Has anybody shot straight 8 film? A Univex camera?

Post by **cdg** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:19 am

OK, so I've been tracking some old Univex cameras on ebay, after reading a little about some of their old compact cameras (some of them are small even by today's standards!). However, it looks like Univex made their 8mm series to work with straight 8 film, which is apparantly half the width of double 8 film.

SO, my questions are as follows:

1) Are there any resources out there for straight 8 film? I can't seem to find much in the way of resources, besides vague descriptions.

2) Did straight 8 come in special cartridges? Anybody know if one could "reload" straight 8 in a dark bag by slitting it and rolling it onto a new spool of some kind?

3) Has anybody here shot straight 8 film?

4) Would there be any special developing concerns with straight 8, or would any old super8 lab be able to handle the downsized film? I thought that super 8 and regular 8 are the same width once developed, but I've never shot super 8 so I don't know about this...

Your response and thoughts on any of the above are appreciated. I am a camera collector by hobby, but I love to shoot the old cameras I buy. An old Univex C8 or similar would be an excellent addition to my collection I think...

Post by **ultramarine** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:42 pm

1. Online? Probably no! You should buy Juergen's book.
2. In most cass yes, just like the single 8 cartridges.
3. Me, no.
4. Kahl, is a source for straight 8 film, he also develops his stocks.
(5) You can easily find univex cameras on Ebay.com. They are not rare.

Post by **cdg** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:25 pm

Yeah, they are definitely not rare. I usually try to find the best ones I can with original boxes and documentation though. I don't have the money to collect Bolex cameras, nor do I have a stash of Rolleiflexes. If I had that kind of money, I'd probably be shooting a lot more film. :lol:

I think that my niche in camera collecting is finding the better preserved common box type cameras. I also have a thing for turret cameras...

Post by **Matthew Buick** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:34 pm

Those Univex cameras look dreadful. I haope they made a better looking model. :?

Post by **camera8mm** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:44 am

I've shot 1x8mm with a ekran 1 which held the film in special cartridges. I used a slitter to cut down double 8mm film. a bit difficult to load in total darkness.
never used a unvex, even though i own 2. couldnt film the special reels the camera used. the lowest lens stop is 3.5 !
I did see some footage from one of the cameras as I found a univex projector with about 5 100' reels of farming footage and it looked good for b/w.

Post by **cdg** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:56 am

Hmmm, interesting. I wonder if there isn't some way to make something work for an old Univex. I'm very tempted to buy one now...

And yeah, I guess the cameras are a little ugly, but I think they're ugly in a "cute" sort of way, like VW bug or something. To each their own I suppose.

I guess slitting up the film sounds easier than it probably is.

Post by **reflex** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:02 pm

cdg wrote:I guess slitting up the film sounds easier than it probably is.

Yup. You're playing with a sharp blade and a very long strip of plastic in complete darkness.

To be honest, it's probably much more trouble than it's worth. There are thousands of Regular 8 cameras available for practically nothing and the film is relatively easy to come by. The end result is the same in both cases.

Post by **cdg** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:53 pm

Sharp things in the darkroom? Cool!

I just bought a Univex A8 on Ebay, so we'll have to see how this goes...

As for R8 cameras, I already have 2 that work quite well, and yes, R8 rocks.

Post by **StoneBuilder** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:36 pm

There are two Single8 cameras on the UK ebaY site at the moment. I've no links for them, sadly, but they are both listed under 'cine cameras'.

Post by **David M. Leugers** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:15 am

About 30 years ago I was given a Univex Single-8 camera and a projector. The projector was just dreadful... I wouldn't run any kind of film through it let alone some of my home movies. I held onto the camera up until about 5 years ago. I had the notion when I first got it to actually shoot some film with it. ESO-S in Kansas City at the time would sell film for it if you provided the reels and you needed at least two to put film on (plus one for a take-up). I had three reels, but they were of such dubious construction - cheap flimsy stamped metal- that I couldn't see how they could do a good job of keeping light off the film while loading and unloading. Also you only get 25-33ft of film on the reel. All in all, R-8mm was far more practical and the equipment so much better. Still, it was the smallest and lightest 8mm camera I have ever seen. It was pretty cool looking in black crinkle paint and art deco styling.

David M. Leugers

Post by **camera8mm** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:50 am

the bolsey 8mm uses 1x8mm film. not sure what that crowd does for film loading. I have a bell howell which takes 1x8mm film but have yet to shoot with it.

Post by **cdg** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:43 am

Univex had a history of building pretty cheap products. They built their cameras cheaply because they often used their own film standards, and wanted to be able to stand a chance against the already established Kodak Eastman company. We'll see how this one comes through. If I ever use it at all, which is doubtful, it is limited to an F5.6 lens! Even with 100 ASA film, it's going to be a daylight only kind of deal.