THE BEST BIG REELS FOR FEATURE FILMS IN SUPER-8: FUMEO vs CASTELLS vs BEAULIEU

Professional Super-8 projectors, such as the range from Beaulieu or Fumeo, accepts big film reels for features, 700 metres in the case of the Beaulieu, 800 metres in the case of the Fumeo 9119, 9139 or 9143, and up to 2,200 metres in the case of the Fumeo 9145! (with polyester film the capacity is increased due thinner base). 

Beaulieu big reel on the left, Castells big reel on the right

For years I have been using 700 metre Beaulieu reels (manufactured for Beaulieu by other company), 800 metre Fumeo reels (Italian made) and Castells reels (Spanish made), between 700 and 2,200 metres. 

I dislike the Fumeo core

Which ones do I prefer? The most beautiful ones are the ones from Fumeo but I don't like their shaft, die-cut in the steel itself. 

Beaulieu reels are nice but their core is plastic. 

Beautiful Fumeo reel (left). On the right, Castell reel

The best BIG reels are, in my opinion, those manufactured by Julio Castells in Barcelona: they are made of aluminium (of two thicknesses, to be chosen by the customer) and with a separate cast aluminium core. They also have brass retainers that serve to hook the film automatically. And they come, matching, with aluminum cases.

Brass retainer for automatic loading in the Castells reels