Super 8 EKTACHROME 64T motion picture film exposed in old cameras

The automatic exposure system of many Super 8 cameras can read the notches properly and will meter correctly. Any camera that is capable of detecting 6 positions of the film speed notches on the Super 8 cartridge should have no problem. Consult the camera's manual. Use this Super 8 Cartridge Notch Ruler to inspect the mechanism in your own camera.

The automatic exposure system (electric eye) of some Super 8 cameras will not be able to properly expose Kodak Ektachrome 64T film. Some cameras will think that the cartridge is 40 ASA Tungsten stock and will over expose by 2/3 stop, others will think it is 160 ASA and will under expose by 1 and 1/3 stop. You may be able to handle this in several ways:

1. if the camera has manual aperture control, set exposure manually
2. if the camera has +/- exposure compensation, choose 2/3 stop underexposure
3. expose at 40ASA and find a lab that will pull-process, or process it yourself with an E-6 home chemistry kit. Kodak's technical info on pull-processing is here (PDF).
4. adjust the calibration of the exposure meter (as a repair technician would) (not recommended if you plan on shooting other Super-8 film stocks or selling the camera to someone else later on)
5. if the camera has non-reflex (non TTL) auto exposure, use a Neutral Density ND 0.2 filter on the taking lens if the camera reads the cartridge as 40 ASA, or a ND 0.4 filter over the electric eye if it meters 160 ASA
6. if the camera thinks it is 160 ASA, then adjust the exposure override to +1 to underexpose only -1/3 stop
7. make a new cartridge notch so camera thinks it is 160 ASA, and then adjust the exposure override to +1 to underexpose only -1/3 stop
8. enlarge the cartridge notch so camera thinks it is 160 ASA, (if Ektachrome 64 cartridges are recycled, will making the notch bigger render the cartridge less recyclable???) and on a non-TTL exposure meter cover the exposure meter (but not the taking lens) with a ND 0.4 filter. Make the EK 64T notch 0.2 inches larger such that the bottom edge is 0.5 inch from the centre of the cartridge.

Colour correction filter

Kodak states that an 85B filter should be used to colour balance for daylight use. For best colour reproduction you should use an external filter rather than the 85 filter built in to old cameras. Another option is to use a weak warming filter (Wratten 81A) in front of the lens together with the internal Wratten 85 which will lower the colour temperature to the same level as the Wratten 85b alone. For many purposes the built-in filter will be close enough, or colour correction can be done in post processing if you are transferring to video.

If you know how other cameras will handle this stock please edit this page and add to the lists below

Cameras that can meter properly

These cameras should measure the notches properly and expose Ektachrome 64T correctly:

• Bauer C1, C2, C2A, C2B, C Royal, C Royal 6-8-10 discuss
• Bauer D1, D2, D2A, D2B, D Royal, D Royal 6-8-10 discuss
• Bell & Howell 442
• Bell & Howell 8432
• Bolex 7,5 Macrozoom (according to the manual)
• Bolex 150
• Bolex 155 Macrozoom
• Bolex 160 Macrozoom
• Bolex 525 and 625
• Canon Zoom 250
• Canon Auto Zoom 1218
• Canon 512XL Electronic
• Canon Zoom 518 Super 8
• Canon Zoom 318 Super 8
• Canon 518 Auto Zoom and 518 SV
• Canon Auto Zoom 814 Electronic and Auto Zoom 1014 Electronic (814E and 1014E)
• Canon 814 XL-S and 1014 XL-S
• Canon 814 Auto Zoom
• Chinon 674 Macro, 672C (Uses a 2.7v mercury battery)
• Chinon 872 power zoom
• Chinon Pacific 310
• Chinon Pacific 38
• Cosina DL-80P, SSL 766 Macro, SSL 768 Macro, SSL 7610 Macro
• Cosina MS-5000 XL
• DeJur Zooming Reflex (DeJUR Electra VII)
• Elmo Super 103, 104, 106, 108, 110
• Elmo dual-filmatic and tri-filmatic
• Eumig 308 Zoom Reflex (according to a magazine from 1968, formulation is a little bit unclear, though)
• Eumig Viennette 5 (and maybe Viennette 8)
• Eumig Viennette 3 (and original Viennette)
• GAF 735/738 (photo)
• GAF ST/102 Anscomatic
• GAF 600 XI
• GAF ST/802
• GAF ST/1002
• GAF ST/111E (lightmeter uses a now defunct 2.7v mercury battery)
• Leicina Super and RT-1
• Minolta: all Minolta Autopaks
• Mondiflex Weekend
• Nikon: all Nikons
• Nizo [made by BRAUN AG] sound and silent (photo) (except: all "Integral" and some "COMPACT" series like the S1, S2, S30, 106, 136, 148, 156 - see Cameras that will not meter correctly, but have manual override)
• Porst ZRS 448 Reflex (16ASA - 250ASA)
• Ricoh 800Z
• Sankyo Super MF606
• Sankyo Super CM 400 (Shows 25~100D and 40~160T and has correct notch settings for 64T/40D).
• Sankyo Super CME666 Hi-Focus
• Sears easi-load C160
• Yashica Electro 8 LD-6
• Yashica Super 40 and 60 Electronic
• Yashica Super Electro 800 and 600
• Zeiss Ikon S8, MS8, 808, 811, GS8

