New Danish Super 8 camera to debut in 2014

[S8 Booster]

now, lets try google shitty translate:

Hello from Norway .

Finally something new on Super 8mm front. This I have waited a long time - a S8mm camera built with today's new opportunities.
I bought my first camera S8mm in 1968 , and still use S8mm . As I have a large number of cameras, and the ones I use everyday , Beaulieu 4008 and 6008 (with crystal -sync ) and a FUJICA ZC -1000 . All are in excellent condition and all have interchangeable lenses with C - mount . FUJICA ZC -1000 also has the built-in precision pressure plate in the film gate. However, there is one thing I miss on these cameras , and there is the possibility of additional 60 - meter reservoir . 15- meter tape is often insufficient . Now, neither will your camera some 60 meters magazine, but I hope it may be possible to achieve this before the camera goes into production . I do not know the camera's specifications, but I have some requests .
First, it is said that opportunities for a 60 -meter reservoir . There should be no problem to get to it . Furthermore , I would like an "old -fashioned" optical viewfinder . A small monitor can in some cases be OK , but outside in the sunlight , they are completely useless . Both Beaulieu cameras and FUJICA ZC -1000 has excellent applicants with 100 % of light to both the applicant and film, and I hope it is possible to achieve this also on their camera. The applicant should have accurate labeling of what is recorded on film, but show a little extra on all sides so you have options to see eg . a microphone before going to the movie. Have the possibility of a video output is great , as this can provide wireless transmission for example . a HUGE video monitor . That's fine with built in light meter , but it should be the same as the FUJICA ZC -1000 camera where there is an " arrow" in which the applicant must be horizontal at the correct exposure. The light sensor is not connected to an automatic iris system , so you set manually the aperture of the lens . Moreover , the camera must have manual setting of the film's sensitivity to light ( ASA / DIN) , which at Beaulieu cameras , which of course must be connected to the light meter . Noise level must also be set manually , and the possibility of monitoring via headset . Single Images should certainly be possible . 24/25 frames per second . sec. , + a number of possibilities (eg . 12/06/18 frames per . secs ) and also for example . 30/50/100/120 images per . sek. for slow motion . The more options, the better. C - mount lens mount , 16:9 port , digital audio is excellent (with XLR and phantom feeding off mic ) . An underwater housing , which can also be used as a blimp where necessary , would the camera perfectly. ( Must also take 60 meters magazine ) . This was perhaps many would like , but as Super 8mm film will be available for many years , their camera the only new camera available. The more opportunities it can provide , the more buyers. So what I want is quite short :

1 : Opportunities for a 60 -meter reservoir in addition to 15 - feet container.
2: A good optical viewfinder .
3: Manually setting the film sensitivity ( ASA).
4: Manually setting the sound level and XLR mic input with PHANTOM .
5 : Manually setting the aperture of the lens (but with built-in light meter and indicator in the viewfinder )
6: Large number of recording speeds from single images , fast motion (6/ 12 / etc. bps ) 24/25bps plus slow -motion as stated .
7: Underwater , which can also be used as a blimp , should it be necessary. To get the sound from the camera on the soundtrack is not very good.
8: The camera must also have a counter which counts individual images. This is very important in animation .

I am aware that this will increase the price of the camera but is willing to pay this when the camera application will be significantly larger . Super 8mm is today a professional market , and a new camera should complete the requirements for this. Some of the suggestions can certainly be easily incorporated as standard. Other things (such as . 60 -meter reservoir ) may be optional , but the camera body has to be designed with this in mind.

I hope you can consider this and give me a feedback after each e - mail address : kjell@bedefilmen.no . Also take a look at http://www.bedefilmen.no which is a project I'm currently working on.

If my wishes can be met , wholly or partially , I buy guaranteed at least one camera , probably 2
kjellpell
 
Posts : 71
Joined: Fri May 17 , 2002 3:42 pm
Location : Norway / Philippines

shoot....

