buying super 8 cameras!?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 11:36 pm

hi all,

im new to this super 8 game (and to this forum) and wondered if anyone had any tips on where to buy a camera in London?
ive also checked out some on ebay
(a cinarex 218 for example)
but have no idea if thats good or bad or what?
(i just thought the pic looked cool)
any advice would be great!

thanks

b

Post by **bboy** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 11:38 pm

that was my post by the way!
i wasnt logged in at the time
(hence the guest thing)
hope somebody (or lots of people!) has some advice

Post by **booper** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 2:04 am

This isn't London, but it may help. I've used Ebay and bought 2 super 8's, but there seems to be some nervous folks there in regard to international sales.

http://www.reelexchange.co.uk/8and9fivemm.htm

Good luck.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 12:52 pm

Hi, whats your budget??? are you looking for a simple point and shoot camera or something with manual overrides...forget that cinerex.... good makes are canon, bauer, some elmos,beaulieus, nizos..... dont go to known cine dealers, they charge a lot for a camera but at least you get a 3 month guarantee....

Post by **bboy** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 1:50 pm

my budget is cheap and cheerful!
im just getting into this so dont want to spend a fortune on my forst camera and get bored with the format in a few months... so the lowest price i can spend without it being a useless camera!

YouTube · Post by **wahiba** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 2:33 pm

Charity shops used to be a good source, but lately I have not seen any for sale. Fleas markets, boot fairs and table top sales (boot fairs indoors) are usually worth a try.

Do not be put off by real cheapies with a two to one zoom and no controls to override. I have two of these, and was amazed to find they both worked quite well.

A great advantage of super-8 is that if you have a few cameras to check out, the minimal loss of film in changing a cartridge mid way through makes it worth it. Just make sure you know which camera is which.

Camera collectors fairs are the best for decent models, but be prepared to pay. The dealers sometimes know what they are selling. Amateur Photographer is getting into the old camera scene so most of them are advertised there. There are plenty down south.

Some camera dealers also sell them. Jessops, and others, congregate together opposite the British Museum. Most of them adertise in AP. However, they do charge a lot for 'names' such as Leica, Bolex and Nizo and no chance of a bargain Canon there. However, other names can be reasonable and they will have checked it out.

Finally eBay is a good bet. Basic cine cameras are often quite cheap. Some people get carried away and think their Halina is a classic worth 50 quid when 50 p is more like it.

a8 · Post by a8 » Sun Feb 02, 2003 3:10 pm

so how much do you want to spend, you can get say an eumig mini 3 or bolex 233 camera cheap..these are auto exposure only and have a running speed of 18fps.....what part of london are you in....if your lucky you can buy the above cameras for about Ã‚Â£10.00.

a8 AGAIN · Post by **a8 AGAIN** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 3:21 pm

camera fairs are a great source of cheap super 8 cameras, although sometimes like todays camera fair at sidcup there were no decent bargins...there is a camera fair next week in guildford, you need transport to get there as its a couple of miles outside the town...if you require details let me know... you wont get a guarantee on cheap cams from a fair,take a set of LR6 along to test the cams,and dont pay what they ask, i will be attending guildford next week...if you decide to go, get there early.... i have seen main cine dealers attend these fairs and scoop up all the super 8 only to resell them at 5x the price...

Post by **jean** » Sun Feb 02, 2003 4:25 pm

I'd settle for a cheap camera, like a bauer. I got two for 5 euro at a fleamarket, and they'er really simple, fun and solid. But check the batteries, if you're out of luck the pre-owner forgot his cells there 20 years ago whe he last used the camera. That can be solved in most cases, but requires some work to open (and perhaps damage) and clean the mess. Better find one you put batteries in and can film right away! It's probably a good idea to carry 6 fresh cells when you're hunting on markets.

If you're soon feeling limited by the camera, you have only lost a small investment, had a lot of fun and can easily move on to a pro camera. And still have your first one as a backup.

Super8 is a lot of fun!

Post by **tim** » Mon Feb 03, 2003 12:28 am

The reality is that the cheaper the camera is, the more risk you can take. If the cheapie works ok, it will often be useful as a back up when you get something better based on your experience.

One advantage in buying from a dealer is waranty: but that is likely to cost you ten times as much as a cheap, lucky purchase from a charity, garage, car boot or table top sale.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 06, 2003 4:01 pm

In London?

Try Lee's Cameras of Holborn. They're reasonably priced and they often have stuff around the Ã‚Â£50 mark with a guarantee and advice on how to use it.

The Widescreen Centre off Oxford Street is more upmarket and expensive but worth a try.

Ebay now is more a seller's market, anything super 8 and working in the UK will now go for a minimum of Ã‚Â£30 even if it's the crappiest point and shoot....I should know I've sold a few low end S8 and standard 8mm cameras in the last 2 years and the prices are on the way up.

andy8 · Post by **andy8** » Thu Feb 06, 2003 11:07 pm

Hi, lees cameras are no longer on holborn, they now operate from
home, super 8 cameras are expensive from lees but you get a guarantee... heres their site... http://www.leescameras.demon.co.uk
I have been around the new premises, they let you see what your buying even though there trading from home..

jerseyfilm 8 · Post by **jerseyfilm 8** » Sat Feb 08, 2003 5:36 pm

I have dealt with Lees cameras, and found them to be very expensive, as you will see on their website, also widescreen centre are also overpriced, Camden cameras in Camden, sell super 8 cameras, and are good value for money.

Post by **Lucas Lightfeat** » Sat Feb 08, 2003 8:40 pm

Not only are Lee's selling their cameras for 3 times what they go for on ebay, they are rude and unhelpful, IMHO.

I have always liked Blue Audio Visual in Islington back when I didn't mind getting ripped off in London for twice ebay prices. I see that Marriotts in Bradford are now a bit overpriced too, but a good resource, especially if you're into standard 8 etc.: http://www.marriottworld.com/stock/s8cinestock.htm

Nowadays, I use ebay. It's great.

I recommend a Canon 518SV auto zoom for Ã‚Â£70 - great cheap camera.

supa8 · Post by **supa8** » Sun Feb 09, 2003 3:47 pm

hi
i bought equipment from this guy in Ireland (it's called super8ireland.com) recently and i know he also sells stuff to people in England and northen ireland too.

All his cameras are in excellent condition, i have seen them and they are all excellent models too (canon, bauer, nizo, minolta, agfa) although he doesn't have any beaulieu... You can find pictures and descriptions for them on his website http://www.super8ireland.com

As far as prices are concerned, they are pretty low compared to lee's cameras or marriott which I found horribly expensive. When i first saw the price of some cameras, i thought they were in Ã‚Â£ but they're actually in euros.
I got a bauer camera with double exposure, a cool little camera by minolta and a bauer projector from him. they all work very smoothly.