13.04.2004 Nizo – The Super 8 Legends Juergen Lossau Allow me to select from the approximately 60 Nizo Super-8 cameras and introduce only the particularly interesting models. «The world’s best-equipped Super-8 camera» was how Braun AG described its «Nizo S 800» from 1971. To begin with, I need to stir things up a bit. About six years passed before Nizo introduced a movie camera for the new Kodak cartridge, featuring nearly everything that had been standard for the last Standard-8 models. Paging through the operating instructions, one sees quickly why this was so. On the topic of lap dissolves it said: «To enable lap dissolves in Super-8 cartridges, approximately 10.6 inches (27cm) of film must be loaded into the cartridge. During this procedure, the film in the cartridge is deflected several times. If the anti-friction properties of the film material are poor, it may result in congestion and interruptions. Avoid lap dissolves on the last few feet of film as flawless performance cannot be guaranteed.» Well, now we know what the camera cannot do, although, as described in the prospectus, it should be able to. Fade-ins and fade-outs are, however, possible without any difficulty. The shutter speed for single frames can be reduced from 1/43 to 1/86 second. Image-synchronized sound recording is possible by means of an impulse cable as well as the selectable option of slow motion at 54 frames per second. The camera also offers a single-frame automatic, which can shoot at 6 frames per second down to a minimum of one frame per minute. Thus roses can be made to bloom in the twinkling of an eye. Finally, take a look at the monstrous Schneider lens: 7-80mm f/1.8. In 1975, the even more extravagant «Nizo Professional» arrived. Braun called this top model a «compact camera,» which seems to be slightly understated, considering its huge 12x zoom lens (capable of macro shooting from the front element) and its weight of 4 lb. (2 kg). In addition to 1, 18 and 54 frames per second, the «silver arrow» also runs at 25 frames per second. With the built-in 50 hertz generator, sound track impulses can be released according to DIN standard 15,575. A 1000 hertz oscillator is offered as standard equipment. With this, the control impulse is selectively generated with each frame or with every fourth frame. In total, with its five switch positions, the «Nizo Professional» provides every possible variation of synchronized sound recording in the twin-band system. This ability gave it an unrivaled position on the Super-8 movie camera market. The long-time exposure had also been further developed. Single frames could now be exposed to light automatically for as long as required, depending on the quantity of light available, by means of a special exposure meter window on the front of the camera. After the single frame is exposed, the next frame is automatically transported to the film gate for exposure by the rotating shutter. Thus it is possible to capture excellent still images on film without a manual exposure meter and without fumbling or calculations. Unfortunately the camera is missing a frame counter, which is hard to believe considering it has an expensively designed automatic time-lapse mechanism. The somewhat sparsely equipped «Nizo 801 Macro» had meanwhile been serving the «Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Raketentechnik und Raumfahrt» («Rocket Engineering and Space Flight Association») in Munich as a scientific assistant since 1976. Every series of measurements performed on the propulsion units within the experimental area were recorded by this camera—by means of a 100-foot (30-meter) remote cable release. The evaluation provided information on the quality and degree of atomization of different injection systems. Neither the sound waves during the engine power-up nor the vapor clouds could in any way affect the function of this camera. More about Nizo: The Brand

Nizo super 8 cameras (Pictures: Jochen-Carl Müller). For zoom please click on picture. Movie Cameras: The International Guide by Juergen Lossau. A book and catalog about every model ever built in 16mm, 9.5mm, 8mm, Single 8, Super 8 and Double-Super-8 formats.