How to inspect Super 8 camera

[Lauffray]

hey guys, hope this is in the right forum


A camera store near my work recently acquired a Canon Electric 1014 Super 8 camera, the owner sent it to have the lens professionally revised so I haven't seen it yet but it's due this week. I'm planning to gift this to my gf but I have no idea what to look for on this model or any super 8 camera for that matter. I know she would want a working camera, not a shelf queen.

Where do I start ? 😱

 

[Lauffray]

Thanks guys !

 

[sevo]

It is really too complex to check - if you really want to try, get hold of a manual and read up on it. And the most critical parameter of any film camera (jitter) depends on the cartridge in Super 8 - short of getting hold of a (nowadays rare) service dummy cartridge for visual inspection of the film gate and transport you will only be able to diagnose that by the results.

 

[Lauffray]

I saw the camera last week and it looks good ! Follow up question, can super 8 film be developed anywhere or does it have to be sent to Kodak or something ? Assuming I have access to a professional lab here in town

 

[Lauffray]

There are many specialty labs still doing it. Also there are conversion labs to make your super 8 into digital. You may find you will be using the postal service.

Can you recommend any such service ?

 

[bluesun267]

In shooting Super 8 you have only a couple choices of labs in the US, a couple in Canada, one or two in Europe...and elsewhere? I don't know. I've heard good things about Niagara Custom Lab http://niagaracustomlab.com/

Save some money and order film from Kodak directly (1-800-621-film or by email). (Their price is the same to individuals or wholesalers).

If you want to shoot color, there's Kodak 50D, 200T and 500T Vision 2 stocks--these are negative and will have to have it digitized in order to see it--can get quite expensive--other than Niagara, options for process/transfer are Spectra Film & Video and Pro 8mm, both in Burbank, CA.

For B/W there is Tri-X Reversal (200 ISO) and that can be processed by Niagara, Spectra, Yale Labs in Santa Clarita or CineLab in Boston. This is by far the least expensive route. Film comes back as a positive.

Adox has a 100 speed B/W Reversal that is more expensive than Kodak and I haven't tried it, but it is sold through Freestyle.

And I'm waiting with baited breath for Ferrania's E-6 color reversal...to fill in the void left by Ektachrome. When that comes on the market I recommend Dwayne's Photo for E-6 movie film processing, likewise if you should happen to come across any of the Ektachrome 7285...it was the loveliest color stock ever conceived in the Super 8mm format.