Suggestions for a Decent, Readily Available S8 Projector?

Post by **super8film** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:49 pm

Hi all.

Just curious if anyone might be able to recommend a decent quality, relatively inexpensive variety of S8 projector that's relatively inexpensive and readily available on eBay. I currently have an older B&H projector, but I've started having problems with the film transport, and the picture occasionally goes blurry in a portion of the frame, so it might be time to look for a new projector...or at least a projector that's new to me :) With so many brands and models out there for resale, I just thought I'd see if I could get some recommendations for a decent, relatively inexpensive projector. I don't need anything terribly fancy, nor do I need S8 sound playback capabilities, although I would like to have 24 FPS projection capability, and perhaps even a variable shutter speed adjustment would be nice (for when I transfer to video), but it's not really a necessity. That said, any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Post by **T-Scan** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:25 am

Anything that works and doesn't eat your film. Look for listings where they show a pic of the projector screening an image. They are common, and worked well for me. Expect to pay more for a guaranteed work horse. If the shipping is more that the unit, expect a parts bucket. I paid $200 for a new condition Sankyo Sound, it loads and purs like brand new.

Post by **super8man** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:52 am

Early ELMO units may fit the bill. Set up an email alert in ebay for ELMO PROJECTOR and you should be good.

Post by **pbrstreetgang** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:19 pm

Just curious if anyone might be able to recommend a decent quality, relatively inexpensive variety of S8 projector that's relatively inexpensive and readily available on eBay.

well, relatively speaking, anything by Bauer (T502 and above) or Elmo (ST1200) rock.

regards,

a...

Post by **sciolist** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 2:18 pm

The Bolex 18 5L Super projectors are simple, robust, and sometimes inexpensive. Here's one on offer at eBay.com now: http://cgi.ebay.com/BOLEX-SUPER-8MM-PRO ... dZViewItem

Post by **Blue Audio Visual** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 2:30 pm

As far as I can remember, the 18-5 is an 18FPS projector only. But they do look really good, which is a good enough reason for me to consider buying one.

Over here in the UK most of the Prinz Magnon projectors that I have come across are pretty reliable, but I think they must have been marketed under a different name in The States.

The Sankyo Dualux range is generally pretty reliable.

Post by **sciolist** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:34 pm

Blue Audio Visual wrote:As far as I can remember, the 18-5 is an 18FPS projector only.

Oops, you're correct. The 18 5L Super runs at 18f/s and 5f/s only.

Post by **Blue Audio Visual** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:51 pm

My only other thoughts are.....

NEVER buy an Italian made Super 8 projector. They are almost always truly awful. I can't remember any brand names, I have obviously tried to excise them from my failing memory.

Apologies to any Italian forum member out there who might take umbrage at my sweeping statement above!

Post by **ultramarine** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:38 pm

NEVER buy an Italian made Super 8 projector. They are almost always truly awful. I can't remember any brand names, I have obviously tried to excise them from my failing memory.

xmm...Fumeo maybe? they have the reputation to be the best projectors ever made...(and most expensive of course)

I wouldn't recommend the Bolex for one more reason (which seems that everybody overlooks, I really can't understand it) :
the lamp is very very rare and very very expensive! IF you find it, you must pay more than you paid for the projector itself. So my advice: keep away from the Bolex. Get a Bauer or a Braun visacustic and you won't regret it.

Post by **sciolist** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:31 am

ultramarine wrote:
NEVER buy an Italian made Super 8 projector. They are almost always truly awful. I can't remember any brand names, I have obviously tried to excise them from my failing memory.
xmm...Fumeo maybe? they have the reputation to be the best projectors ever made...(and most expensive of course)

I wouldn't recommend the Bolex for one more reason (which seems that everybody overlooks, I really can't understand it) :
the lamp is very very rare and very very expensive! IF you find it, you must pay more than you paid for the projector itself. So my advice: keep away from the Bolex. Get a Bauer or a Braun visacustic and you won't regret it.

The lamp is admittedly a real weakness of the Bolex 18-5L Super, although the example I own is late series and equipped with a 75W EFN Halogen lamp. Conversion kits are available for earlier projectors, but, like the incandescent lamp originally specified, they're expensive (Chambless Cine Equipment offers a modification for $75.00, but you've got to ship the projector to them). Interestingly, the Bolex SM8 sound projector was manufactured by Silma, an Italian company. The example I own is of mostly metal construction, has served me well, and it runs at 18f/s and 24f/s.

The Fumeo 9145 Xenon Super 8 projector is on my wish list, but I expect the people who own them know what they've got and aren't going to part with these machines.

Post by **David M. Leugers** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:51 pm

I lust for a Fumeo S-8mm projector, they are out of my price range unfortunately.
I have owned three Bolex SM8 projectors over the years, all failed, had issues and needed repairs. I gave up on them. Too bad, I love the design and when they worked they were excellent.

David M. Leugers

Post by **Blue Audio Visual** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:43 pm

ultramarine wrote: I wouldn't recommend the Bolex for one more reason (which seems that everybody overlooks, I really can't understand it) :
the lamp is very very rare and very very expensive! IF you find it, you must pay more than you paid for the projector itself.

This may only be my failing memory, but AFAIK some of the later 18/5s projectors were manufactured using a more commonly available lamp, possibly the A1/17 (CXR). Anyone out there who can confirm or deny this?

Post by **The Swede** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:00 pm

ELMO K-100 a perfect projector

Post by **gianni1** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:10 am

Apologies to any Italian forum member out there who might take umbrage at my sweeping statement

Ha! I've got two Italian projectors. One looks to be a Mupi but it's a noname brand, cost me two pounds sterling, boxed, clean and with a new 10w lamp and fresh belts. As long as it don't scratch, eat, chew and spit out film... The other one is totally plastic, with a low wattage bulb, weighs like a feather (pillow), and fits in a kids back pack, and cost five Pounds Sterling. I've also got a tiny Hong Kong 8mm wind up model, that only takes 8mm cost me fifty pence!

I plan to use the cheap toy projectors for Saturday youth club entertainment, old cartoons, swashbucklers, etc... and make the kids themselves set up everything. I use a better projector like 50 or 100w Eumig's, Elmo's, GAF's, or Sankyo's for projecting my work films.

Gianni 8)

Post by **sciolist** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:33 pm

Blue Audio Visual wrote:
ultramarine wrote: I wouldn't recommend the Bolex for one more reason (which seems that everybody overlooks, I really can't understand it) :
the lamp is very very rare and very very expensive! IF you find it, you must pay more than you paid for the projector itself.
This may only be my failing memory, but AFAIK some of the later 18/5s projectors were manufactured using a more commonly available lamp, possibly the A1/17 (CXR). Anyone out there who can confirm or deny this?

The instruction manual accompanying my 18-5L Super shows both a 12V/75W incandescent lamp and a 12V/75W halogen lamp, but the halogen lamp is shown in the adapter that is now seemingly rare and expensive. Nowhere in the manual is the halogen lamp code given, but BolexCollector.com indicates "earlier models used the 13730C04 RT44 bulb which is now obsolete with no modern equivalent. Modern replacement for later models: EFN 12V/75W Halogen lamp."