Fujica P2 and Astia - where's the sharpness?

[Muckymuck]

I have recently received back a roll of Fuji Astia in the Single 8 format. It was filmed with a Fujica P2 and I was quite surprised by how soft the focus is. It is not very sharp at all. Now I know the P2 has a fixed focus lens, but I was shooting outdoors in very reasonable weather.

Is the reason for this that the camera is designed for the polyester based Fujichrome films and that the reason for the poor focus/sharpness is the acetate based Astia, or is it just a rubbish camera? (or indeed is the camera likely to be faulty?)

Any experiences to confirm/disaffirm any of the above propositions?

[aj]

The camera is a bit poor.
Probably it cost less then Euro 5.
About 1/5 of the filmcosts. Which is a bit odd to run such expensive film through
Much better Fujica cameras can be had at small prices too.

[71er]

I filmed with Fujichrome R25N in a P2 recently and had no problems with sharpness at all. I even filmed inside (on a sunny day) ...

[BK]

It does sound like a back focus problem due to the thickness of the acetate based Astia...check your pressure plate to see if it's holding the film properly against the gate, you could do this with a scrap piece of film.

Yeap, the P2 is not the sharpest compared to the P1 ( images lack sparkle ) but it's great for a take anywhere holiday point and shoot single 8 camera.

[71er]

I forgot to mention the following fact: as already mentioned I exposed a Fujichrome R25N in a P2. The developed film I spliced to a Wittner V50D (Velvia) that was taken in a Super 8 camera. Both films are in focus but when I run them through the projector I have to correct the focus when it changes from Wittner to Fujichrome. Does that also make sense when it comes to the problem of taking two different type of films in the P2?

[alex-rus]

I forgot to mention the following fact: as already mentioned I exposed a Fujichrome R25N in a P2. The developed film I spliced to a Wittner V50D (Velvia) that was taken in a Super 8 camera. Both films are in focus but when I run them through the projector I have to correct the focus when it changes from Wittner to Fujichrome. Does that also make sense when it comes to the problem of taking two different type of films in the P2?

One emulsion is thicker than another. That's absolutely normally.

I had the same problems with sharpness in a old Quarz DS8 camera. This Quarz was good with B&W emulsions but a little unsharp with E100D. I can tell that it is an issue with pressure plate, but unfortunately I don't know construction of the Fujica P2 and never saw it.

Best regards

[BK]

The developed film I spliced to a Wittner V50D (Velvia) that was taken in a Super 8 camera. Both films are in focus but when I run them through the projector I have to correct the focus when it changes from Wittner to Fujichrome.

The projectors that I know of that lets you inter-splice acetate and polyester films together and keeps the focus are the German Noris and the French Heurtier models, which has rear pressure plates rather than the conventional front sprung design.

Wonder if the pressure plate on the ZC1000 is better built than the one on the P2..metal instead of plastic?

[aj]

The sensitive emulsion is ontop of the bearer. It doesn't matter how thick this bearer is. The emulsion will always be pressed against the gate. So no out of focus there.
Unless the pressure plate is not working at all. But then all film will be bad.

[ulrichbusse]

Hi there,

I exposed several Astia cartridges with a P 2 Zoom and the sharpness was good.
But the P2 Zoom has a variable focus.

Regards
Ulli

[71er]

Yes, André! Some logical thinking would have been good to me before writing my previous note.
I scratched the backside of the pressure plate in my P2 and it is definitely metal ... are there differently equipped models out there?

[jpolzfuss]

Hi,

so far I've shot tons of Fujichrome R25(N)/RT200(N) with my P2, and I'm pretty pleased with the sharpness. (Okay, it could be better, but the camera is soooo small and light-weight that I can live with that.)
I've also shot a single cart of Cinevia Velvia 50D with my P2. The film came out as sharp as the Fujichrome. Hence it sounds like the problem is caused by your camera.
(I'm currently testing the Astia, but in my ZC1000 )

Jörg

[BK]

Looking at my P2 I noticed that there is a metal leaf spring on the door of the camera which press against the pressure plate when the door is closed. Perhaps this spring is bent and not doing it's job properly of keeping the film flat against the gate.