WHY LEICINA SPECIAL IS SO... SPEZIAL

Post by **DIEFTHINTIS** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 6:00 pm

I own a Bauer 715 and just ordered a Beaulieu 6008S. I discovered later, in this forum, the existence of Leicina Special, which too many peaple think it is a great camera. Since I was not able to find any information, I would be glad if I could have your feedback in this matter. I also wonder why people prefer Beaulieu 4008 which have this battery problem (I think that even with the external Ni-Cad power supply the camera is not so practical), instead of the 6008, which at least is a newer camera.

YouTube · Post by **wahiba** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 6:46 pm

Because Leica have always had a reputation for quality. Also there are a lot of collectors who will collect anything with Leica on it.

Chances are the Leicina was probably made in one of the universal Japanese Cine Camera factories. Does not mean it is a bad camera, but the name started to get debased through over use.

Yemi · Post by **Yemi** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 6:49 pm

I'm also under the impression that the Leicina Special is an excellent camera. It's just unfortunate that it comes with a Leica mount. It seems that the only feasible super8 lens options are the Schneider 6-66mm zoom and the Schneider 10mm prime. These lenses are some of the best around but what good is a lens mount if you can't find any compatible lenses with 'useful' focal lengths? Has anyone used any other lenses with success?

I doubt if you can adapt the camera to take c-mount lenses which are very popular and easy to get hold of.
That's one of things I love about Beaulieus. The c-mount flange to film-plane distance is very short (17.526mm?). This allows you mount converters that simply screw into the mount (Nikon, Minolta, Canon, etc.)

Leicina Special owners please correct me if I'm wrong.

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Yemi

Post by **crimsonson** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 6:51 pm

Leicina Special has the sharpest lens in S8 IMHO - the Cinegon 10mm. The Optivaron 6-66 is the best of all the Schneider lenses. The camera is built very solid like the Canon 1014 E. It has a ASA setting like the Beaulieus [which you can use as a filter factor adjustment]. It has the ST-1 controller, one of [if the not the most] versatile intravalometer.

The downside:

expensive, no ground glass focusing, hard to find, 24fps near impossible to find [it does exist].

The 4008 has a true ground glass, the 6008 does not . It can be had for much cheaper [less than $500 vs around $700]

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 7:03 pm

as the camera has a leica m bayonet mount, it can also take lenses from the leica m system

Post by **cineandy** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:06 am

Hi OUB, i am pretty sure leica made the camera,as with all their other cams, it was not farmed out to a japanese factory, just looked in my book of movie cameras, this sort of confirms leitz made the camera in house.... camera also has 3 focusing screens... 10mm cinegon as already mentioned, is the sharpest super 8 lens.......certainly knocks spots off my 1014xls for sharpness....only drawback with 10mm lens,its a fully manual lens,
no auto iris on it.......

Yemi · Post by **Yemi** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:09 am

Hmm....I've yet to be convinced regarding the suitability of the Leica M mount. There may be lenses around but how many of them have ideal super8 focal lengths? What other choices do I have if I want to find alternative zoom lenses in the 10-60mm range?

What about an ultrawide prime? 6mm? 4mm?

I dare not ask how much the lenses cost since we're talking Leica.

A c-mount makes more sense for super8.

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Yemi

andy · Post by **andy** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:34 am

you are right Yemi,unless their was a w/a converter for the 6-66 lens, the widest lens is the 6-66....leica m lenses from 35 to 800mm in focal length can only be used....so it looks like your beaulieu wins!!!! the only reason i purchased the camera was the lure for the sharpest super 8 lens....

Yemi · Post by **Yemi** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 1:14 am

Andy,

You should be able to use the Schneider/Nizo UWLIII lens adapter with the 6-66mm Schneider. The Special seems like a beautiful camera so I wouldn't get rid of it in a hurry if I were you.

Right now I'm trying to settle on a camera that is very practical and can be adapted to various situations. I think I'll stick with my Beaulieu 6008s for now. There's nothing in the camera that compromises the optics (no gel filters and no prism). The image is as good as the lens. Right now I'm using the Schneider 6-70mm and the low light performance is stunning at f1.4, like an XL camera but without the motion blur you get from a
220 degree shutter. I've had good results with some of the c-mount lenses developed for video cameras too. There are tons of lenses to choose from.

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Yemi

Post by **jean** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 1:19 pm

leica m mount on the leicina.. interesting, i didn't know that! Just wondering what a f 1.0/50mm noctilux would deliver used in super 8.

Post by **Lucas Lightfeat** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 1:43 pm

Truly sharp close ups with really short depth of field for Super8. Nice!

Yemi · Post by **Yemi** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 4:56 pm

Whats the going rate for a Leica Noctilux 50mm f1.0?
You can pick up an Angenieux 25mm f0.95 c-mount for under $200.

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Yemi

Post by **Stevie** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 11:16 pm

The Leicina Special did have the option of various M mount to SLR mount adapters (Canon, Minolta etc). I have an M42 adapter and Leica R adapter which opens up a whole range of lenses for use, although nothing of really short focal length. I use either of these with Tamron adaptall mounts connected to a 70-210mm lens.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 15, 2003 9:21 am

The Angenieux 25mm f0.95 is a mediocre lens actually, better try finding a Switar 26mm 1.1, itÃ‚Â´s sharper

Merlin

Kurt · Post by **Kurt** » Sat Feb 15, 2003 10:04 am

But isn't the Switar 26mm 1.1 lens only available in an RX version? Would that work on the Leicina?

Also, I just read in my "Filmcameras bible" that the Spezial produces such sharp images because of the design of the film path. The engineers actually made the path a bit narrower than normal (against the advice of Kodak) and this flattens the film more when it passes through the gate - the result being sharper images.

For those of you who use the Spezial, how do you find the low position of the viewfinder?

Kurt