super 8 database \ articles \ some pocket super 8 cameras

12-2009, revised 1-2011

 

Making small and compact cameras is not a original idea, but the products are flashy and showy. With the small film formats, small cameras as the size of the hand were produced.

In 1955, Jacques Bogopolsky, alias Bolsey, presented the Bolsey 8, a 8 mm cine camera that was advertised as the world's smallest cine camera. The body was 8 cm high and it contained a special cartridge for 7.5 meters film. It also was still camera with a full range of shutter speeds: from 1/37 to 1/600 second. The first Bolsey 8 model was built in Germany by Finetta factory and, since 1956, in Usa (1). This apparatus weighed 380 g and measured 30 x 79 x 65 mm. Since then, no camera so small it has been manufactured.

In 1966, Bauer Bosch company in Germany presented the Mini Super 8 camera. It is a simple camera and it has only one trigger to shoot. The viewfinder is not reflex, shoot at 18 fps and the weight is 550 g. Lens is Schneider Xenoplan f/1.8 of 15 mm. A second model was called Mini S.

In 1969, Agfa Gevaert company in Germany marketed the Microflex series, Super 8 cameras that were advertised as the smallest camera in the world. First model, the Microflex Sensor, with a 2,5x zoom lens (1.9 \ 10-25 mm) wheighed circa 500 g and measured 34 x 95 x 160 mm. It had automatic exposure control, as most of Super 8 cameras, and the film drive motor ran with two penlight batteries. In 1970, the camera changed the name by Microflex 100 Sensor, because more models were produced: Microflex 200 and 300. The Microflex 200 model was made in 1970 with 3.3x zoom lens (2.0 \ 9-30 mm). It also features a backlight control for overexposing. The Microflex 300 model was made in 1972 in Japan by the Minolta company. It had 4x zoom lens (1.9 \ 8-32 mm), driven by a micromotor, that was located above the lens, the place of button cell battery in 200 model. In Japan, Minolta marketed the model 300 under the name Pocket Z 8 and, in Usa, this model was renamed as Pocket-8 400.

About 1970, Eastman Kodak company in Usa built several small cine cameras, but the idea was not a small apparatus, but make it simple. M 22 Instamatic model is an example. The camera had a micromotor powered by two penlight batteries and the exposure was manual. A brief table drawn on the side shows how to open the diaphragm whose more opened position was f/2.7. The size is 45 x 100 x 120 mm and, weight 380 g. M 24 Instamatic model was like the M 22, pero it had an automatic exposure system. M 26 Instamatic model was similar to the M 24, but with a f/1.8 lens aperture.

Fuji Photo Film company on Japan made several small Single 8 cameras, as the C 100, AX 100, and P 2 models. The  C 100 was a first small Single 8 camera, made to be on hand (62 x 114 x 124 mm, 370 g). The AX 100 camera was marketed in 1973 with a compact body (48 x 98.5 x 151.5 mm, 315 g). The shutter opening angle was 230 degree. It was a popular camera and, as complement, a watertight casing was made for submarine cinematography. At the end of seventies, the P 2 model was designed with smallest size (46.5 x 110 x 120 mm) and lightest weight (265 g). And the viewfinder is reflex and not Galilean like the other two cameras described. On the side, a window lets see the diaphragm aperture. The movie film runs with a DC micromotor powered with two penlight batteries, that also powered the light meter.

In 1971, Tellag Ag in Switzerland made the Tellcin S8 cine camera, a camera of 360 g and small size (35 x 68 x 88). The Tellcin S8 takes a special cartridge with 8-meter Super-8 film. Designed in 1965 by Peter Sarabèr, it's a variation of the Bolsey 8. The film drive motor is of clockwork type. The exposure meter runs with Selenium photocell, and it does not need batteries (2).

In 1972, Bauer Bosch company presented the Star series. The first camera, the Bauer Star, was made with 2.5x zoom lens and small size (48 x 85 x 142 mm) and weighed 360 g. The exposure system was automatic. Star 4 model was mounted with 4x zoom lens (9-36 mm). This zoom increased the weight to 500 grams and the size to 155 mm long.  And, with a shutter over 180 degrees, Star XL model was built. These three models was made with manual zoom. In 1973, two models, Top Star and Top Star XL, were added to the series, with zoom lens driven electrically.

About 1977, Chinon Industries company in Japan marketed the Pocket 8 camera, whose size is 91 x 38.5 x 139 mm and, weight, 450 g. This apparatus features two filming speeds: 18 fps normal speed and 36 fps slow motion. The diaphragm could be operated manually. On the side, a window lets see the diaphragm aperture. The camera also features a backlight control button for overexposing. But the difference compared to the precious small cameras was the attachment lens (1.7 \ 8-32 mm). Chinon Industries also made a simplified model, the Chinon Dart. Both models were produced for Revue Vertriebs company in Germany under the name Revue Pocket L and Revue Pocket Sport. Another small camera of Chinon Idustries was the Minitechnic 400.

In the second half of the seventies, some cine cameras were manufactured in Japan by the same factory, but I do not know who made them. These cine cameras were built with the idea of being carried in hand, ready for use: Magnon Pocket, Porst Pocket, Hi-Born 112 XL and Exclusiv Travel Pocket XL. These cameras have fixed lens: 1.2 \ 16 mm. The size are 50 x 84 x 149 mm and, the weight circa 400 grams. Features: reflex viewfinder, auto exposure control for 40 and 160 ASA, and backlight control button. The film drive motor is powered by two penlight batteries and, the exposure system, by one PX28 battery.

 

Notes:

(1) Jürgen Lossau: Movie Camera: The Definitive International Guide, Atoll Mediem, Hamburg (Germany), pp118-123.

(2) Jürgen Lossau: Movie Camera: The Definitive International Guide, Atoll Mediem, Hamburg (Germany), pp122-125.