My first Super-8

[HenrySuper8]

Today was the day! My order of 1 Kodachrome 40 cassette had arrived to the local "Kodak Image Center" and I immediately want to the shop and bought it.

I have now made some test filming (I exposed about 5m of film) but i have some questions:

1. My camera, an "Yashica Super-8 25", is very simple. It has auto focus and auto shutter control (or no shutter control, i dont know really). How dark is "underexposed" film around 1 - 1.5? I mean will a film shot in low evening summer light be beautiful and dark or will it just be... dark ?

2. What is the best method when editing film? Tape or cement?

[cameraguy]

Auto focus?? really? Auto focus was pretty rare and only showed up in a few late model cameras. I never heard of a Yashica AF.

Your camera has auto exposure control like nearly all Super 8 cameras. The camera will open or close the aperture to get the correct exposure. Your evening scene will only look dark if there wasn't enought light at the lowest aperture. The camera should have some kind of under/over exposure warning in the viewfinder.

Both tape or cement work fine. Cement invovle slight overlapping of frames and unless done with finess it will show upon projection. Tape has no overlap but the tape isn't invisible either so it may show too, especially if you aren't careful and trap dust under it [img]confused.gif[/img]

You must get long evenings this time of year, right?

[HenrySuper8]

Well, there is no focus control and the central objects are always focused!
There is only a Zoom control, a film type switch and a battery checker, very simple!

It's called Yashica Super-8 25. I haven't found any information on the internet about it... And my dad lost the manual sometime back in the 70s [img]smile.gif[/img]
It can film only in 18fps (or maybe 24, I dont know really), anyway, no speed switch, but there is a single-frame-exposure function!

Well, this at this part of the year in Sweden, there isn't really dark anytime, only evening light. Very nice about 10 pm.

One more question: My camera only support Daylight 40 film and Tungsten 25. What is tungsten and where can i buy it (i didn't find any ASA 25 film @ kodak.com...

[Alex]

I'm familar with the Yashica cameras from back in film school. I never used one but they were popular in the film art classes. They pretty much were auto everything and some had nice dissolve capabilities.

Your camera should also take ektachrome super-8, and the camera is able to recognize the difference in film via sensors located in the camera that "react" to the type of notches that are on the Super-8 cartridge.

One basic rule of thumb for exposure. If you are shooting into a bright, white sky, but your emphasis is a person in the foreground, your picture may come out dark.

Otherwise, you can probably "trust" the light meter, assuming it is working properly.

[cameraguy]

Based on pictures of this model that i found the camera must be fixed focus. There will be a minimum distance beyond which will be in focus. This camera is very old in terms of Super 8. Looks to be 1965-68 era. Exposure window is below the lens. I could see a small lever on the right side with the letters "A-M" not sure if that is for auto/manual exposure or zooming.

Kodachrome 40 is tungsten film. Meaning it is color balanced for indoor lighting. Using it outdoors requires a 85 filter to correct the color balance. I am sure the camera has this filter built in.

[HenrySuper8]

Well, the A-M switch is where you choose film type i think. Kodachrome 40 is type A.

[HenrySuper8]

Aah, i found some more info!

Yashica

Super 8 25

Year: 65-67

Lens: Yashinon-S 1,8 / 12 - 30 mm

Manual Zoom

Frame rates: 18 + single frame

Auto Exposure (Not TTL)

Cable release socket

No sound

4 X 1,5V batteries

Made in Japan

[Alex]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by HenrySuper8:
Well, the A-M switch is where you choose film type i think. Kodachrome 40 is type A.</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm not sure that is correct. I don't think there is type M film stock. It's probably an automatic/manual setting.

Perhaps for the zoom?

That camera is 35 years old! I wonder if it needs lubrication?

[cameraguy]

Yeah, its got to be a switch for auto/manual something, most likely zoom. It amazing how much the camera looks like a regular 8 at first glance.

[HenrySuper8]

The switch can be set to a, i and m. I dont really know what it does, I set it to A anyway and the zoom feels quite manual actually!

However, the camera is my dad's. It is bought in the mid 60's and was very expencive and very hi tech at the time.