The user sets ASA manually so these cameras work fine:

• Beaulieu 2008, 3008, 4008, 5008, 6008, 7008, 9008
• Leicina Special
• Lomo 214, 215

Cameras that will not meter correctly, but have manual override

These cameras will not handle auto exposure properly as they will not understand the 64 ASA notch. This is because they have a simple notch-sensing button that only registers 40 ASA T or 160 ASA T, as was common of the last super 8 cameras. You must adjust the aperture to be 2/3 stop less than the camera meter suggests. The technique depends on the type of manual override that is available.

Manual aperture, adjust the aperture to be 2/3 stop less than the camera meter suggests or use an external meter:

• Agfa Movexoom 4000 Synchrosound
• Bauer S715XL, S709XL (the manual states the meter sets only 40T/25D and 160T/100D) discuss
• Beaulieu 1008XL (with +/- density trimmer located inside film compartment)
• Bell & Howell 1239XL (with +/- 0.8 stop density trimmer inside film compartment)
• Chinon 200/8 XL Pacific
• Chinon 1206SM
• Cosina DL-40P, DL-60P, 'Magic Sound' XL-204
• Elmo 230S-XL, 240S-XL
• Elmo 350SL, 300S, 600S, 1000S
• Elmo 1012S-XL, 612S-XL
• Elmo Superwide
• Minolta XL-400, XL-401 and XL-601
• Minolta XL-84, XL-64, XL-42
• Nizo [made by BRAUN AG] "COMPACT" series 136, 148 and more.

• Sankyo ES 66-xl, ES 44-xl, EM-40XL, EM-60XL and more.
• Quarz 1x8S-1 (can be set to 50ASA giving just 1/3 stop overexposure on auto).
• Quarz 1x8S-2 (can be set to 50ASA giving just 1/3 stop overexposure on auto).
• Bauer C Royal 6E, 8E, 10E
• Bauer A506, A508, A512
• Eumig 860, 880 and 881 PMA
• GAF 805M
• Rollei SL82

Adjustable exposure compensation, select -2/3 stop:

• Bauer S 105 XL
• Chinon Pacific 80SMR
• GAF 505 XLM (photo)
• Revue Sound CS60AF

EE lock. Point the camera at something to make the aperture 2/3 stop less open, then press the EE lock:

• Bolex 160
• Bolex 350 Macro Compact
• Eumig Mini 5

NOTE: The Bolex 150, 155 and 160 can handle film speeds from 40 to 160.

EE lock. Point the camera at something to make the aperture 1 and 1/3 stop more open, then press the EE lock:

• Canon 514XL, 514XL-S (cameras believe it is 160 ASA Tungsten)

note: Canon 514XLS will overexpose by 1 stop in normal light, by just hitting EE switch-no other changes. Will overexpose 2-3 stops in very bright light, by hitting EE switch- no other changes- per owners manual.

