Super 8 Film Projectors

Post by **Termin8Anakin** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:26 am

I finished shooting 2 rolls of 64T Ektachrome and have sent them off for processing (I'm doing it at Nanolab, since it's cheaper compared to DVD Infinity even though I'm sending them to Victoria).
I'm excited about the results, good or bad!

I met a few people recently that have offered me the opportunity to borrow their Super 8 projectors so I can watch my footage, but I obviously don't want to continually borrow projectors (or get it telecined) every time I just wanna see what it looks like, so I'm thinking I should buy my own projector.

Does anyone have any advice on what I should look out for when buying one?
I'm thinking that since I'll be shooting on both 18 and 24fps that I'd need a projector that can change speeds.
How much did you guys buy your projectors for?

Post by **Patrick** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:29 pm

Ive had a few super 8 projectors - most of them I got for below $100. Though the real bargain was an Elmo ST-180 in excellent condition that I payed $25 for at Cash Converters! I actually recommend Elmo brand projectors in general as with most of their models, you can quickly access the gate for cleaning / film removal by swinging the lens aside. With many other projectors made by different manufacturers, accessing the gate is a more fidgety affair.

When checking out a projector, I recommend running a film backwards and fourth through the machine about four times. Watch for scratches when doing this and also check to see if the projector slows down at all.....hopefully, it should run smoothly at a constant rate in both directions. And you might want to bring along a film that you don't care much about to test because some projectors are death traps for films. You can always buy a film cheap off ebay if all your own films are too valuable for testing.

Post by **chachi** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:31 pm

I second the Elmo consideration. I have The K-100SM, K-110SM, and St-600M. Watch out for broken green plastic film thread mechanism on the St-600 type projectors. That one does 18 and 24 frames. The other two are variable speed.

My main consideration for the projectors I use often is size. That is why I love the Elmo K-110, It's my main projector and I LOVES IT! It's cheaper than the K-100 to buy (Though that wasn't the case for me, $14.99 vs $25), and It's nice and small. Also as mentioned before, access to the gate is Why the Elmo's Rock out with their C***S out!

I also really like the Sankyo 1000 and 2000 projectors. They are real workhorses. My pride and joy is my Bauer T600. That projector does both 18 and 24 fps, But You can barely here it running because its so damn quiet! I use it show films whenever anyone is into watching them (not so much anymore) :O(

I must admit That I have allot of projectors, But I use them all, Some are old 8mm and 16mm and are only for show, most of those are impractical to use anyway.. But I can't resist anything that is decent while I'm out and about. Some I'll buy to lube up, replace bulbs, fix belts and re-sell.
My intention is never to horde them all away.
Although, knowing that I will always have a working projector late into my life is a great reason for keeping the Beauties that I do have in their original boxes tucked away with only minimal use to keep things moving inside...

That said, are you interested in Variable speed? or do you just want 18 and 24fps?

Post by **T-Scan** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:20 pm

I have a really nice Sankyo right now, well it loads and runs perfect... but the image is not as bright as it should be. Something is not right.

Post by **Termin8Anakin** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 2:27 am

I'd only be shooting at 18 and 24, but I'd like Variable speed so I can try to do my own telecines.

So judging by opinions so far the best projectors are either Sankyo or Baur?

Post by **James E** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 6:24 am

One word only E L M O. They're very plentiful and run forever. Not only that parts, bulbs, belts, etc. are extreamly easy to find. Easiest to clean, maintain etc. Will run with the most precision. Also if you do need to get one fixed they are the brand most likely to have someone around who knows how to repair it. Second word Eumig. For just about all the same reasons as Elmo. If your going to ever build your own film chain telecine set up, be sure to get one that has varible speed. Much more common of course in the dual gage silent projectors. But for telecine, sound projectors are better as they will run at a much more consistant speed and smoother. I use a Eumig Mark S709 Dual gage sound unit I use for my telcine. Without out a doubt the most versitile projectors for both 8mm gages, sound/silent, speed adjustable is the Eumig 700,800,900 series projectors.
Enjoy your films.
Cheers,

P.S. Sankyo's are POOP. IMO

Post by **Termin8Anakin** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 3:24 pm

What do you guys reckon about

this Eumig Mark 610D

and this Sankyo 700 Super 8 Sound?

They're only $50 and $100 respectively so far (I'm only willing to go up to $100 for a projector), and they both seem to be in incredible condition, apart from the fact that both have not had film run through them for tests.

Post by **gianni1** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 4:32 pm

I wouldn't purchase the first seen at auction. Here in the Shires I can find in the spring and summer, boot sale projectors for under a fiver. All the brands, from plastic toys to nice Eumigs.. in all sorts of conditions. Price usually doesn't reflect quality either. I've seen rubbish ones for Ã‚Â£30 and pristine ones for Ã‚Â£10, so twenty+ is expensive for me...

Gianni 8)

Post by **ronnoco** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 7:38 pm

The Eumig 610D is a superb machine...beautifully built and solid as a rock...only thing is that it's fastest speed is 18fps....though it is variable all the way down to 3fps...

Its a perfect candidate for conversion to a workprinter type telecine system....I followed these instructions and the results I get are excellent..

http://homepage.mac.com/onsuper8/diytel ... ction.html

If you can get it for 50 Australian dollars I would absolutley buy it...cos thats cheap for such a great projector..

Dont know owt about the Sankyo...but it looks good too

Post by **Shanec8mm** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:44 pm

I've had good luck with the older Bell & Howell's. The one's to look for are sprocketless versions, the units are gentle on film, and the chances of having one eat film is rare.

Post by **chachi** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:24 pm

Thats whats cool about the 1000/2000 sankyo machines, if the film stops in transport because of a broken perf, the bulb to gate path is cut off so you don't burn your film. That Sound Sankyo projector will most likely sound like a truck running, I had a 600 tha was soooooooo Loud!....

I have a Eumig 607D that is for telecine, they do make good machines. I also have a Mark8 In amazing condition, but I never use it. It's one of the ones I'm considering selling.

I'm gonna have to make an inventory list sometime.

Post by **Blue Audio Visual** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:43 pm

I used to have one of the Sankyo 700 sound projectors as mentionaed in the ebay ad above. Never ever ever went wrong, never chewed a film, always performed as expected and not too noisy. Not the greatest choice for TK as it only has 2 speeds, 18 or 24fps, not variable, but otherwise I would recommend it wholeheartedly.

I wish I hadn't got rid of it.

Post by **Blue Audio Visual** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:54 pm