From: Jim Carlile (email suppressed)
Date: Thu Jun 05 2008 - 19:32:17 PDT
There's two different ways to key a super 8 camera to read ASA 100. The
first is to speed-notch it at straight ASA 100T, and then leave the filter
setting on 'bulb' to retract the internal 85 filter. The problem with this is that
few cameras will read the specific ASA 100 speed-notch size, and even if they
do, it's easy to mistakenly leave in the filter. I've heard this is how
Wittner notches their 100D film.
The second way is the new Plus-X way, and it's the way Kodak also notches
V200T as well. This method speed-notches the cartridge at ASA 160T/100D, and
then has a notchless cartridge to depress the filter pin in the camera. Under
the SMPTE standard, pushing in the filter pin automatically sets the meter to
ASA 100 instead of ASA 160, and without the internal 85 filter.
This is the best way, but there's a problem with it-- a lot of cameras will
not read ASA 100D, either. Their filter pins-- if they even have one-- won't
do anything but retract the internal 85 filter. Many newer cameras are stuck
with this problem. What they do instead is read the film as straight ASA 160.
So, when using either Plus-X or V200T or Spectra's 100D, you have to make
sure the camera will read the notches correctly. It's surprising how many will
not.
Hmm, wonder what the problem is with the cartridges on Kodak's end...?
In a message dated 6/5/2008 11:56:25 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
email suppressed writes:
In response to...
> 100D requires a strange unorthodox notching system that violates the SMPTE
super 8 notch protocol. There is no ASA 100 daylight notch size, and it
would require some contortions (and knowledge on the part of the users) to
circumvent the two very different ways they would have to cut the cartridge to set
cameras to ASA 100. One way is complicated and could result in many errors,
the second won't work on many newer cameras.
...I forwarded the above recent Frameworks posting to Spectra, who replied:
'We made various calculations, changes and tests along the way to find the
perfect notch. Now, we simply follow Kodaks lead by notching the carts the
same as their 100ASA PlusX. This is what most of the shooters prefer from us as
well.'
And indeed Flying Spot, who recently transferred 8 rolls of EK 100D (ordered
from Spectra) for me, tells me everything looks marvelous.
Now if only Spectra could get their hands on those darn cartridges so they
could load up some more. It's crazy; Spectra has the stock, but no cartridges.
And Super 8 Sound has the cartridges but no stock. Oy...
Ken
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