Super 8 cartridge notches

[c_77]

My Canon 814 manual says that when using daylight film that I cannot use it without the CCA filter (i.e. switched to bulb). I want to try and use K40 indoors, under typical lighting at a nightclub. First, can this camera film under such low light with this film? (It's one of the older models, I don't know if the shutter speed is 220 or 150) If it could, is there any way to bypass it on my camera to fool it into thinking it's tungsten film? Thanx, Chris

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[crimsonson]

Hi c_77

The Canon 814/1014 Series has a little red screw under it. When screwed on the bottom the filter is placed thus allowing a Tungsten Balanced Film to shoot outdoors (K40) with some speed lost. If you shoot indoors, more accurately with Tungsten light, with the K40 the filter can be left on the bottom but I would put it on the top thread. Look at the top of the cam. You will know what threading I am talking about.

Shooting indoors with k40, using available is difficult since of its slow speed - ASA 40. Even if you have a shutter of 220 it would only give you an extra 1/2 f stop at most. Actually your cam's shutter angle is 150.
Dont be ensalved by the K40. I understand many S8 shooters will trade their first born for a fridge full of it but there are other stocks. Ektachrome gives you a 150% sensitivity over K40. However, you will lose some color saturation and increased grain. But do not let that limit you. The last BMW film, Powder Keg, was shot on Ekta. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful piece.

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[c_77]

Hi Crimsonson,
I looked at the bottom of my camera and I didn't see anything resembling a red screw...Now if I push in the bottom pin on the inside of my camera's film compartment, I think this deactivates my filter. Is this true? - Chris

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[crimsonson]

Hi!

Check this link: http://www.mondofoto.com/cameras/Can...ctronic_3d.jpg

You see that red thing by the handle. That is the screw that engages the CCA filter.

Now check this links:
http://www.mondofoto.com/cameras/Canon_814XL.jpg
http://www.mondofoto.com/cameras/Can...ctronic_4a.jpg

notice that threading on top of each camera? That is the cancel CCA threading. I fyou remove the red screw from the bottom and place it there you cancel that CCA filter.

I am unsure about the notch inside the film compartment. I heard that this does tells the camera that you are using either a Dayligh or Tungsten film. However, I would not touch it since if you break anything in you film compartment it would make a camera useless. If your red screw in not present best way to solve it is either find a screw of the same thread size or buy a cheap Canon cam with the same thread in EBay.

BTW- which Canon 814 do you have? XL, Electronic, Auto Zoom or XL-S?



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[c_77]

I have the old Autozoom 814, it's nice, but it's old...I'll double check, but I don't think I have this option. Thanx, Chris

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[crimsonson]

Hi Chris!

Dumbass me! The 814 has a switch by the grip lock switch. The cam by default is expecting a Tungsten film. If you put the filter to the sun symblo you will place a filter that turns your Tungsten film in to daylight (removes the excess blue). there is no Kodak daylight film for S8. Meaning if you use one of Kodaks color film you must use either the cams built in CCA filter or buy one for the lens when shooting outdoors.


Hope this helps. Ignore by techno bable about the red screw. Sorry for the confusion.



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[Matt Pacini]

I've said this a million times, but Ektachrome is grainy as hell, and looks terrible!
You don't believe me?I have proof!
O.K., go here and buy my movie, Lost Tribes: http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAP...sort=2&rows=25
You will easily be able to notice when I shot on K-40 and when I shot on Ektachrome. The K-40 looks fantastic, the Ektachrome looks like crapola, big time!
It's well worth using extra light.
If you're really pinched for cash do this:
Go onto Ebay.
Search for a 650w sealed beam movie light.
You can get them for $1.00-$15.00 (Get one that mounts to a tripod).
Then when filming indoors, aim it at the ceiling.
This will give you enough basic fill to be able to shoot on K-40, although this is the minimum.
Get 3 or 4 of these lights, a roll of black foil to use as makeshift barndoors/snoots, and you could actually do a decent lighting job.
They're terrific lights, I use them all the time. They're actually PAR lights, used on professional shoots, and they made a zillion of these in Super 8's (& 8mm) heyday, so you can get them all day long for a song.
Matt Pacini

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[xclark]

hey there, MATT PACINI,

i just took your advice and bid on an old 650 watt movie light. i've got one question for you. i'm kinda new and i'm not sure what you mean by the black foil-barndoor/snoot thing. can you explain please? thanks in advance.

clark

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[This message has been edited by xclark (edited August 30, 2001).]

[Matt Pacini]

The black foil can be purchased at any theatrical lighting supply, or places that sell lighting equipment.
It's just like tin foil, but flat black, and thicker (and more expensive!).
You rip off sheets of it, and can fold it around lights to block out light, form at tube so you get just a narrow shaft of light, gaffer tape it to something that the light is attached to, etc. so you don't get the spotlight effect, which isn't very artistic.
Pointing one at the ceiling really gives you a nice even fill light, and should bring the level up a lot.
Feel free to ask more questions, I've made all the mistakes!
These lights are great, and cheap. Really bright.
The ones with the handles are particularly handy. You can mount them to a tripod, hand-hold them, or do what I did:
Get a Matthews TVMP adapter so they will mount to a 5/8 lighting stud.
Do an ebay search for "lotta-lite", those are the best ones. (The actual lamps are the same though, it's just that the Lotta-Lite has a good handle and housing, and it swivels vertically. I removed the handles and mounted them to the TVMP adapter so I could use them like regular lights, & mount them with my clamps, etc.)
Matt Pacini

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