Just got my processed single8 films back

[Yemi]

Hi.

I finally received my processed single8 test footage! I'd Like to thank Kent Bulza for providing the film and processing service. I shot Fujichrome R25N and RT200N using a Fujica Z600 (thanks to Paul Cotto) and a Fujica Z800 (thanks to Fastwind).

The film was held up in the mail for some time so I was pretty antsy when it showed up at my doorstep. The Fuji processing people do a nice job of splicing the leader and spooling the film. It's well packaged.
I wasted no time in projecting the film. I'm glad I conducted the tests using 2 cameras becauses there was a significant difference in image quality. The Z600 did an OK job but the Z800 really shone. Images seemed brighter and sharper with this camera and I recall reading some blurb about the coating on the Z800's lens....

The R25N is a great slow daylight stock. I think it will transfer to video really well. The colors appear 'cooler', less saturated but perhaps more evenly balanced without the dominant reds I associate with kodachrome. Resolution is very sharp. RT200N does a great job as far as color reversal stocks go. Definetly prefer it over VNF 7240. The colors are pretty accurate and the grain is reasonable. Then there's the single8 film transport system: The film is stable from start to finish! No 'focus breathing' during the initial/final few feet of film which always pisses me off when shooting super8 carts (even with the Framemaster pressure plate).

To conclude, I think I will shoot R25N single8 in the future but I suspect I'd probably choose one of the new Vision2 super8 stocks over RT200N.
I have no intention of dropping kodachrome but I like the option of shooting R25N which appears to be better suited to video and may intercut better with negative footage.

The next step is to get the footage transferred to miniDV and I'll probably go through http://www.thetransferstation.com who do some great Rank transfers at reasonable cost.

------
Yemi

[Patrick]

How does the exposure latitude of Fuji's R25 compare with Kodachrome 40? Better or about the same?

[escubria]

If you ever get the chance to buy a ZC1000 at a good price, buy it, it's shutter system is the same guillotine type as the Beaulieu cameras, 100% of the light coming in reaches the film (and viewfinder) unlike all other 8mm cameras, creating incredibly clear and sharp images.

It also has the biggest and brightest viewfinder I've ever seen on an 8mm camera and has the best constructed single 8 cartridge chamber with pressure plate etc... so your film sits in solidly with no weave or focus breathing at all.

It has a c-mount, which I have taken advantage of, to use an Angenieux 1,2 6-80 zoom lens and Angenieux primes to get some of the sharpest images I can.

I only wish that single 8 use was moe widespread so that Fuji might take more advantage of; I think people would shoot more if they had the confidence that the single 8 system gives you to shoot without any worry of bad transport etc... It really would be a serious alternative to 16mm film-making.

I know that reto enterprises in Japan are selling Black & White reversal film in single 8 carts (200 ISO) which they themselves produce, I think from German ORWO stock; must give it a try.

[Yemi]

How does the exposure latitude of Fuji's R25 compare with Kodachrome 40? Better or about the same?

Tough to say. There's not much a difference latitude wise between the two stocks. I think R25 still requires the same careful exposure metering as Kodachrome.

If you ever get the chance to buy a ZC1000 at a good price, buy it, it's shutter system is the same guillotine type as the Beaulieu cameras, 100% of the light coming in reaches the film (and viewfinder) unlike all other 8mm cameras, creating incredibly clear and sharp images.

I could be interested in a ZC1000 if the price is right. If anyone out there has one to sell, email me.

-----
Yemi

[paulcotto]

They show up one or two times a month on eBay Germany. You should always email the seller to see if he is willing to ship to the USA. Most will if you ask first. One thing I like about single8 is the transparent polyester base. You must use tape splices, but Fuji makes a great thin tape that doesn’t cause a jump when run through the film projector gate. Then there is the 100% backwind capability and full manual control of every aspect of the camera operation. Makes you wonder how they lost the format war? I really like the softer look on the R25N film VS K-40.
Regards,

Paul Cotto

How does the exposure latitude of Fuji's R25 compare with Kodachrome 40? Better or about the same?

Tough to say. There's not much a difference latitude wise between the two stocks. I think R25 still requires the same careful exposure metering as Kodachrome.

If you ever get the chance to buy a ZC1000 at a good price, buy it, it's shutter system is the same guillotine type as the Beaulieu cameras, 100% of the light coming in reaches the film (and viewfinder) unlike all other 8mm cameras, creating incredibly clear and sharp images.

I could be interested in a ZC1000 if the price is right. If anyone out there has one to sell, email me.

-----
Yemi

[escubria]

ZC1000's usually go for around €200-€300 on ebay or you can buy a new, unused one (from old stock) from Retro in Japan but I think they are a too expensive: around €2000, especially if you can pick up a good one on ebay; I've seen some mint condition Fujicas come up often.

I bought mine for €200 and it was never used and came with the two Fujinon single 8 lenses: 7.5-75 zoom and the fabulous 5.5 wide angle prime, which is sharp and fast. It came with a sync pulse unit too which is essential if you want to get the ZC1000 crystal synced by "the Film Group".

