best camera for travel

[paul]

Hi,

I'm preparing a super 8 kit fot traveling some weeks.

I was wondering what models you would advise for that.
I like to have a compact camera, with not too small a viewfinder, 24 fps and manual exposure.

thanks,

Paul

(and sturdy)

[paul]

... and since I'm going to do sound.. a flash socket as well...

Paul

[Karl151k]

Try a Eumig TM8(or TM6 or any of the other various Eumig cams). It has all the requirements and a nice lens, intravolameter, ect. Its about the same size as a Nitzo though so compactness isnt exactly one of its strong points.

[Karl151k]

Heh.. nitzo. I meant Nizo. Sorry. =)

[wahiba]

Consider the Quarz-8 super 8.

Clockwork so you will not be stuck for batteries

Manual aperture setting

Heavy enough to retaliate against muggers with - camera will win

Velcro a mini disc recorder to the side.

If you want real synch sound then get a digital camcorder - not sure of a clockwork model yet, but Trevor Bayliss might be working on it!

[robbie]

canon 310xl
small and slim so it packs lite and great for all situations including low light.

[mIke]

Hey Robbie the guy wants manual aperture + flash socket!

Paul I know you are a Bauer freak - why dont you try their latest C-series? Make sure the 24 fps there not all have it.
Also how about the Nizo 100 series e.g 148, 156...?
Further: Canon 514XLS (flash?) ?

Have a nice Journey!

[paul]

Hi Mike,

Yes I decided on the Bauer C royal, and just almost any 24 fps C Bauer camera. Mine fell recently, so I'm after a new one now, but I'm sure this is the camera I'm gonna take with me. It has everything and is compact. One does have to improvise a bit with the light socket since it does not have a regular socket but something which looks like a din socket but isn't.

What I dislike a bout the small Nizo's is that they have such a very small view finder. You don't see through them. Besides that, Nizo's are quite vulnerable in my opinion. I've had three (148, 236 and 4080) and they all had problems.

I wish these Bauer camera's didn't make so much noise. I will be putting a microphone on top of a flash bracket mounted on the camera. Even if I use a directional mike, the noise still is audible. I have to make a barney or just accept the noise and edit it out later.

Thanks for all the input

[Paul L.]

The Canon 310xl is an 18fps camera. Anything out there similar in size that does 24fps and manual/automatic exposure?

I have a nice Bell and Howell 1230 or something like that (it may be the camera with the longest lens by B&H... 58mm?). I bought it at a thrift store, so it makes a nice travel camera, but it is a little heavier than I'd like to carry around. As much as I love my Elmo 1012xls, the case I carry it in makes it too large, and my Beaulieu 4008 is a bit heavy (and I fear having it get banged around). Next time I fly, maybe I'll take that B&H...

[David M. Leugers]

Just a vote for the Sankyo line of S-8mm cameras as a traveling camera. The XL-620 Supertronic has the flash sync, does 24fps filming, has a 7.5 to 45mm macro lens, is a true "low light" camera, manual and auto exposure, easily does lap disolves and fades, one of the easiest to use time lapse cameras around, light weight and durable. Best yet they can be had pretty cheaply compared to other quality cameras on eBay. Other models by Sankyo will fit the bill quite nicely also. One note: they are not the quietest cameras around, but not among the loudest either.

[paul]

hey david, how did you like the Sankyo's image/lens???

[David M. Leugers]

Paul

The images produced by all the Sankyo cameras I have owned are top notch. I did some testing on my own and found I liked the images produced by the XL-620 (and 420) Supertronic better than my Canon 514XLS. The 420 does not have time lapse and a more limited zoom range than the 620. My real pride and joy for the Sankyo line is the Super CME 1100 Hi-Focus camera. If you can find one of these in working order, buy it. It has a 6.5 to 65.5mm f1.8 macro zoom lens, has 18,24,36 fps film settings and a button to shoot 54 fps! Flash sync, auto and manual exposure, etc, but the most unusual feature is its focusing capability. By pressing a button on the front of the camera a split image focusing feature comes into play. The image in the viewfinder is greatly magnified and you turn the focus ring to eliminate the double image and the lens is perfectly focused. Hard to describe but it is without a doubt the easiest and most accurately focused S-8mm camera I have ever used. The lens combined with Kodachrome filmed outdoors produces incredible images. Hey, I'm not saying the Sankyo line are the best cameras ever made, but for performance vs price, I think they are among the best buys out there.

[David M. Leugers]

Paul

I forgot to add that every Sankyo camera I've had does not use a separate battery for the auto exposure, which is great IMHO. 8)