Beaulieu Video Tap

The image above shows a tidy video tap conversion installed on a Beaulieu 4008 - for more information see the Cine-Super 8 site (sadly only in French).

[Via Cine-Super 8, thanks Thierry]

Widescreen Canon from Pro8mm

Pro8mm have today launched the the Max 8 1014-XLS conversion of the classic Canon camera of the same name, making shooting widescreen on Super 8mm an absolute breeze.

Modifications include gate widening, adding 16x9 framing lines to the viewfinder, removal of the internal 85 filter, increasing take-up torque so that the modern, thicker film stocks are less likely to jam, as well as recalibration of the exposure system so that all film stocks will accurately read exposure from 50 to 500 ASA.

The complete package of modifications (on a customer's own camera) is $995.00 - for more info see Pro8mm.com

New Single 8 kit cam scotched?

The image above shows a pre-production version of what was meant to be a Single 8 kit camera from the nice people at Gakken (those who brought us the projector we featured a few weeks ago).

However, according to this thread over at Filmshooting.com it seems that the dream of a self assembly 8mm camera might just have gone the way of the unicorn despite some hefty creativity and enthusiasm.

Shame really as we'd looked forward to an evening of screwdrivers, glue and occasional swearing! The full (sad) story will be covered in Issue 2/2008 of smallformat magazine.

New kit from Pro8mm

Pro8mm have today introduced the Pro 814, a newly rebuilt, recalibrated classic Super 8 Canon 814 camera, modified to optimize results from modern film stocks.

The Canon 814 Auto Zoom is one of the better Super 8 cameras, and Pro8mm believe it can be dramatically improved and upgraded to support modern film stocks. Their tech team improvements demonstrate how an older Super 8 camera can be updated to fit the emerging world of Super 8.

Three major improvements have been made to the 814 with the aim of producing above average image results. These include calibration to an advanced exposure system, the removal of the 85 filter system and fine adjustments to the cameras’ take up mechanism.

For full details on these changes and further technical information on the Pro 814 check out the Pro8mm website or call them directly on +1 818-848-5522.

The Pro 814 Camera Package is available for $795.00 and includes the Pro 814 Camera, Pelican Camera Case, 2 Meter Batteries, Filter Step-Up to 77mm, Metal Lens cap (77mm), 85A filter (77mm).

More products and services based around other high end Canon Super 8 cameras are expected in the Autumn.

New Super 8 Camera

Our chums over at Retro Thing are reporting that the brains behind the fantastic Ikonoskop A-Cam SP-16 Super 16mm camera are considering making a Double Super 8 version of this affordable piece of filmmaking state of the art.

If 25 people stump up a €1000 deposit (on an anticipated list price of €5,200 (same as the 16mm original) then Swedish camera elves will swing into a blur of action - no doubt with tiny screwdrivers and hammers.

If you're interested in bagging one of these potentially droolsome devices, send an email to info@ikonoskop.com with the subject "Early adopter for the A-Cam DS8."

• See RetroThing for more
• See Ikonoskop for more on the SP-16
• See Into 8mm for more on Double Super 8