INTERVALTIMER FOR THE FUJI ZC1000

An intervaltimer is a device used to program a motion picture film camera at predetermined intervals, usually frame by frame. The Fujica ZC1000 (for Super-8 film in Single-8 cartridges), has, in its long list of accessories, with:

1) a slow exposure intervalotimer (to keep the shutter open longer than normal in each frame), in two versions (the one manufactured by Retro Enterprises in Japan, and the other one built by CBD Tested Super-8 Cameras in Spain);

2) an intervaltimer for self-timer with adjustable shooting duration; and 

3) the one that occupies us in this post, a frame by frame intervaltimer in order to film what, even in Spanish, is called "timelapses" (given that "intervalometric shooting" is very pedantic).

This Fujifilm Intervaltimer is little larger than the 9V battery that powers it. It easily attaches to the top shoe of the Fujica ZC1000, connecting to the camera via the rear electromagnetic input. Many filmmakers don´t know, as Fujifilm itself does not warn about it, but the accessory is fully compatible with Fujica Z850 and ZX550 cameras.

Fuji standard intervaltimer

Although the consumption is minimal, it is appreciated that it has a start switch. The intervals for frame by frame are graduated with a rotary knob where 1 is 2 frames per second, 2 corresponds to 1 frame per second, 3 to 1 frame every second and a half; and, in this way, it goes up to the top, a little more than ten, which is one frame every minute.

Long exposure intervaltimer for ZC1000 built by Retro Enterprises in Japan

Inside, surprisingly advanced for a device that went into production in 1974 (and remained until 1982), a potentiometer allows these values ​​to be slightly adjusted, so that two same units of the same accessory may not provide exact ranges.  The timelapse is a very fashionable technique that I always use, for some shot, in most of my documentaries in S8, like this feature (with English subtitles):

SPITSBERGEN, O GARDIÁN DO ARTICO from IB CINEMA Motion Picture Films on Vimeo.

For those who want to go deeper into the subject, a highly recommended book is “Spanning Time: the essential guide to Time-Lapse Photography”, written by Chris Weston and edited in  English by the accredited publisher Focal Press. Although the volume is mainly conceived for reading by digimerde users or videographers, many of the tips are also useful for silver photographers or filmmakers.