Minolta Autopak-8 S 6

Minolta Autopak-8 S 6

Year: 1968-70

Lens: Rokkor 1,8 / 8,4 - 50 mm

Microprism Focusing

Manual Zoom

Frame rates: 18 + single frame

Auto Exposure

Remote control socket

No sound

Made in Japan

Manufacturer: Minolta

Comments

I bought this camera off ebay a couple years back. I think i paid somewhere in the ballpark of 8 bucks. I've ran 6 rolls of Kodak Plus-X through it. As my introductory camera to the Super 8 world, I find this camera to be just fine for standard shooting.

I'm not so sure how the auto-exposure function works... but it does. Actually, i cannot even find a battery compartment for the auto-exposure...unless it runs off the four AA batteries. The film is exposed properly so I have no complaints...if only I had a projector that wouldn't EAT and mangle my film. I haven't had the pleasure of employing the remote socket - but I don't particularly care to do so. The single frame function is cool though.

Despite this camera's age, it works as if it were brand new. It's got a nice solid pistol-grip feel to it and it runs smoothly.

This camera is just fine for shooting. Forget the fades and dissolves - go for straight forward cinematography results and get a camera that's stripped of bells and whistles that'll eventually break (if not already broken) and run your batts down. You can do all the fades you want in post anyway.

Yale Film and Video in California offers wonderful Super 8 transfers. I had my stock transfered to miniDV tape.

Update July 2010 - Redjohn

The camera is set up for 25/40, 40/64 and 64/100 daylight/tungsten films having two ASA sensing switches in the film compartment. It does not have sensing however for 100/160 ASA film cartridges as is ideally required for Ektachrome 100D.

The camera has the all important film chamber filter switch along with a screw in filter key on the top of the camera.

I have run Ektachrome 64 through this camera and had really good results. It is a great point and shoot camera with a long telephoto. It is probably short of a back light switch to give it little more exposure for these circumstances. The build quality of this camera is really good, mine looks and sounds like new and its forty years old.

I have not tested it yet but am about to try the camera with 100D film. Oh it will need a 2 stop ND filter over the lens for sunny day use to give the camera`s aperture a little head room.

Update Aug 2010 - Redjohn

I have just discovered that inserting a 100D cartridge into this camera depresses the internal filter pin and at the same time the external filter screw button depresses. The two are linked. This means that the camera will automatically be selected to 100 ASA.

Ran about twelve feet of the 100D film and the camera keeps jamming. I am having to run the rest of the film off in another camera. The camera has previously handled a cartridge of Ektachrome 64 with no problems. Seems like the film drive may be a little weak.

Update Oct 2010 -Redjohn

I have just received back my Ektachrome 100D taken on this camera during the summer. The pictures are well exposed also nice and sharp. I could not be happier other than the cartridge stuck a couple of times and stalled the camera at about 15 feet in. The camera was OK previously with an Ektachrome 64. The rest of the film was run off in two other cameras without incident. The obviously have more powerful drive systems.

To Sum Up - A good all round camera. Runs Ektachrome 64 and 100D, exposing correctly and of course it will run those cartridges supplied by Wittner and others containing Fuji Velvia 50 ASA. No frills but with a powerul and sharp zoom. Solid build. The only down side with my camera is a slightly week film drive, but it is forty years old after all.