What does this button do?

[Jon P]

I have just bought my first super 8 camera. It is a Canon 814 electronic and it had everything except a manual. There is a dial on the side that reads:
Open
2
4

Close
Stop

What does this do. I think it might be to do with fades but during normal filming where should it be set?

[#Pedro]

Seems to be the dial of a variable shutter. Open is probably the normal position. 2 and 4 could mean 1/2 open and 1/4 open, to make the exposure times per frame shorter. "close": no light at all comes on the film and the motor stops. If you turn the button during filming, the szene becomes darker and darker and when it?s totally black, the film stops. If you wanna shot with shorter shutter times without fading, it will be neccessary to correct the light meter setting.
You can check the function of the dial, looking thru the gate of the running camera and turning the dial.
Pedro

[Jon P]

Thank you. I will be running a test reel through this weekend

[rollemfilm]

You must also set the exposure adjustment switch. It's the small numbered
lever next to the shutter speed adjustment. If you set the variable shutter
at "2", set the switch at "2"...ect...ect. The variable shutter knob also
has a lock. it's inside the the knob. Has a type of arrow marking.
Here are the realative speeds and angles:
shutter set at open=150 degrees 18fps=1/43sec 24fps=1/58sec
shutter set at 2=75degrees 18fps=1/86sec 24fps=1/115sec
shutter set at 4=37degrees 18fps=1/173sec 24fps=1/230sec
shutter set at close=0degrees no light.
Hope this helps...

[zipper]

I also recently bought a Canon 814 Electronic without the manual. Does anyone know where both JonP and I could download a copy of the manual. I already checked the Shooting 8mm site, but they don't have it.

[Alex]

I just e-mailed someone that I bought various manuals from last year and left him the link to this site.

Perhaps he'll show up and have manuals!

-Alex