Fujica Macrocinecopy: a limited usage macro lens

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1577

Another half-useless find, Fujica Macrocinecopy which permitted to copy still images from 8mm and 16mm film to a 35mm photo camera. The attachment is a widespread M42, two macro rings are supplied. The lens itself has a kind of focusing helicoid and no diaphragm. I haven't noticed any effect from using helicoid. Might it have more sense in film copyng?

Took this image of the lens setup from Flickr, of how it should be used in the film era:

fujica macrocinecopy by Rick Oleson

With the thinnest 1mm M42-to-Nex adapter the lens (without extension rings) focuses at a distance of only several millimeters. But it is sharp. Here is a couple of samples:

#1

#2 A 100% unprocessed crop from another shot of the same surface

#3

#4 A 100% unprocessed crop from the previous

kypfer · Joined: 27 Sep 2017 Posts: 520 Location: Jersey C.I.

I've got one of these, lurking in the cupboard, in it's original box.

It "does what it says on the tin", it's much like a slide duplicator, 'cept being for 8mm and 16mm film.

The extension tubes are for switching between film sizes and zoom ratios on a full-frame camera, the helix allows for fine focus, as I remember.

The picture as shown is totally misleading, apparently showing a short length of 16mm stills film. Trying to handle 50ft or more of cine film really does require some sort of basic jig to support the spools, with the camera on a tripod or similar, and provision of an even, bright light source is a must Wink

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1577

Hey, kypfer, glad to know you also have this nice "useless" device.

I think, the setup shown by a Flickr user is correct. As far as I understood, this device was intended for copying isolated stills from 8mm and 16mm film, not for entire film reproduction. There was such a genre of photos in the 1950s-80s, cinema stars taken from frames of popular films. I may imagine this duplicator was created to "starify" your home video experience and to share images of your family as stills taken from home films.

dickb · Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 821

Interesting. It looks similar in concept to the Rondo 8mm copy tube in T2 M42x0.75 that I have. That one has some sort of mini condensor behind the slot for the 8mm film, which may be useful for its intended purpose but is impractical for anything else.

Can the film guide on Fujica be removed?

kypfer · Joined: 27 Sep 2017 Posts: 520 Location: Jersey C.I.

alex ph · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 1577

I see the point now, kypfer, you are totally right to point out the good use.

Dickb, yes, the film head is unscrewing and the lens shows up. But it does not help in any way. The focusing distance is always limited to several millimeters.

dickb · Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 821