FUJICA Z800

Best till Last

The best is left, almost till last. That is the case with the Z800, one of the most advanced 8mm Cameras, when released in the early '70's.

The last of the famed "Z" series, It incorporated some features that were innovative for the time, such as Electron Beam Coating of its lens, and an Erlson type socket, for its own sync system.

It, however, did not have a Macro function, and Film Rewinding could only be achieved Manually.

Flexibility at a Cost

The design of the Single 8 cartridge allowed easier rewinding of film. However, this came at a cost.

The circumference of the separated Supply reel of the Single 8 cartridge lessens, with every squeeze of the film trigger.

Therefore, more revolutions of the Film Rewinder are required, for a given length of film Rewind.

Thankfully the good folks at Fujica realised the potential for confusion and provided the Single 8mm user with a very detailed Film Rewind Table in the Instruction book.

'n Sync

Fujica was one of the few Manufacturers who heeded the call from the Amateur Filmer, for a Lip Sync system.

The Fujica "Puls-Sync" System was a complete system in that every component was provided by Fujica, from Recorder, and Controller to Pulse Generator. The Z800 Camera, and the Fujicascope MX70 Projector, completed the picture.

The pulse itself is a 1000Hz tone that is generated by the camera via the pulse generator, and connected directly to the Recorder, when in the Filming mode.

Lastly

In Projection mode, the Recorder is connected to the Controller, which in turn is connected to the Projector.

As mentioned before, the initial projector equipped to connect to the system was the MX 70. Later on, the much admired SH 30 was equipped to connect to the system.

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Fujica Z800

On the Left is the Exposure Adjustment Control. The adjustment only increases the exposure. To the right is the Aperture Contoller. This includes Manual and Lock position.
The little handle at the top is the Film Rewind Handle, used in conjunction with the Film Rewind Button, which when pressed moves the Pressure Plate just enough to allow for film rewinding.
The Footage Counter may be a marvel of engineering, but without the instruction booklet, you will be at a loss as to how to use it effectively.

This is because, at a guess, the footage counter is a radial representation of the circumference of the Take Up Reel.

You can see this in the way the markings bunch up towards the 50ft/15m mark, where the circumference is at its maximum.
The Syncho Coupler can be used in a number of ways, provided you have the neccessary attachment. It can be used as an old fashioned Flash Sync Socket, or as part of Fujica's Puls-Sync System via the Pulse Generator Attachment.
The Recorder Control Socket is also capable of providing both Power and an On/Off Remote Switch, for suitable Reorders. It is also used with the Synchro Socket, in Fujica's Puls-System.

To the right is the Battery Test Button. Later versions had a Coloured light instead of the meter.

Fujica Z800

There are Three Film Modes. RC is for Remote filming, "1" is for Single Frame, (via Cable Release), and Lastly, but not least, is the Continuous Run Mode.

The Most important feature, however, is the Shutter Controller. With this you can reduce the Exposure, change the effective Shutter Speed, and Fade to and From Black.
One of the first small format cameras to have a an Electron Beam Coated Lens. That said, it is also one of the few small format cameras not to have a macro function, at any focal length.
Here we see where the difference between Single 8 and Super 8 is. The Notch Sensor is a Slider Switch. There is also a Film Pressure Plate, just as in Standard 8 and 16mm.