Regular 8mm and reflex viewfinders - beamsplitter?

[Patrick]

Just a query about regular 8mm cameras that posses reflex viewfinders, in particular the Canon models such as the Reflex Zoom 8 and the 512 Cinezoom. Does the reflex viewfinder incorporate a beamsplitter like on super 8 reflex cameras and the Bolex H16 Rex? If so, does anyone know the exact exposure compensation required? I would likely be using an external light meter at least some of the time.

[MIKI-814]

The Canon Reflex Zoom 8 has all the diaphragm scale written on the lens so you must select manually the desired number, no matters who gives you the number either an external meter or the one in the camera that does not adjust anything itself...

[Patrick]

Okay, I get the impression that they do use a beamsplitter. Regardless, I would still probably get hold of a battery for the camera to do some calibration tests regarding the exposures. I'm guessing the Canon Reflex Zoom 8 takes one of those old discontinued mercury batteries? I know that there are modern substitutes or 'equivalent' batteries that are available nowadays but I also know that some of those will give a wrong light meter reading (maybe half a stop or more which certainly wouldn't be desirable when shooting reversal.) Does anyone know which of the modern replacement batteries gives accurate readings?

[Patrick]

I'm guessing that if the newer battery is listed as being the same voltage as the original mercury version, that should give accurate light readings (assuming of course that the camera's meter has not become faulty with age)?

[MIKI-814]

No no, the different values problem comes when you use a regular 1,5V batt instead of the original 1,35V because they are of different voltage. But correct substitutes can supply the 1,35 volts: you have 2 options, either the "weincell" or the adaptor that adjusts the volts to 1,35 using common 1,5 batteries.

http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/ ... dapter.htm

[Patrick]

No no, the different values problem comes when you use a regular 1,5V batt instead of the original 1,35V because they are of different voltage.

Yea, that's what I just inferred in my previous post.