Nikon R 10 Super

Nikon R 10 Super

Year: 1973-80

Weight: 1930 g

Lens: Cine Nikkor 1,4 / 7 - 70 mm

Macro focusing

Split Image Focusing

Auto / Manual Zoom with 2 Speeds

Frame rates: 18, 24, 54 + single frame

Shutter degree: Var.

Manual / Auto Exposure

Backlight Control

+/- correction for auto

Flash contact

Fades

Lap dissolve of approx. 100 frames

Remote control socket

No sound

6 X 1,5V batteries

Made in Japan

Manufacturer: Nippon Kogaku

Dimensions: 70mm x 200mm x 260mm

Weight: 1,93 kg

Prices on eBay:

• eBay Germany:
  • EUR 187,80 ( + EUR 8,00 shipping) in 04/2006
  • EUR 136,00 ( + EUR 7,00 shipping) in 04/2007
  • EUR 161,00 ( + EUR 6,90 shipping) in 04/2012
• eBay USA
  • US$312 in 07/1999
  • US$380 in 07/1999

Comments

Here is a link to the Nikon R10 Super Service Manual

Reviews

TOP OF THE LINE

A fantastic Camera, with a highly powerful lens. The sturdy weight, design and impressive range of features makes the R10 the ultimate advanced amateur Super 8mm camera. The only fault experienced in one of my two original models purchased 30 years ago is the rubber eye piece has become brittle and cracked. This does not impede performace at all, and are both going strong, as if i'd gone back in time and bought them brand new!
Beautiful enough to be the icon for this Super 8mm website!!
-age

My 2 Cents

Sometimes referred to as the Arriflex of Super 8 cameras for its rock steady registration, the R10 gets my vote for head of the class because no other Super 8 zoom I’ve ever shot with has given me better results indoors or out. The fast, f1.4 Cine-Nikkor 7–70mm Macro Zoom has the feel of a $30,000 Zeiss or Panavision Cine Zoom – images just seem to snap into focus, if you know what I mean. Even though the R10 is not technically a low-light camera, the Cine-Nikkor is so fast that I’m able to get brighter images indoors with it than with my Canon 814XL-S. The R10 viewfinder is not as large as the Beaulieu 4008 ZM2, nor as bright as the Canon 814XL-S, but it is sharper and easier to focus. The built-in EE is fast, responsive and very accurate. I often use it as a spot meter, zooming in on a face, locking the exposure, then pulling back to recompose the frame. Perfect exposures every time. Besides a killer lens the R10 is the only Super 8 camera I know with film guiding pins and an enlarged film gate. The guiding pins are not registration pins per se because they are stationary, but they do manage to improve registration as well as film handling. The ability to handle different thickness film stocks makes this Super 8 the perfect candidate for shooting negative film stock, and the enlarged film gate is a boon for those of us who do our own telecine. Check out this popular Super8 website for a review and pictures of Nikon’s unique film gate: http://super8man.filmshooting.com/super8_33.html Though heavier and less ergonomic than my 814XL-S, the R10 feels perfectly balanced in my hands and easy to handhold for long periods of time. I also love the fact that it has a built-in hot shoe which allows me to use modern, lightweight onboard led lighting. R10 reliability is legendary. Don’t be swayed by filmmakers who gripe about the R10 being as noisy as a Singer sewing machine. Not true. If you have a noisy R10 it is because it needs lubrication. I couldn’t believe how quiet and smooth my R10 became after I had it serviced. A big, big plus for this Super 8 is the ability to meter automatically for film speeds from 10-640 ASA! As good as the R10 is, I personally do not recommend its little sister, the R8. Same mechanics as the R10 but unfortunately the lens sucks, at least by Nikon standards. The R8 also has dimmer, much smaller viewfinder and an inferior metering system. It usually sells on eBay for about the same price as the R10 so it’s usually way overpriced. Hold out for the R10. You won’t regret it.

2016 Review

Pros: I am very impressed by this lens. Despite it being a fixed lens, it takes very sharp pictures like my Nikon 35mm SLR lenses. In my reckoning the picture quality is dead even with the Canon 814XL-S, Bauer A512 and Elmo 612S-XL. The reason then to choose this camera over one of the others is that it produces the steadiest image I've ever seen from a Super8 cartridge (excluding the frame-master pressure plate). I'm not a fan of the fixed handle on a tripod, but in every other respect this is a very well-built camera.

Cons: It doesn't have a socket to attack an external battery pack, and the battery holders suck. My experience with them is that 100% of them are corroded, and 50% won't work even after you rub them over with baking soda and alcohol. If you're unlucky enough to find a potato of a battery holder (you'll know if none of the electronic functions work AND the battery compartment doesn't get hot due to a shorted wire), good luck finding another one in good condition without having to buy a whole other camera.