Business screen magazine (1946)

ictwccn Kodak and Bell & Howell s decided. Some people say the nanufactiirers couldn't keep up with narket demands. Others say the nanufacturers have been too concrned with establishing a place for heir product with no concern to the leeds of the market and users. Throughout, however, the develipment and introduction of new and aried products has not ceased, or ven diminished. While the coniumer market has never taken trongly to the Super 8 systems as loped. the business and industrial jscr has been wooed with an ever greater variety of systems. Most feel hat the consumer potential never naterialized because of the lack of i standard and the cost of prints. •roduction Along with the rise in Super 8 proieclion systems came several new uper 8 cameras offering a surprisingly high degree of sophistication Lit a relatively modest cost. Notable miong these from a professional use point of view are the Beaulicu ♦008ZM. the Fujica Z-6()0. the Bauer C-Royal. the Bell & Howell Canon. Nizo time lapse cameras, iind more recently the Bell & Howell Filmsound and the Synchronex systems which permit sound filming via the use of a recorder which connects to the camera to provide the sound track. There are a couple of commercial production companies now which shoot original footage in Super 8 for specific jobs, although it is still more common to shoot in 16mm and reduce to the Super 8 format. Those who have done it report that it is preferable to use a higher than usual proportion of close and medium close scenes when shooting in Super 8. Excellent results are now being obtained w hen copies are made from the original Kodachrome II film. Although, there may be some color 'variations which would not be acceptable for release prints. If necessary, an internegative can be made from the Kodachrome II in order to lobtain release prints on positive dupe stock. The best performance and longest film life cycle is ob lained with positive dupe stock in preference to reversal stock. Summary In the final analysis it must be said tiial the standardization problems of Super S ha\e hampered but not curtailed its growth and development. In fact, it may be this very thing that has led to the diversity of systems now available, each tailored to different needs and applications. Hand-held models at less than $100 have brought the single concept idea to reality in just the past year. Each Super 8 cartridge, cassette or reelto-reel system presently available has its own unique characteristics and therefore, applications. It thus is up to the individual user to determine which best suits his needs and plan to use it accordingly, foregoing the thought of universality of his presentation. It is important for the potential user to remember only a few basic points: — Sound systems vary (even among magnetic systems) and you must consider the ultimate use. Note: Labs now report that the magnetic plus 18 sound advance is accepted internationally in that the majority of their sound work going overseas is in that format. — Silent and sound Super 8 projectors operate at different speeds, so if you anticipate sound films, be alert to the fact that the film runs at different speeds. — Reel-to-reel cassettes offer the advantage of easy access to the film for repairs, while — Enclosed (endless loop) cartridges keep the film cleaner and there is no need for rewind or a projectionist. — Each system has its own particular maximum film length. Be sure the one you select will handle the needs you want it to. If and until all manufacturers begin making compatible equipment to an internationally accepted standard, the user will have to make his selection of equipment from what is available that best suits his needs. •And. there is a very broad and diverse selection of equipment presently available from w hich to choose. Bolex Multimatic projects as many as six 50 foot cartridges consecutively. Automatic rewind with end of film never leaves cartridge. Eumig Mark 510D uses cartridges fully interchangeable with Kodak and Fairchild projectors. Kodak Ektagraphic 120 of several Kodak projectors features cartridge interchangeability with Fairchild and Eumig equipment. Bell 4 Howell cartridge projectors use Auto 8 cassettes of conventional reels up to 400 ft. ■ARCH. 1971 21