What ND filter for Canon 814XLS and E100D?

[Mike Brantley]

Hey, folks. I feel like coming back from a hiatus from Super 8, and I expect to shoot a fair amount of film in 2012. I have no experience with E100D, and I anticipate using that stock most with a Canon 814XLS, assuming the camera I just purchased arrives in good working order and that I prefer it to my other S8 cameras.

I'm thinking I might require a neutral density filter at times to expose the E100D in bright sunlight with an XL camera. But what level of density for the ND filter? Maybe I'll end up with more than one filter, but if you were to start with just one, which one?

Meanwhile, I sure hope the "new" camera proves to be a good purchase and not a headache. A few more days, and I will know.

Thanks for any advice.

[MIKI-814]

Great camera, but not necessarily a XL because you can set the sutter either to 220º or 150º

[Andreas Wideroe]

Hi Mike,
Great to see you back. Your old website was a huge inspiration to a lot of us in the early 2000s.

Best,
Andreas

[RogerG]

I started shooting 16mm E100D this year on a Bolex H-16 SB. I expose at ISO 64 to compensate light redirected throught the reflex system and for the 135-deg shutter. (It's either 135 or 145 deg, so definitely not XL). On bright sunny days, my 2-stop ND filter gets a fair amount of use. Sometimes I even close the variable shutter down 1 stop, for a total reduction of 3-stops, which still gives me f11.

It's a good looking film, and the extra speed is definitely a bonus on cloudy days, or when hiking through the woods.

[Mike Brantley]

Thanks, everybody.

I think what I'll do is buy an inexpensive set of three filters with different density values. I can always buy something costlier down the line. Here's what I'm looking at...

http://www.amazon.com/Dolica-CF-NDK62-N ... 627&sr=1-2

With shooting E100D and Tri-X, at some point or another I'm surely gonna want to "tame" the light when outside.

[retrogrouch]

If you are using the camera's meter, and not hand metering, you could consider getting a variable ND ( or if you have two old linear polarizers, you can make your own) I think that they cover about 11 stops. ( you have to be careful about cromatic aberations, but the are fast for "run and gun"

Cheers,

RG

[woods01]

Depending on what your budget is you'll only need a 2 or 3 stop ND filter. My experience is that when you
need an ND filter you tend to need a lot of ND. A one stop ND filter is more useful IMHO if you are in a more
controlled light situation and want to consistently expose at a certain stop. Often professional DPs will
elect to use a faster film stock and pull ND as they lose the light rather than switch stocks in mid-scene.

If you live in a more sun drenched part of the world than I then having a bunch of filters to stack might
be handy.

[Tscan]

With my 814XLS and 100D, I use a 62mm 0.6 (2 stop) ND filter on bright sunny days. It's the kind that has the rotating color shift. I can really bring out the colors with that filter.

[Mike Brantley]

Thanks, guys! That's exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for. Tscan, how do you like your 814XLS? I'm hoping mine will show up next week, but holiday delays could slow it down a bit. I ordered from one of those German outfits that seems to have gotten mixed reviews, so crossing my fingers I won't be disappointed.

Also ordered a 6-AA battery holder from an Amazon seller, so hopefully I can rig up an external battery pack for my Beaulieu 4008. At least I think that can be done, but that's a subject for another thread. Meanwhile, I've got my Canon 814XL Electronic working again after taking care of some tarnished contacts, but I find that without a diopter adjustment I'm having trouble seeing what's in the viewfinder. Seems the eyes have become tarnished as well!

[Tscan]

My 814XLS is my prized S8 camera. I was lucky enough to snag it still new in the box about 6 years ago. It's runs prett quiet compared to most S8 cameras, has a nice built in intervolometer, and is good in low light with the variable 220 shutter. The lens is pretty good too. My B cam in a Nizo 481, but the Canon shoots better images.