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Mainstream 8 Telecine Models |
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Rights Notice: Material on film, tape, disc or otherwise may be subject to stated or implied Copyright or Performance Right, or the right to privacy, etc. depending on the laws of your country. Unauthorized duplication may be a violation that is civil or criminal in nature. Equipment or services offered by TCS Inc. should not be construed as inviting criminal activity. The user should ascertain if duplication might violate any rights, and obtain a written release from each affected party. Consult your attorney about any specific instance. |
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Basic High Quality Transfer Models
Fully Automatic Features. Automatic threading, automatic exposure control, automatic color balance. Just the perfect model for a high volume transfer facility that does not offer any extra cost time-consuming custom modifications to the transfer. Connects directly to your DVD, MiniDV or VHS recorder, since you are not dependent on a computer or special computer programs. Run through the footage once and you are finished! Count the money while the competition is still waiting for computer rendering. Or, connect to a computer if you wish.
Emulsion or Base Side Scanning. The built-in camera looks directly at the film’s emulsion side, doing “Direct Imaging” through a highly corrected 1:1 macro lens, with Emulsion Side Scanning in the Dual-8 model. This feature is important to some customers. Our traditional and well-proven Base Side Scanning is used in the regular-8 and super-8 only models. Simplified and perfected optics with both kinds gives a superior picture, and prevents the quality loss and bulk of old style “film chain” optics found in other less advanced systems. Digital correction of image orientation means no cheap projection lens, condenser lens, field lens, mirror, zoom lens or “Coke bottle bottom” uncoated plastic close-up lens to introduce geometric distortion and color fringes, collect dust, lose resolution, reflect room lights, or introduce vibration or drifting image position.
Enlarged Gate. The Dual-8 models feature an oversized opening in the aperture plate, so you can scan more of the area that was exposed in the camera. The magnification and centering can be adjusted by the operator.
Camera choices: NEW! OSD (On Screen Display) Version. A set of pushbuttons on the camera rear brings up an on-screen menu so you can alter many technical parameters yourself with no computer needed. Choose from Auto or Manual exposure, Auto or Manual white balance, Variable Gamma Correction (lightening of dark areas), Sharpness, Shutter Speed, Left—Right mirror image, Auto Level aim point, Color—B&W selection, and more. The OSD camera has a standard BNC or Yellow RCA jack video output and is rated at 540 TV lines (720 pixels.) The camera is initially set for automatic exposure, manual exposure can be done with the OSD but is not recommended as it is awkward. Y/C S-Video Output Version. The technically preferred Y/C output keeps brightness & detail (Y) and color (C) information separate (S) so they don’t interfere with each other. There is also Composite video through a BNC or RCA phono jack adapter for connection to the Yellow jack on consumer equipment. Base side cameras have switchable automatic white balance, with the Emulsion side camera you can specify this option when ordering and it is not user switchable. PAL cameras with the Y/C feature are getting hard to come by in the Emulsion Scan version and might not be in stock at times. The camera does not have any of the special user adjustments of the OSD version and is rated at 480 TV line resolution. The camera is programmed for automatic exposure. It appears to have higher color saturation than the OSD type and is a higher grade camera.
Built-In Camera. We have heard that our CCD camera, with our simplified and superior optics, gives a better picture than old style optics with a 3CCD camera.
Totally Flickerless Running. Film movement is crystal controlled and synchronized to the camera, so no speed tweaking is ever needed. Each film image is scanned frame by frame and goes to three video fields, with no blending of film frames. Running speed is 19.980 FPS (frames per second) for NTSC and 16-2/3 FPS for PAL, close to the original 18 FPS filming rates for super-8 and late model 8mm cameras.
Heavy Duty Construction. Precision CNC-machined panel and welded steel case. LED (light emitting diode) light source should last virtually forever. Three motors, so no slipping clutches to wear out and no stretchy belts to fail. Universal power of 100 to 240 volts, 50 or 60 Hz AC power. 600 foot reel capacity unless stated otherwise. Digital Mechanism Hours counter for scheduling maintenance. Modified and refurbished Bell & Howell well-proven modular mechanism is virtually all metal. Reel spindles are precision machined from stainless steel. Dual-8 model comes with separate supply reel spindles for both film gauges.
Footage Counter. No arguments with the customer about film length if you can quote a precise digital footage count.
Fast Rewind. Motorized rewind operates without running the mechanism. Be ready to run the next reel in seconds. Rewinding is lightning fast on Regular-8 and Super-8 models, and fast on Dual-8.