[kjellpell]

Hello from Norway

Finally something new on Super 8mm. This I have been waiting for so long – a professional Super 8mm cam built with today’s technology.

I bought my first Super 8mm camera in 1968, but changed to Single 8mm in 1972, first the Fujica Z-800, and then the Fujica ZC-1000 with interchangeable C-mount lenses. As of today, I have acquired several top of the line cameras, like the Beaulieu 4008 ZM II (actually the Jubileè model in black), 2 6008, one is the 6008S, the other 6008-PRO with crystal sync module (and of course crystal-sync recorders) and my favorite; the Fujica-ZC-1000. With that I can shoot backwards by running the film to the end with shutter closed/lens-cap on, and start shooting from the end of the cassette (which then will be the first shot, but backwards when projected) to the beginning – even in slow-motion at 72 fps. All the Fujica cameras, even the simplest ones, have a built in, high precision, steel pressure plate at the gate. In between themselves these cameras can do just about everything, even shooting in widescreen. That is accomplished by using A-lenses with a compression ratio of 1 : 1,5, which gives a nice 18 : 9 screen format.

All these cameras serves me well, and are in excellent condition, but the one important feature they all lack, is 60m (200 ft.) magazine. At one time there was for sale very nice 60m magazine for the Beaulieu 6008, 7008 and 9008 cameras. (Beaulieu also had a model 8008, early 80’s I think it was, but that was a “professional” Video-8, or maybe it was Hi-8, videocamera.)
Unfortunately these magazines was not produced in any quantities, so they are very rare. They were really ahead of their time, and I think if they had been available today, they would have sold in higher numbers than they did then.

Anyway, a 60m magazine (120m is way too big), gives 10 minutes of continues running time at 24 fps. and having this is worth it’s money. Unfortunately the Logmar camera has not been designed for this, but with it’s film-path design it should not be too difficult to include this important feature in what probably will be the only available professional Super 8mm camera. It would be too disappointing if this completely new camera, which already is so well designed, should lack this important feature.
I really hope the designers take notice of this. As far as I can understand there should be no big problem. The film-path is perfect for a 60m external magazine, the motors can pull the load, so the only thing to be done, is re-design the top of the camera to attach the magazine. The magazine would however, probably need it’s own motor for the take-up reel. It would cost a little extra to re-design the top of the camera to allow for a magazine, but this magazine could be sold as extra, and then the price of the basic camera would not increase too much.

This 60m magazine is on top of my “features to be added” list, but I also have a few more features I would like to see on this camera to make it a real professional camera.

Next feature is the view-finder. The small monitor on the side of the camera is basically useless for anything else then camera/feature/setting applications. Shooting outside, in bright sunlight, the monitor on the side of the camera is of no use. This camera should have an “old fashioned” optical view-finder, with the necessary information about exposure, vu-meters (or LED) for sound monitoring etc “built in”. Both the Beaulieu-cameras and the Fujica ZC-1000 camera use a return mirror single-lens reflex viewfinder, and the same system is, as far as I understand, already in the Logmar camera. This system gives 100% light to the viewfinder AND to the film. By using the same system, the light-metering system will also get necessary “information” thru this system.

Manual setting of the aperture by turning the aperture-ring on the lens MUST be possible.

The same goes for setting of the film-speed (ASA). It is a MUST that this can be done manually, like on the Beaulieu-cameras.

Basically all features should be MANUAL. Automatic might be OK for some, but NOT on the account of manual settings

Another important thing on a professional camera, is that the view-finder allows you to see MORE than is recorded on the film. When using microphones on a pole, you must be able to see the microphone in the viewfinder before it is recorded on the film. Framing showing the 16:9 recorded area, with space on all sides to allow the cameraman to see what goes on right outside the recorded fram is necessary.

