Movie projectors are devices that are built to display pictures on a projection screen and this website is about special type – 8mm projector.
Since 8mm projector is just one type of movie projectors, we will first explain what are projectors in general.
As I’ve already stated, movie projectors display pictures on a screen. Those pictures are also known as „moving pictures“. Moving pictures effect is accomplished when a series of film images is displayed really fast. To keep it simple, I’ll just say that that effect is possible because our eyes and brain are slow.
Generally 16 frames per second (frame/s) are minimum and everything faster than that is increasing movie quality. Most projectors (including 88mm projector) are projecting at constant frequency of about 24 frames/s.
There is a trick to see black space between frames. Since you can’t see it while watching with your eyes opened, you have to quickly close and open your eyes. Then you might be able to see those black spaces. Of course, that won’t work on televisions or LCDs and DLP projectors.
Most people think that movie is displayed when a series of pictures is dragged very quickly close to projector’s bulb and then projected on a screen. That simply isn’t true for one reason. If you drag pictures fast past light source, you will see continuous blurred series of images. Basically, what happens is that shutter covers the light source while pictures are making transition. So that results in human eye seeing only clear frames. And because those pictures are displayed at frequency of about 24 frames per second, human eye sees a movie.
The 8mm projectors were created to make movie projectors less expensive. 8mm films are basically 16mm films with perforations on both edges. So when the movie is projected, only one side is displayed. When the film comes to the end, you just have to reverse it and display the other side. It’s simple and it’s less expensive.
During history, there were a lot of variations, but none of them has proved to be better than 8mm projector when it comes down to cost.
I believe older generations still remember times when there was like only one 8mm projector or 16mm in whole school. I remember one particular occasion where we were all in the hall in the school. Of course, only the geography teacher knew how to handle 8mm projector. I don’t know what movie we watched, but it was constantly interrupted. I personally didn’t care about movie, I was more interested into 8mm projector.
Today, there are a lot of collectors who simply like to take care of old projectors and films.
Here is a list that I’ve found about 8mm projector manufacturers (mind you, this list presents new manufacturers as well):
1) Elmo – it’s basically the best 8mm projector manufacturer no matter what model we are talking about. Of course, Elmo 8mm projectors are often very expensive, but it’s worth it.
2) Bell & Howell – these projectors are very reliable and easy on film.
3) Eumig – the norm for Eumig is solid construction. But beware, don’t ever pay too much for them. They are know for for their film scratching issues. Besides, the sound heads wear out pretty quickly.
4) Sanyo – gentle on film. This is their main plus side. Their only cons is that they tend to crap out fairly quickly.
5) Chinon – nice machines. They aren’t always reliable. They tend to make problems often, but they are gentle on film so that’s a big plus side. The biggest problems are usually belts (made of aluminium) that are very hard to replace. Basically, if it craps out on you, you better throw it away and sell it as a parts machine.
6) GAF – yet another nice 8mm projector. You might have problems finding bulbs for dual models. Plus side is belt – it’s easily replaceable. Unfortunately, this machine tends to chew prints while threading. That is a huge problem. You have to make sure your prints have plenty of leader before actual film starts.
7) Kodak – it’s almost worthless. Kodak was making good 16mm projectors, but 8mm projector made by them is catastrophe.