30 Years of Eumig

[Chris Dodkin]

Completed my set of Eumig 8mm C3 models via EBAY - the oldest and most recent purchase being an original C3 from the 30s.

So here we are, 1930s-1960s, C3, C3R, and C3M

You can see the basic model shape maintained through the decades, with the lens and viewfinder optics being upgraded over time.

Not too many products last that length of time in production - and it would be almost unimaginable these days.

 

[Pete Askew]

Nice set Chris and interesting to see them all together. I guess in stills photography there have been a few constants though; the Nikon F mount, the Hasselblad V System and the Leica M for example. With the Nikon it is the retention of a functional component allowing interchangeability of lenses over several decades. The Hasselblad V system retains much of the original mechanical design of the original (which in turn was partially derived from German reconnaissance cameras). And the Leica M shows a clear developmental path from Oskar Barnack's original design - retaining and refining it over many decades. But, as you say, such things are rare today.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Very nice Chris!
As Pete says regarding Nikon, this has always been one of the major factors in using Nikon kit for me ... Especially the high end stuff. I have a lens from the late 50's that I can fit to my d3, all be it with minor adjustment!
Same with leica, and Rangefinders as a whole ... What works, works ... If it ain't broke etc

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Good points chaps - good design plus some commitment to a long term standard.

GIven that the film transport piece stayed the same on these models, I guess bolting on different lenses etc wasn't that much of a stretch - although I do wonder how much they planned ahead, and how much just happened?

The metering system remained the same throughout, which makes me wonder just how good the 1930s meters were!

Here's detail of the iris in the metering on the C3, shot at f32

You can see how the front of the camera was a moulded add-on that was swapped out in later models as the lens system evolved.

 

[Pete Askew]

And 10 blades on the metering iris. That puts some modern lenses to shame!!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Few more from the C3 set:

Introduced in 1937, two years after Standard 8mm was launched by Kodak.

Eumigon 1:1.9 12.5mm Lens

Manual aperture control with 'automatic' built-in light meter - the aperture levels jointly effects the lens aperture and the light meter aperture - clever stuff! f1.9 - f16

Clockwork motor, with a nice chromed winding key - gives about 40 sec run time on a full spring - cannot be over-wound as it has a nice interlock when the spring is fully primed. Mine runs like a top, even after 70+ years

Early models had a leather handle, which was changed out to plastic as the models progressed (The leather one's are often cracked and broken on units for sale).

Very austere black metal case - changed to a light grey/green on post war models - built like a tank!

Film speed can be set to 8, 16, 32 fps - and there's also a single shot mode for animation. Film footage is indicated on the lower left dial, so you know when to change the 8mm reel over.

Very little case wear considering the age - my camera came in it's original thick leather case, which provided excellent protection.

 

[Pete Askew]

Another great write-up Chris. I wonder what the footage would be like over-cranked? Any plans to make a sequel or two?

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Right now I'm set to try the 16mm Eumig camera with 100' of film - see how that works out

The viewfinder on this C3 also sucks - difficult to see what you're shooting as it's so cloudy - not investigated any potential fix yet, as I trashed the viewfinder on my C3R when messing about with it