Porst 1500 XL Microcomputer

Porst 1500 XL Microcomputer

Lens: Angenieux 1,8 / 6 - 90 mm

Macro focusing

Auto / Manual Zoom with 2 Speeds

Frame rates: 4, 9, 18, 24, 40 + single frame

Shutter degree: Var.

Manual / Auto Exposure

Backlight Control

Fades

Lap dissolve

Interval timer with 6 second intervals

Auto / Manual Recording Level Control

Made in Germany

Comments

This camera is nearly identical to BAUER S 715 XL MICROCOMPUTER (some rumors tells it has different mechanic and the BAUER is more quiet - sorry no!). The BAUER has Angenieux lens marked as f/1.4. Porst has also Angenieux but marked as f/1.8 instead of f/1.4. The PORST viewfinder shows also the smallest worth of 1.8. But the metering of this two optical systems gave astonishing results: the amount of light which passes through the lens is identical even in lowlight! Thus the optical properties of this two lenses are the same. It seems to me that this was a marketing trick from BOSCH/BAUER which has made this identical camera also for PORST. The only difference is the missing shoulderstand and different design.

The top model of PORST (BAUER) cameras. This camera is one of the last generation of Super 8 cameras, and accepts film speeds of ASA 40 or 160 only, neither of which are available nowadays. The camera lightmeter will not set exposure properly with the Kodak Ektachrome 64T film without manual adjustment (by default it overexposes by 2/3 stop), the instruction manual states that it only senses two ASA settings from cartridge notches. You should set exposure manually when using this film.

1. Like every BAUER: According to test and info of the instruction manual it can only meter 40 and 160 ASA in artificial light with the corresponding 25 and 100 ASA in daylight.
2. The original, unmodified camera can not run the Ektachrome 64T automatically.

Modifications (lightmeter, external battery) see: http://www.film.project-consultant.de

Here are instructions on how to adjust the sensitivity of the exposure meter: Bauer: how to adjust S715XL meter. Warning: if sensitivity is changed generally the 25/40/100/160 ASA films will be underexposed!

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by Super8Scientist

I have one of these that is in near-mint condition. It is nearly as quiet if not as quiet as my belt-driven Bauer S 715 XL, of which you can read my review on this website. It has a couple of extra notification lights on the body, and I think the labeling is easier to read than the Bauer S 715 XL. The Bauer is in near mint condition aswell, and does work well, but the Porst just seems to run BETTER. I don't know why, might be due to updated internals and a newer camera, maybe Porst had very good quality control. I would still pick up 1 or the other. They are very quiet cameras and good for sound sync.

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