The R25 film has about the same latitude as K40 but I think it is brighter,better colour balanced and more pleasing to the eye than K40.

The R200 is very sensitve yet has more grain, but better than Ektachrome or VNF. If you are shooting R200 in daylight you need an 80A filter but the great thing about R25 is that you don't need a filter in daylight. Fuji definitely had more common sense with their choice of ISO and emulsion balance for reversal stocks than Kodak

[Patrick]

R25 has roughly the same exposure latitude as K40? So in other words, it is poor at handling contrast and highlights burn out?

I assumed that the fact that you could only use tape slices with Single 8 was a disadvantage. I heard that eventually, tape splices stretch over time.

[escubria]

Yes, R25 is high contrast like K40, it's a slow speed reversal/slide film so this is part of the look, very rich colours, but in my opinion it is a brighter more modern looking stock than K40 and not as "retro". It definitely does not have the home movie look. You could use a polarising filter to handle contrast or avoid high contrast lighting, if you can.

My family has had reels of single 8 films since the late 70's (single 8 was as big as super 8 in Europe then) and the tape splices are still fine, so I don't know about the strecthing of splices and even if they did stretch I can just replace them with new ones. I have never liked cementing my super 8 film as it can be messy, tricky and can break, eventually.
Single 8 tape splicing is so easy it can be done in a few seconds or removed if you want to change your edit.

[paulcotto]

The Fuji splices are made of mylar which does not stretch. Mylar will break if you exceed its tensile strength but it will not stretch.

Regards,
Paul Cotto

[Daniel]

Hello Yemi,

Great to hear something about those single8 stocks.

From your point of view, how does the Fujichrome R25N compare with Velvia emultion ?
Regards,

Daniel

[kentbulza]

Dont' forget that polyester film can also be spliced with an ultrasonic splicer. Of course the splicer will set you back some. See http://www.metricsplicer.com/pricing.html.

[BK]

Makes you wonder how they lost the format war?

Unpredictable processing quality when it was available in Europe, ( had a few films ruined by them, one was lost completely in a German lab ) lack of advertising by Fuji, don't think they care, they were making enough back home in Japan, film wasn't widely available, you couldn't buy it in the high street. Whats the use of a superior system without any support.

Bill

[synthnut]

How does Fuji's film stand up to long term storage, colour fade etc???
Also, has anyone needed to adjust their projectors gate at all to allow for the thinner base as one of my cheesier Eumigs tended to let it slop about a bit.
Whilst on the subject of polyester and Metric's groovey Ultrasonic Splicer (which we weren't really I know) I have a model 3001 available if anyones interested. Only got 35mm plates at the moment, but they will do 8mm or 16mm ones at reasonable cost, just 125 dollars infact for the 8mm. contact me off list with offers if anyone fancies the worlds most extravagant splicer!!!

Keep shooting the "reel" stuff!

Ben

[Santo]

They show up one or two times a month on eBay Germany. You should always email the seller to see if he is willing to ship to the USA. Most will if you ask first.

Speak of the devil, and here's one now:

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... gory=12899

Comes with some interesting lenses and even the sharpest lens or all time in the format (based on overwhelming testimony by any who have shot with it and compared, apparently) the Schneider/Leica Cinegon 10mm prime! This, added to the fully believable stability of the image Yemi and others describe, makes it really desirable for me -- except for the extremely limited black and white options, the inability to simply hop on the subway and go pick up some film or even a simple local phone call for stock from Kodak direct in days, and cheap local lab development, and far lower super 8 reversal costs, and the amazing potential with the new Vision2 negatives, and no big time delays (although with my recent K 40 experience it couldn't be any worse)...and...and...

I have a question, maybe this listing answers it already, but is there any problem in simply screwing in the c-mount lens of choice that fits the occasion on a ZC 1000 and filming? Or does one have to worry about camera body adjustments like you do with a Beaulieu. Which is the only real reason I have avoided buying a Beaulieu -- it seems pointless having an interchangeable lens if one can't simply put on another lens and shoot away like I can with a 35 slr.

Can anybody answer this question who has actually used this camera and knows for sure?

[Yemi]

Hi Santo.

Thanks for spotting that one. I may place a bid for it once I've determined that the seller is willing to ship to the US.

Regarding c-mount lenses, lens collimation/adjustment is not exclusive to Beaulieu...it's one of the downsides to interchangeable screw mount lenses. I'm also pretty certain that the ZC1000 has a guillotine type shutter too. A true c-mount has a lens flange to focal plane distance of 17.'something' millimetres and this does not leave much space to install a reflex mirror. K3's , Arris and other cameras that have spinning mirror shutters use other lens mount standards that allow more space.

A novel alternative the the guillotine is the oscillating type shutter in an Eclair ACL. It has a c-mount and they use a oscillating mirror that has a kind of pendulum like motion.

There are things I love/hate about Beaulieu's but I still think that the c-mount was the best choice of lens mount (other than a fixed lens). A PL mount or bayonent type mount would be more robust but existing normal/wide angle lens options would be severely limited.

-----
Yemi