If optical viewfinder is not possible, then the camera MUST have a high resolution electronic view-finder like on professional video cameras. I know professional 16/35mm filmcameras for a long time now have had “video-taps”, and the Logmar camera already has one. That is perfect. Then the “video-people” can mount a small monitor on top of the camera thru the “video-tap”-connection, and this can then also be used if one, under controlled shooting, wants to connect a bigger (BIG) monitor for viewing, that can easily be done also wireless. This option gives the “best of both worlds”. And that should not cost much extra, as the design probably already have the components needed for an electronic viewfinder. The small monitor on the side of the camera is a real “turn-off” for me.

Sound recording level MUST also have manual adjustment. Monitoring thru headset connected to the camera must also be possible, with adjustable level.

Another feature that really is needed on a camera like this, is STEREO recording, and 2 XLR mic inputs with phantom-feeding of the mics.

Another very important feature on a camera like this, is that it has SINGLE FRAME SHOOTING, in addition to many other recording speeds, including 24/25 fps. For reasonably good slow-motion (when working with models), the higher the speed, the better, and the minimum for the highest speed should be 100 + frames pr. second. The Beaulieu 4008 can shoot with variable speed from 4 to 80 fps, and this can be done with no flickering in the exposure. The ZC-1000 has a maximum slow-motion of 72fps, which is too little really.

With all the good features the camera already have, like high precision film gate with pressure plate, the filmpath, C-mount for the lenses, 16:9 gate, digital sound, video-tap etc., this camera has the potential of becoming the best S8mm camera EVER BUILT, and I hope the manufacturer will take into consideration these suggestions of additional features.

As for me, (and probably many others) also doing underwater filming, an underwater housing would be excellent. This housing would also need to take the 60m magazine. This underwater housing, would also serve well as blimp in critical sound-recording situations.

So, in short, what I would like to see is:

1: Option for 60m (200ft.) magazine.
2: A good, optical viewer. If not possible, a good, high resolution,electronic viewfinder(B/W, or color)
3: Manual settings of film-speed (ASA, DIN)
4: Manual settings of sound-recording level.
5: Manual settings of aperture by using the aperture-ring on the lens, connected to the light-metering system.
6: Wide range of shooting-speeds – frames pr. second. MUST HAVE single frame for animation.
7: Film Frame Counter, counting single frames. Important for animation.
8: Underwater housing taking 60m magazine, and can also serve as blimp for good sound recording.

I am fully aware of that this will increase the price of the camera, but I am willing to pay for that, as this will increase the range of use for the camera much more than the increase in price.

Some of these suggestions might be Add On Accessories, but some of them must be on the basic camera.

Well, one can always dream, and it is important to remember that this is probably the ONLY new camera that will be available. It is aimed at the professionals, because that is where the S8mm market is today. It would therefore be sad to see this final opportunity for a perfect camera go down the drain just to save a few bucks. So film-makers out there; what do you say? Are you willing to pay a little extra today to get the best camera ever, that will last as long as S8mm film is with us?

And the best of all, a MOVIE-CAMERA or FILM-CAMERA IS FUTURE-PROOF. Unlike the “perfect” video equipment, that needs to be replaced every time there is some advance in picture-quality, WE CAN STICK WITH OUR FILM-CAMERAS FAR INTO THE FUTURE, AS ALL IMPROVEMENTS IN PICTURE-QUALITY IS IN THE RECORDING MEDIUM – THE RAW-STOCK – THE FILM. AND THAT IMPROVEMENT WE – THE GOOD, "OLD FASHIONED", FILM LOVERS – GET FOR FREE. :lol:

The video-guy buy state of the art equipment today, costing a fortune, and 6 months from now, he needs to replace all of it to stay on top. Sure, film stock is more expensive to buy, but our cameras will outlast most of us using film today.

Make the Logmar camera the best ever, and it will sell like “hakka møkk”. (Norwegian expression and translate into something like “chopped shit”.
And that means it sells in huge quantities.

And Danish manufacturers, if you read this, having your response on this forum would be great. There are many exited people out here, and with some modifications I would probably by 2 cameras.

Kjell Roar, Norway