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evening gentlemen,
I am going to be sending my Beaulieu 4008ZM4 to the Film Group later this week to have it crystal-synched. I'm sure I can get most of the information I need from them when I call but was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions or any input at all? I suppose that with shipping its going to cost about $600. I'll gladly spend the money if I feel confident that everything will work out. I live in new york city and that amount of money is more valuable to me here than my previous home (north carolina). That leads me to my second and less important concern. When I post a topic or add a reply my name shows that I still live in wilmington, nc, but as I just mentioned I am now in new york. I think it would be a good idea to let people see that I am in new york city because I think that many on this board live here and we could, perhaps, get in touch. Any information that you could provide me with is greatly appreciated and I patiently await your response(s).
thank you,
tayman strahorn
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The main area of concern is, is the camera running properly. If you suspect anything wrong, have the camera serviced "first"....The Film Group will also tell you this.
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I had some problems post conversion with my Beaulieu 4008. But it wasn't due to the conversion. My motor gave up the ghost and when a new one was put in I was having some problems with holding synch. It was all worked out after.
Good Luck
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Now I'm rather concerned. My camera has to be running perfectly before the Film Group will synch it? How do I know if its running "perfectly?" Its seems to run as it should, other than the fact that the speed isn't locked of course. Are you saying that I have to have it serviced "just in case" before I send it to them? Doesn't having it serviced cost several hundred? Or, I could send it to them thinking that its probably ok just to find out that they disagree and mail it back to me and now I've unnecesarily spent x amount on shipping. Well, I'm going to call them now, so I guess I'll find out one way or another.
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I called the film group a short while ago. They said to run the tests that are listed on their website, which I did. I did the 20 minute run to see if the motor noticeably sped up or slowed down, it didn't. I shook the camera while running it to see if any wires would come lose while it was shooting, it didn't. The only thing that I am aware that is wrong with it, which I forgot about up until today, is the zoom in and out buttons on the lens barrel aren't working, but it was never a problem because they always cause the zooms to be too fast. I've always preferred to do it by hand. Does anyone know if it would be necessary to have that fixed to get the camera synched? And if so, who could I send it to? I am quite excited to get the camera synched but if its necessary to have it serviced first then I'll do it. thanks guys.
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I've had my camera synced by the film group recently by the way, and it works fine.
I would say send it off. The electronic zoom won't affect the sync or any of it's functioning - as you say, you just manually zoom. The only concern I would have, now you've ascertained that the motor is good, is for the lens collimation, which is to do with the exact alignment and distancing of the lens from the ground glass screen and the film plane, which is critical to focussing properly. I can't see why you couldn't do this after getting it synced. You could always shoot a roll of K40 first...? Seems like a cheap idea.
Lucas
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I've had my camera synced by the film group recently by the way, and it works fine.
I would say send it off. The electronic zoom won't affect the sync or any of it's functioning - as you say, you just manually zoom. The only concern I would have, now you've ascertained that the motor is good, is for the lens collimation, which is to do with the exact alignment and distancing of the lens from the ground glass screen and the film plane, which is critical to focussing properly. I can't see why you couldn't do this after getting it synced. You could always shoot a roll of K40 first...? Seems like a cheap idea.
Lucas
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I've had my camera synced by the film group recently by the way, and it works fine.
I would say send it off. The electronic zoom won't affect the sync or any of it's functioning - as you say, you just manually zoom. The only concern I would have, now you've ascertained that the motor is good, is for the lens collimation, which is to do with the exact alignment and distancing of the lens from the ground glass screen and the film plane, which is critical to focussing properly. I can't see why you couldn't do this after getting it synced. You could always shoot a roll of K40 first...? Seems like a cheap idea.
Lucas
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The camera isn't brand new. I've had it for about a year and half now and have shot many rolls of film on it. The focusing is fine. I'm sure you're right, I doubt the zoom buttons would affect the motor at all, but then again, who knows. I'll just send it off tomorrow. I appreciate all the information that I have gotten. This forum is quite wonderful.
Tayman Strahorn
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I am sure it will be fine. if the camera passes all the tests, then don't worry. i had a Film Group conversion and it works great. but, my camera developed problems after i had the conversion and had to have a repairman work on the camera. he had problems because of the conversion work. then, it would not run in sync. i had to send it back to the Film Group for an adjustment. just trying to help others avoid this pitfall. my camera works perfectly now, after traveling all over the USA for months.
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Well, I sent my camera off yesterday, or atleast, the camera body and one battery. The Film Group said that they aren't very busy now so it should only take two weeks to do the work on it. Then it only takes a day to get here. I am quite excited. Not being able to shoot at sych speed has been quite the disadvantage in my filming interests. Now, hopefully, there won't be any "as significant" problems. Thanks again.
Tayman Strahorn
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It's inspiring to upgrade equipment to professional standards. Keep us posted.
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For those concerned,
I got back my newly converted camera today, Wednesday, the 12th of February, exactly 3 weeks after I mailed it off. I just got home and am about to look at it. I'll keep you posted on the results.
Tayman Strahorn
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Good luck with the conversion. I'm sure all will work as planned. I live fairly close to TFG and have visited them occasionally and used them for film to video transfers. The owner, George, knows his stuff. In any event, please keep us informed.
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Alright fellas, I have already ran into a problem. I'm sure that most of you have had your cameras synched through the Film Group and are pretty much familiar with the setup of a modified camera. If not, I can sum it up in another reply, but for now, time is of the essence, i.e., I'm anxious to find out the problem. After I read everything and setup my camera with the control unit attached with all wires connected to their proper plug-ins, I started shooting to see if everything worked out. It didn't. Now, if all is well with this setup the control unit's light should stay on or pulse rapidly while the camera is running at 24 frames per second. My camera, however, would speed up and slow down at about a 3 second interval while shooting and the corresponding light would come on and off at the same rate. I tried shooting the camera without the control unit attached and it shoots at a steady rate, in other words, wouldn't speed up or slow down. I skeptically thought that my batteries might be the problem, but after charging them all afternoon and retrying everything, I found that they weren't. I haven't emailed the Film Group yet, and it was too late to call them once I noticed the problem, though I'm sure that the answer is quite obvious to those here with more experience than I. I also removed and reinserted the 9v control unit battery, nothing. I'm not sure and am sure what the problem is. Its more than likely my camera, it needs to be serviced, but considering the cost of such a procedure and the difficulty I have saving money while paying 1150 a month in this city of cities, I am hoping that someone can tell me otherwise. As always, I patiently await your response(s) and am humbled by your willingness to help me.
Tayman Strahorn
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Make sure your camera is set at 24fps. Check to see that your "on" switch is set to "on"....it will only sync at 24fps unless you had a special speed like 30fps set for sync. don't worry, TFG will take care of it, and quickly too, if you do have a problem.
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Well, I called them today and explained the problem. Much to my delight, they told me that the camera was running perfectly before they sent it to me and that more than likely its a problem with my batteries. So today I mailed the entire set-up back to them and included my two batteries and battery charger. They will have it today (friday, the 14th) and I'll probably get it back Monday, unless UPS delivers on Sunday...hell, Monday is president's day, I guess I'll get it Tuesday then. Anyway, the problem doesn't appear to be as bad as I thought. Just wanted to keep you posted.
