Another Newbie in 8mm Filming

[masteroku]

Hi, my name is Daniel. I live in Houston Texas, USA. A few months ago, I got a Dejur Citation 8mm Film camera(http://www.agassiztrading.com/cameras-f ... tation.htm). I love this camera and I bought and used two regular double 8mm film on it. The 1st film had over 80% over-light exposure. The 2nd and a mixed of too much light and too dark but it fared better than my 1st. My Citation camera has only one lens setting and that is the f setting. I followed the instructions the diagram(its on the cover left hand side of camera) when I film. I used the "f8"(bright sun, color) or f5.6(hazy sun, color).

My question is, how do I avoid over-exposures? and can it be my camera that is at fault? Any advice would help a lot because I want to keep at this hobby.

Here is the 2nd films results. A lot of light and dark exposure. Some I tried to film inside my house(is it possible to film inside and come out good?). the very last part of that film, my sister was shooting(and as you can see, she didn't know how to operate well :lol: ). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUTEkW9-HWI

Here is an ebay auction that has a good detail pictures of my camera:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DeJUR-CITATION- ... 5128wt_754

Many Many Thanks and I hope I learn a lot from the experts.

[Will2]

Congrats on the new/old camera. Regular 8mm rocks.

A couple things to remember. Those reference dials were designed with really slow film stocks in mind, 25asa was really fast back then. You're probably shooting Ektachrome 100D and need to adjust your settings accordingly.

See if you can pick up an old cine light meter on eBay that is still working (make sure it says it is). Then you set the asa to 100 and the speed to 16 or 18 frame per second and you should get a ballpark idea of where to set the aperture.

Keep an eye out for my favorite easy to use regular 8 camera, the Canon Cine Canonet. They were made back in the mid-60s and can be found with working auto meters (if you replace the battery) and are very easy to use. Should be able to find one for less than $30 and they will be more like a Super 8 camera for ease of use.

[masteroku]

Alright, I will check them out. I had found two, will these items be the one you were talking about: CML1
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-WESTON- ... _500wt_949

or this one:CML2
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Leudi-I ... _500wt_949

And that Canon Cine Canonet looks pretty cool. I will probably be buying it soon.

And many thanks Will2.

[Charlie Blackfield]

I've got an old Weston ciné light meter myself that still works a treat. So yes, one of the ones you've been looking at would be suitable. Just one word of warning: Weston light meters measure film speed in 'Weston speed', similar to ASA, but not quite the same. If you use ASA 100 film, you will need to set your Weston light meter at 80 Weston speed. For ASA 50 film, it would be 40 Weston speed, etc.

Charlie

[Will2]

And that Canon Cine Canonet looks pretty cool. I will probably be buying it soon.

You probably have a Batteries Plus near you somewhere, so you can get a replacement battery for the built-in light meter there. I think it is an LR50. Radio Shack might have them too.

Don't be discouraged if the first one you get doesn't work, I've bought about 12 through eBay and maybe 2 of them didn't work; either the light meter or the primary motor. But keep that one for parts and just try again.

Get your film from John Schwind (International Film) and process/transfer with Dwayne's photo in Kansas for your least expensive route.

Have fun!

[masteroku]

Okay, I'll note that about the Weston cine light meter. Its looks pretty cool, and I like the fact that I can hang it around my neck which will real handy when traveling. Thanks Charlie

Yeah I have a few Canon Cine Canonet cameras on my watch list already, one is at $12(bid) so I am hoping to get that one. It will be great to have a cine light meter built in to my camera. I also didn't know there was another inexpensive film store that compares to Dwayne's Photo. I get mines from Dwayne's but looks like International will be an alternative choice, they even have Black and White which would be great to try. Cool, thanks.

So, what did you all think of that youtube video? The 1st half was done around 12pm-1pm. It was very sunny. The second was done after 5pm, around the time the sun was setting.