Double 8 format

[bry]

Could any of you tell me more about the Double 8 format and cameras?

[Actor]

There are two double 8 formats: double regular 8 and double super 8.

DOUBLE REGULAR 8 or simply DOUBLE 8 uses 16mm film with perforations every 0.15 inch, twice the perf pitch of 16mm film. This is 80 frames per foot instead of 16mm's 40 frames per foot.

When the film goes through the camera only half of it is exposed. After going through the camera once the feed and take-up reels are exchanged and the film is passed throught the camera again, this time exposing the other half of the film. After processing the flim is slit down the center the two halves are spliced together to produce a single film with perfs down only one side, but twice as long as the film that went through the camera.

The film comes in daylight load reels only, no cartridges. Most cameras handle a 25 ft reel (50 ft after slitting and splicing). Some, like the Bolex H-8 handle a 100 foot reel (200 ft after splitting and splicing).

DOUBLE SUPER 8 is the same as double regular 8 but the perfs are super8 width and pitch, 72 frames per foot. The same twice through the camera, split and splice method is used.

CAMERAS

For practical purposes all REGULAR 8 cameras are double 8. With the exception of the Bolex H-8 they all take 25 ft reels. The Bolex takes 100 ft reels.

There are only three DOUBLE SUPER 8 cameras: The Bolex DS8, the Canon Scoopic DS8 and the Elmo. They all take 100 foot reels. The Bolex is a modified Bolex 16mm camera (as is the H-8). The Canon Scoopic DS8 is (as the name implies) a modified 16mm Scoopic.

The Elmo, the rarest of the three, takes three backs: one for reg 8, one for DS8 and one for super8 cartridges.

IMHO the Canon Scoopic DS8 is the best of the lot. It is more rugged than the Bolex and easier to find than the Elmo. Some Canon DS8 have a flash contact but I think this was a modification offered by a company other than Canon.

Compared to super8, reg8 and DS8 film is harder to come by but it is available. Emulsions are pretty much limited to one color reversal film and two B&W reversal films. I suspect that the color is actually K40 and one of the B&W is actually Plus X but they are not labeled as such. The other B&W is Foma which is made somewhere in Europe or possibly Russia.

It takes 5 minutes for a DS8 reel to run through the camera, 5.5 minutes for DReg 8, if you are shooting 24 fps. A super8 cartridge lasts 2.5 minutes. This is great if you need a take that is that long but it is far faster to change super8 cartridges than to change 100 ft reels.

There's a Canon DS8
on eBay now.

You can get film from Cameras Pro
and Chambless Cine Equipment


[This message has been edited by Actor (edited May 11, 2001).]

[bry]

Thanks a lot. You were very helpful (what else could u say? you wrote a bible on Double 8!!!) Thanks.

[cameraguy]

A few corrections. The Canon DS8 is not a modified 16mm Scoopic but was a original design and was sold new as a Double Super 8 camera.

Also there is a Pathe DS8 camera with spring motor and 3 lens turret with 100 ft loads and a couple of Russian quarz DS8 cameras that only took 25 ft loads. Last but not least there is a Meopta (hope I got that name right) DS8 camera that was made in the Czech Republic.

DS8 film stocks available are K25 (no K40), Kahl UT 18 (color), Kahl 24/200 B&W, Foma R-100 B&W and for negative there is 500 ASA color and two B&W negative films rated at ASA 100 and 300.