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Links
ACL operator captures Evel Knevel's historic jump over the Grand Canyon *
- Eclair Studio and Film Lab (No longer manufacturing cameras)
- Cinematography.com – Eclair Forum
- Eclair ACL Email Discussion on Topica
- Eclair NPR Email Discussion on Topica
- Eric Bickernics’es ACL site
- Erkan Umut’s ACL page
- Art & Medias (Eclair parts) (FR)
Camera Tech Links:
PLEASE NOTE: Contacts are listed below in no particular order. The bio information is provided by the tech and/or taken from their site.
SUPER-16, Inc. (NY, USA)
http://www.super16inc.com/Super-16, Inc is owned and operated by Berny O’Doherty. Bernie worked for Eclair from 1969 to 1975 as Chief Technician. He provides full service repair and conversion for all Eclair cameras. His exclusive Laserbrighten process increases brightness 1-2 stops through the viewfinder.
Visual Products (OH, USA)
http://visualproducts.com/Visual Products sells, manufactures and services a variety of film cameras and support gear. Paul Scaglione is the resident Eclair specialist. Paul has received training at Arriflex, Panavision, Alan Gordon Enterprises, Cooke Optics, and Victor Duncan Inc.
Les Bosher (UK)
http://www.lesbosher.co.uk/Les offers repair service, conversions and accessories for Eclair cameras. In addition he specializes in lens conversions, mounts and adapters and his shop has CNC equipment capable of machining custom parts.
Van Dieman Films (UK)
http://www.vandiemen.tv/Van Diemen is a full service camera company, also offering custom accessories for Eclair such as matte boxes, lens mounts. Performs Super-16 conversion for both cameras and lenses.
The Aranda Group (AUSTRALIA)
http://www.arandafilm.com.au/Bruce at the Aranda offers repair services and conversions for Eclair cameras as well as rental of motion picture equipment.
SMS Productions (IL, USA)
http://www.smsprod.com/Owned and operated by Man-Sung Son. SMS offers repair services, registration testing, optical repair and lens collimation in addition to equipment rental and sales.
AZ Spectrum (NY, USA)
http://www.az-spectrum.com/Owned and operated by Andrew Zorawski. AZ Spectrum specializes in electronics. Many techs on this page will repair on the mechanical parts but send cameras to Andrew for electronic issues. AZ Spectrum also manufactures video assists, digital counters and crystal sync time controls for Eclair cameras.
George Gal @ Du-All Camera (NY, USA)
http://www.duallcamera.com/Du-All Camera has over 40 years of experience in repairs, sales, & rentals of Motion Picture & Digital Video Equipment including cameras, lenses and accessories.
Planning Camera (France)
Bernard Dechaumel
52 avenue Pierre S’mard
Ivry Sur Seine 94200
Phone : 33 1 4521 8944 or 33 1 4521 4343
Mobile : 33 6 0889 1260
Fax : 33 1 4671 9816Bernard announced his retirement in 2003. He was provided with the last of Eclair’s spare parts when Aaton bought out Eclair, and he was the Eclair Tech recommended by Jean Pierre at Aaton.
Optical-Electro House (CA, USA)
http://www.opticalelectrohouse.comOwned and operated by George Zorzoli. Optical-Electro House offers Super 16mm camera modifications for Eclair cameras. Specialties include custom ground glass, Eclair crystal motors, customized accessories and expert repair of Angeuieux, Canon, Zeiss, & Cooke lenses.
August Loessberg (OK, USA)
http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/L/Gerald.L.Loessberg-1/Cameras Pro (NV, USA)
http://www.cameraspro.com/Owned and operated by Guy Bodart. Specializes in Bolex repair and conversion but also works on many camera brands including Eclair.
Pro Video Film (TX, USA)
http://www.provideofilm.com/Offers repair services for film cameras, video cameras, lenses, tripod heads, all VCR’s and VTR’s, including digital format machines. Also offers precision machining services and custom fabrications by factory-trained technicians.
Lee’s Cameras (UK)
http://www.leescameras.demon.co.uk/(Possibly has gone out of business)
(*) The photograph above is from the original ACL Brochure and likely has nothing to do with Evel’s jump, however I like to think that is where the photo was taken. His backpack radio is pretty sweet too.
2 responses to “Links”
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I just received my camera and lenses from Bernie O’Doherty who serviced the camera (it was loud and experiencing flicker problems), 2-400′ mags, and collimated the lenses. Let me say that Bernie did an excellent job on my camera (at this point, the best it’s run since I’ve owned it, which has been for 8 years… and I’ve shot with it frequently). His service went beyond my expectations, and he brightened my viewfinder for a discount price. (it indeed is brighter). Furthermore, earlier this year he collimated a problem Kinoptic 5.7 mm lens for me that has never looked right, though I have sent it to other techs. Bernie is really pleasant to deal with, and will treat you right regarding prices. He’ll tell you the rate, and if he finds anything amiss he didn’t expect, he’ll e-mail you for approval before continuing the repair. What can I say? He does good work. I recommend him highly.
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I contacted Bernie O’Doherty to have him laser my ground glass with his Naturalite process. I also sent my stripped camera body and viewfinder to Bernie for some maintainence. Bernie agreed to “toast” my ground glass, and disassemble, clean, inspect and re-lube the body for a mere $100 over the price of the ground glass work. While it was apart, he also opened my orientable finder and mopped out some fungus one of the elements had cultured.
“Though I was expecting a cleaner, brighter image through the finder, I was startled at just how dramatic the difference was! The best illustrative analogy I can make is; previously, the image looked similar to the view through a filthy windshield as you are driving into the sun. Dark…. no contrast. My first impression is that Bernie had kicked that windshield out of it’s frame! The image was almost as clean as the view through my 35mm Canon SLR.
Being interested in picking Bernie’s brain a bit, I took the 250-mile drive to Boston to pick up my finished camera. He escorted me into his “dungeon” and I was awed! It was a wonderland of technical toys, parts, cameras, charts, tools…. piled in a fabulous, functional strata of disarray. I felt like the Sorcerer’s Apprentice as I watched the bubbly man scamper about. With a proud gleam in his eye, Bernie ushered me out the door an onto the street which looks out over Boston Commons. In sunny daylight conditions, with the iris maxed, I wasn’t even aware of the glass’ grain. Upon shutting it down to f22, and looking to a sky/shady building composition, the grain became slightly apparent. It was like handling a completely new camera.
I must compliment Bernie. What a neat guy!! He may be the most pleasant man I’ve ever met. I knew from reputation and hear-say that he was a gentleman, square shooter, and knowledgeable technician.
Leave a reply
Julian January 27th, 2009 at 02:36