Beaulieu (company)
Encyclopedia
MAISON BRANDT FRÈRES, CHARENTON-LE-PONT (House of Brandt Bros) (Beaulieu Cinema, BEAULIEU - IMAGES) is a French manufacturer of motion picture camera
s especially well-known for its Super 8
and 16mm hand-held cameras, founded by Marcel Beaulieu. Marcel Beaulieu had earlier been associated with GIC cameras introduced in 1950. The company's first cameras were introduced in the early 1950s. Later they produced their first Super 8 model the 2008 S Beaulieu, introduced in 1965. Though they no longer actively produce new cameras, the company still services and repairs existing Beaulieu cameras.
film format, Beaulieu introduced the advanced 2008/4008 series and 5008/6008/7008/9008 cameras, while continuing to develop the 16mm R16. Later models include the R16 Sync, R16 Automatic and the more recent 2016 Quartz. The Beaulieu 6016 News is a professional model different to the R16.
In 1978 Beaulieu marketed and sold several low-cost cameras; the Beaulieu 1008XL/1028XL and 60/1068 XLS. These cameras were in fact manufactured by Chinon Industries
under the Beaulieu brand. They are very rare, particularly the Beaulieu 1068 XLS.
cameras. These cameras had removable C-mount lenses, and a reflex type viewfinder (both features uncommon in this smaller format).
In most Super8 and some 16mm cameras of the 1960s, when the 2008 S was introduced, the image from the taking lens was split in two (in a prism): one beam was sent to the film and the other beam to the viewfinder. On the Beaulieu cameras, however, no light was wasted (reflex system) -- either all of it was directed at the film, or while the shutter was closed and the film was advanced, the light hits the mirror on the shutter which directed it into the viewfinder. This meant that the view through the viewfinder would flicker while filming, as the mirror shutter (located at 45°) moved up and down. Beaulieu cameras with this design allowed for shorter shutter speeds to be used, thus providing sharper footage.
60 meter (200ft) magazines were available. 60 meter (200ft) magazine take-up motor powered by camera battery through the contacts on magazine and camera body contrast to Bolex wire connection.
Beaulieu continues its operations from its current facility at 20, Rue Émile Zola 41200 Romorantin-Lanthenay
, France
.
. When the 6008 and 7008 models were introduced the Super 8 format was already losing popularity, and as a consequence, these cameras are quite rare.
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
s especially well-known for its Super 8
Super 8 mm film
Super 8 mm film is a motion picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement of the older "Double" or "Regular" 8 mm home movie format....
and 16mm hand-held cameras, founded by Marcel Beaulieu. Marcel Beaulieu had earlier been associated with GIC cameras introduced in 1950. The company's first cameras were introduced in the early 1950s. Later they produced their first Super 8 model the 2008 S Beaulieu, introduced in 1965. Though they no longer actively produce new cameras, the company still services and repairs existing Beaulieu cameras.
Early Cameras
Beaulieu established a reputation for producing high quality movie cameras for the advanced amateur in 8mm, 8.5mm and 16mm. Reflex viewfinders were introduced before these became common. Models include the M8 of 1953, R16 of 1958 (spring motor version), MR8 and TR8 of 1959 and the MAR8 of 1962. In 1965 the R16 Electric, an electric motor version of the R16 was introduced.Introduction of Super 8
With the introduction of the Super 8Super 8 mm film
Super 8 mm film is a motion picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement of the older "Double" or "Regular" 8 mm home movie format....
film format, Beaulieu introduced the advanced 2008/4008 series and 5008/6008/7008/9008 cameras, while continuing to develop the 16mm R16. Later models include the R16 Sync, R16 Automatic and the more recent 2016 Quartz. The Beaulieu 6016 News is a professional model different to the R16.
In 1978 Beaulieu marketed and sold several low-cost cameras; the Beaulieu 1008XL/1028XL and 60/1068 XLS. These cameras were in fact manufactured by Chinon Industries
Chinon Industries
was a Japanese camera manufacturer. Kodak took a majority stake in the company in 1997, and made it a fully owned subsidiary of Kodak Japan, , in 2004 . As a subsidiary, it continues to develop digital camera models....
under the Beaulieu brand. They are very rare, particularly the Beaulieu 1068 XLS.
Camera Design
Among users, Beaulieu became known for its SLR-style motion pictureFilm
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
cameras. These cameras had removable C-mount lenses, and a reflex type viewfinder (both features uncommon in this smaller format).
In most Super8 and some 16mm cameras of the 1960s, when the 2008 S was introduced, the image from the taking lens was split in two (in a prism): one beam was sent to the film and the other beam to the viewfinder. On the Beaulieu cameras, however, no light was wasted (reflex system) -- either all of it was directed at the film, or while the shutter was closed and the film was advanced, the light hits the mirror on the shutter which directed it into the viewfinder. This meant that the view through the viewfinder would flicker while filming, as the mirror shutter (located at 45°) moved up and down. Beaulieu cameras with this design allowed for shorter shutter speeds to be used, thus providing sharper footage.
60 meter (200ft) magazines were available. 60 meter (200ft) magazine take-up motor powered by camera battery through the contacts on magazine and camera body contrast to Bolex wire connection.
Beaulieu today
As consumers moved from film to video, Beaulieu made some attempts to do the same, but none of these efforts were particularly successful. The company manufactured its last camera in 2002. Both spares and servicing are still available.Beaulieu continues its operations from its current facility at 20, Rue Émile Zola 41200 Romorantin-Lanthenay
Romorantin-Lanthenay
Romorantin-Lanthenay is a commune in the Loir-et-Cher department of central France.-History:The current commune is the result of the merger, on 29 May 1961, of the former communes of Romorantin and Lanthenay.-Transportation:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Used market
The 4008 and R16 models are the ones most likely to be found on eBayEBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
. When the 6008 and 7008 models were introduced the Super 8 format was already losing popularity, and as a consequence, these cameras are quite rare.