Your Choice of Formats. Select machines for Regular 8mm, Super-8, or Dual-8 (takes both.) Regular-8, and Super-8 with sprocket drive option, have the ability to accept any size or style of reels. If film loops are lost, just push the loop setting lever, or for severe cases the film sprockets have clutches to reset them after you stop running. Dual-8, and Super-8 built with a dual-8 mechanism, are sprocketless with no film loops and are well suited to film that is in less than perfect condition. Format Change: With the Dual-8, it does take time and tools to change from one format to the other. With the absence of sprockets to pace the film smoothly, the film strand does appear to vibrate when entering or leaving the reels. If you have separate machines for Regular-8 and Super-8, you can change instantly from one format to the other, or be doing two jobs at the same time.
Prices include Y/C high grade camera. All have automatic threading:
Dual-8 Available in NTSC or PAL, $2995 Emulsion side scanning, sprocketless, Y/C camera with RCA yellow jack and Y/C video outputs, Averaging Automatic exposure mode. Automatic threading.
Regular-8 Available in NTSC or PAL, $2800 Base side scanning, Y/C camera with BNC/RCA yellow jack video output and Y/C S-video, with sprockets, Average Auto exposure mode. User can select automatic white balance with a tiny switch on the camera. The sprocketed type has long life owing to the wide pulldown claw teeth and there is generally little problem with splices owing to the large sprocket holes. Framing adjustment lever. Automatic threading.
Super-8 Made with sprocketless Dual-8 mechanism. Factory locked in super-8 mode so no user adjustments are needed for focus, magnification and alignment. Requires camera cover removal to adjust Framing, which is not usually a problem as the various super-8 cameras had quite consistent frameline position. Automatic threading. Available in NTSC or PAL, $2800 Base side scanning, Y/C camera with BNC/RCA yellow jack and Y/C video outputs, Average Auto exposure mode. User can select automatic white balance with a tiny switch on the camera. Reel capacity is 400 feet.
Super-8 Made with sprocketed mechanism. Available in NTSC or PAL, $2800 Base side scanning, Y/C camera with BNC/RCA yellow jack video output and Y/C S-video, with sprockets, Average Auto exposure mode. User can select automatic white balance with a tiny switch on the camera. Automatic threading. The pulldown claw tends to wear out quickly on these if heavily used, perhaps in each 200 running hours, requiring a $xxx repair job. It appears that the Dual-8 and Regular-8, and the Super-8 model (above) made from a dual-8 mechanism, hold up better.
OSD Camera is available with only Composite output. User selection of picture parameters. Deduct -$200 from above Y/C version prices.
Special Purchase Camera is available in NTSC ONLY. Excellent quality special purchase 480 line rated camera with composite video output only, and automatic exposure and automatic color balance that cannot be turned off. Cosmetic second mechanism may have scratches, dents or superficial corrosion that does not affect operation. When available and while they last deduct -$200 from Y/C prices above.
NEW! Prices reduced. Upgrade to buy our exclusive True Speed models for exact 18 & 24 FPS, now only +$200 additional!
Please Specify whether you want NTSC or PAL, and if PAL, the country it will be used in, so we can include the correct power cable. Also, whether you want your Dual-8 D8 unit initially set for super-8 or regular-8.
Options: For regular-8 format machines only, we can use a manual thread mechanism instead of automatic threading, just ask. Single format machines are normally looking at the Base side of the film which is not usually a problem. We can also make these models for Emulsion side scan if you wish. Base side scan is not recommended for dual-8 as this gives a much less convenient Framing adjustment often needed for regular-8 film, more difficult format change, and reel capacity is reduced to 400 feet.
Ordering info and warranty are given here. An order worksheet is here.
Looking for something with exactly correct speeds and more control? Check out our True Speed models.
Legacy models: We can still make the A and B type machines on request. These are similar to the Mainstream except they have switchable manual and automatic exposure control, are not available in Dual-8, and are made only with the Y/C camera. Price $100 additional. |
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Dual-8 with Emulsion Side Scanning
Box on right hand side indicates an Emulsion Side facing camera. Light source is on the left.
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Super-8 Sprocket Drive with Base Side Scanning
Base Side of film is facing camera on the left, with light source on the right.
We currently recommend using the Dual-8 based sprocketless mechanism instead, for the longest running lifetime. This mechanism reduces supply reel capacity to 400ʹ.
(Mainstream model omits the Exposure dial shown in photo) |
