sorry about that.

Cann't change anything about it. But it is likely useful info to others.

Thought basque 'country' is in Spain and not of USA. Unlike California, New Mexico and Texas
And then there was an serious newspaper economy business article named: When the dollar turns a dime.