The Nizo Family of Quiet Running Cameras...

[Alex]

The more filming that is done in Super-8, the better. Being able to record actors dialogue scenes with a Super-8 camera crucial to the continued use of Super-8.

Nizo Models that run quietly are the Nizo 1048, 2056, 3048, 3056, 4056, 4080, 6056, 6080.

I have a very quiet Canon 1014XLS, the Nizo I recently purchased is definitely quieter. I don't have exact "noise" figures, but the Nizo at 24 FPS is probably no louder than the quieter 16mm or 35mm cameras, and these Quiet Nizo Cameras are probably quieter than Mini-DV cameras.

When using 18FPS and especially at 16 &2/3 FPS, the Nizo family of Quiet cameras is incredibly quiet (without film in it), the 16 & 2/3 speed is so quiet that in a sound studio setting with complete silence, you can barely hear the camera running from 2-4 feet away. You probably wouldn't notice the sound at all unless you were told to listen for the sound.

I believe the Nizo Quiet Family of Super-8 cameras final two numbers of the four digit model numbers represent the maximum telephoto setting the camera provides. The first two numbers seem to have a "floating" purpose.
For instance, a Nizo 2056 offers a 200 degree shutter, and the zoom lens maxes out at 56mm.

The Nizo 4056 is an F 1.4 lens with a maxium zoom lens of 56mm.

The Nizo 6056 probably tops out at 56mm and the 60 might refer to it being able to take the 200 foot cartridges (which are no longer made by Kodak, these 200 foot cartridges are also known as 60 meter cartridges in Europe.)

The Nizo 6080 should refer to a telephoto maximum of 80mm, and again the 60 probably refers to the 200ft/60 meter film cartridges that Kodak no longer makes.

I don't know what the number 10 in the 1048 refers to, could it be f 1.0, 48mm maximum zoom lens???

And what of the 3048? Probably a maximum zoom of 48mm, but what does the 30 stand for???

I hope this info is helpful in helping you find a quiet camera for dialogue situations.
These cameras are selling for between $200-325.00 on ebay. An insanely cheap price for a wonderful opportunity to do dialogue scenes for your film.

You can barely rent a 16mm film package for one day for that price!

[Alex]

This fell off of page one faster than I expected, so I thought I'd bump once.

[Alex]

I just got my second Nizo today, it's a 2056. The handle was kind of plasticky and cheap, but I'll live with that as long as it's nice and quiet when running.

I haven't put batteries in it yet. I'll have to compare my two Nizo's in the near future and report the findings here. If These quiet cameras had been made available to the Roberto Rodriguez's of the world, and for films like Clerks, you'd hear a lot more about Super-8 in mainstream filmmaking circles.

[Alex]

I just got my second Nizo today, it's a 2056. The handle was kind of plasticky and cheap, but I'll live with that as long as it's nice and quiet when running.

I haven't put batteries in it yet. I'll have to compare my two Nizo's in the near future and report the findings here. If these quiet cameras had been made available to the Roberto Rodriguez's of the world, and for films like Clerks, you'd hear a lot more about Super-8 in mainstream filmmaking circles.