Super 8 Sound Inc. - Desktop Video Group

Super8 Sound Sync Cameras
Choosing a Super 8 camera from among the many fine
double-system sound, single-system sound, and Double Super
8 cameras on the market is a difficult task. You are faced by
an array of features that includes zoom ratios up to 13.3 to
1, lenses as fast as f/1.2 for filming in available light, interchangeable
lens mounts, running speeds from time-lapse
intervalometry to 80 frames per second, crystal camera controls,
through-the-lens automatic exposure control with
manual override and manual offset by one or two stops from
the automatic setting, single-lens reflex viewing, macrocinematography
down to the lens front element, and incamera
fades, dissolves, and superimpositions.
Double Super 8 cameras use 16mm-width film perforated
Super 8 (1-4) and permit up to twenty-minute continuousrun
loads, full backwind, professional emulsions such as
7252 (ECO), superior image registration, and stock processing
economy.
Single-system cameras offer in-camera recording on a magnetic
edge stripe, some with high-fidelity sound recording
specifications, and you can transfer later to fullcoat magnetic
film for serious editing. New 200-foot sound cartridges
allow up to ten-minute continuous-run filming, and some
single-system cameras also have double-system sync
connections.
Double-System Super 8 Cameras
What makes a Super 8 camera a double-system sync sound
camera? All that's required is some means of carrying information
(sync signal) about the frame rate of the camera
(exact speed in fps) to a sync sound tape recorder. This sync
signal may be recorded by a tape recorder on a special sync
track alongside the audio track. Alternatively, the sync signal
may be used to speed control Super 8 fullcoat magnetic
fil m if a Super8 Sound Recorder is used. Electronic servocontrol
of the recorder's speed insures that for each frame of
picture film exposed in the camera exactly one sprocket hole
of magnetic film passes the magnetic head of the Super8
Sound Recorder.
The sync signal from the camera can be as simple as a switch
that opens and closes once for each frame of film exposed.
This 1/F (once-per-frame) sync signal is available on over
40 Super 8 cameras, where it has generally been included by
the manufacturer as an electronic flash (PC) contact.
The traditional sync signal used in 16mm and 35mm filmmaking
is a 60Hz pilotone continuous wave, and this sync
signal is used in three Super 8 cameras. The difference between
pilotone and 1/F sync signals is shown in the accompanying
figure.
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Super 8 Sound , Inc.
95 Harvey Street, Cambridge, Mass. 02140
In the following section, we summarize the major characteristics
of the Super 8 cameras that are most widely used
for double-system sync sound work. Important accessories,
such as crystal camera controls and silencers, are available
only for some cameras; if you need these devices, choose
your camera carefully. Besides a brief description of the
more notable cameras, we have collected data on 29 doublesystem
cameras, 14 single-system cameras, and 2 Double
Super 8 cameras into a convenient comparison table. Unless
otherwise specified, all Super 8 cameras described here have
the following features:
• Use Super 8 film in 50' cartridges
• Automatically keyed to film's ASA speed from ASA
25 to 160
• Integral type-A (Wratten 85) filter manually keyed
• Footage counter
• End-of-film indicator in viewfinder
• Zoom lens with battery-powered zoom, and manual
override
• Reflex groundglass viewing with beamsplitter in front of
diaphram
• Focusing down to approximately 3-4 feet (some have
macro capability)
• Automatic exposure control (CdS cell) through the lens
with exposure value displayed in viewfinder and manual
override
• Powered by AA (penlight) batteries
• Screw-in filter mount (size specified)
• 24fps speed as well as amateur 18fps
• Single frame with separate cable release socket
• Sound sync jack with one contact per frame (1/F).
Beaulieu 4008ZM2 and 4008M3 Sync Cameras
Beaulieu and Nizo cameras represent more than two-thirds
of all the Super 8 cameras in use as double-system sync
sound cameras. The Beaulieu 4008ZM2 is the single most
popular camera among Super8 Sound customers, and also
the most expensive. The Beaulieu's popularity is due to its
Schneider 6-66mm lens (the widest angle lens of any Super 8
camera), its C-mount lens interchangeability, variable speeds
from 2 to 70fps, and manual ASA setting, together with the
availability of a crystal camera control and silencer. The
4008M3 is a less expensive version of the 4008ZM2, with the
electric zoom replaced by a smooth manual zoom. See the
camera data table for more details.
S8St- CN800
S8S# S8SRII