Backlight Switch:

• Minolta XL-225, XL-440 and XL-660: modify 64T film cartridge by cutting out slot the same as vintage 160 ASA cartridge- sensing pin will then extend into slot, and camera will recognize 64T cart as 160 ASA film- then simply hit "backlight" switch while filming, and hold BL switch in "on" position for entire time while film is rolling-(reason: switch is spring loaded)- this will overexpose by 1-1/2 stops, resulting in exposure rate= approx. 60 (info on 1-1/2 stop overexposure with backlight switch, taken directly from original owners manual) This will work with any camera that has a backlight compensation switch.

Plus one stop compensation, cartridge notch could be broken so camera will read it as a 160 ASA, then adjust the overexposure control switch to +1, so it will actually expose as 80 ASA, underexposing only -1/3 stop:

• Bolex 350 Macro Compact
• Agfa Movexoom 6 and 10, also has manual over-ride. Same for 100D- will meter at 80 ASA over-exposing by only +1/3 stop.

Unknown:
It's unknown whether these cameras will rate the 64T as 40T or 160T, but they can be adjusted manually to handle the 64T correctly:

• Chinon 12 SMR Pacific (s. manual, chapter "exposing film at asa's other than 160 and 40")
• Porst Sound FM 120S (relabled "Chinon 12 SMR Pacific", hence s. manual, chapter "exposing film at asa's other than 160 and 40", too)

Cameras with only manual exposure

These cameras have no built in light meter so of course will handle the new film fine:

• Bentley BX-720
• Boots Comet 121
• Halina Super 8
• Kodak M2, M12, M22
• Plus Super 8

Cameras that will not meter correctly

These cameras will not read the cartridge notches correctly and do not have manual exposure control or exposure compensation settings.

• Agfa Microflex series
• Bauer Compact 3 XL
• Bell & Howell T10, T20
• Canon AF310XL, AF310XL-S
• Canon Auto Zoom 318M
• Chinon 313 P XL
• Elmo Super 311 Low Light
• Focal XL303 (Only has backlight compensation so cut cart to meter as 160 then use back light control.)
• GAF XL 415 (In an experiment I simply lowered the lighting until the underexposure warning stayed steady unless pointed nearly directly at a light source. The film came out just fine. Could have used slightly more,(1/3 stop)lighting. Perhaps to the point of the warning going out when pointed near, but not directly at the light source.)
• Minolta XL-220
• Minolta Pocket-Z
• Most of the Kodak Instamatics and XL cameras
• Porst Reflex ZR422 (Has only ASA 40&160 for Kodachrome K40, Tri-X or other films with the same exposure)
• Revue Super8 S-100
• Zeiss Ikon ES8

Cameras with non-TTL automatic exposure

The following cameras cannot meter accurately with the Ektachrome 64T film but have non-reflex (non TTL) external light meters. If the camera reads the notch as 40ASA, use a ND 0.2 neutral density filter on the lens. If it reads the notch as 160ASA, use a ND 0.4 neutral density filter on the electric eye.

• Kodak XL series
• Kodak Instamatic M4
• Eumig Mini 3
• Eumig Nautica
• Canon 310XL (photo)
• Boots 3300 Power Zoom
• Bell & Howell 670/XL

Cameras that should work...

...correctly with the e64t according to their manuals, but don't according to some tests:

• Beaulieu 1028 XL 60, 1018 SX 8 and 1008 XL (s. Talk:Super_8_EKTACHROME_64T_motion_picture_film_exposed_in_old_cameras)

Note: These Beaulieu's have a density trimmer inside the film compartment, that can be adjusted +/- one stop to compensate for film speed difference.

Additional Resources

Super 8 Cartridge Notch Ruler to help you measure your own camera's notch sensing mechanism.

For a thorough explanation of the way that cameras sense the cartridge notches in order to select ASA for the built-in light meters, visit Mike Nyberg's wonderful reference page at: https://web.archive.org/web/20160305145555/http://super8man.filmshooting.com/super8_35.html

Here are some examples of how to adjust the calibration of the exposure meter

Here's list of checked cameras: Super8-cameras and how to get them to work with the new 64T.

Here's a French text about this topic: Compatibilité Kodak T64