Few machines manage to combine design and functionality with such grace as the Fujicascope SD Auto. Likely the most elegant Super 8 projector ever built in Japan, this compact unit is not only a pleasure to look at: it is a remarkably sophisticated tool for inspecting freshly developed reels (called "green films") . Behind its sleek façade lies a set of features that make it one of the best compact projectors ever made.
In 1985, not long after finishing university, I took advantage of a special offer from Fujifilm and purchased two units of the SD Auto. Back then, the idea of owning a Fumeo was a distant dream. My plan was to use both SD Autos in a dual-projector setup, like those still common in projection booths at the time, for screening Super 8 feature films.
But in 1987, my first Fumeo arrived, and the plan changed. Since then, unit no. 2 has served tirelessly to check newly developed footage. Unit no. 1, on the other hand, was stored in its original plastic cover and left untouched... until last week, when I gifted it to my friend Álex. When we removed the plastic cover , we discovered cover had slightly discolored the paint—a small scar of time. Yet, after a basic cleaning, the machine powered up flawlessly.
What makes the SD Auto so special?
It looks like something from a sci-fi film, but it handles Super-8 film with a tenderness that few other projectors can match—especially automatic ones.
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Fully automatic threading: Just feed the film into the slot. The machine starts, threads, lights the lamp, projects—and switches itself off at the end.
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Automatic rewind: When the reel ends, it rewinds the film by itself.
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Multi-reel handling: A clever mechanism lets you gather up to six 50-foot reels onto a take-up spool after development for easy automated rewind.
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Electronic loop former, gentle on your film.
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Two sprocketed wheels, before and after the gate, offering superb film handling.
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Dual magnetic sound playback (main and balance stripe)—and it even reads optical sound, a rare bonus in a compact projector.
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Metal pressure plate for long-term durability.
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Easy manual unthreading via a front door, with hinges, with full access to the claw and sprockets.
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Ultra-fast "pull down" claw mechanism allows use of a 40-degree shutter blade, maximizing light output. Even with a modest 100W lamp, it rivals 150W machines.
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Touch-sensitive piano-style control keys and a 5-LED electronic VU meter—no rotary knobs here.
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Sockets for day viewer or anamorphic lens bracket.
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On my unit, I replaced the standard 15–25mm f/1.3 zoom with the rare Fujinon f/1.0 25mm prime, a legendary lens with stunning resolution and light transmission—superior even to the famed Kern f/1.1 23mm.
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Superb finishing details, like the knurled screw for the lamp cover (no tools needed) or the black-painted face of the lens clamp to prevent internal reflections and preserve contrast.
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Rock-solid reliability: in nearly four decades, my unit has only needed two replacement transistors. Álex’s unit? After forty years of slumber, every function worked immediately.
Alex´s unit 1, on the right
A historical note.
With the same Fujinon f/1.0 lens, the late Luis Cardarso (owner of Spain's LCM 16mm projector factory) once adapted several SD Autos with HTI250 lamps. Alongside my friend Enrique de las Heras from MóvilCine, I once saw one of these units in action at Luis’s factory before it was shipped to a film club in Zaragoza. The sheer brilliance and clarity of the image from such a small machine made me exclaim:
“Let there be light!”
Its only drawback? The magnetic head doesn’t retract during silent film playback, so if it’s not perfectly clean, it might leave faint marks on Max-8 prints, which use the main stripe area for image.
Álex, meanwhile, upgraded his unit with the Fujinon f/1.0 zoom 14–28mm, another top-tier choice.
Final thoughts.
The Fujicascope SD Auto may not enjoy the same fame as Elmo machines, but it deserves its own pedestal. As a second unit for viewing or review work, especially paired with an f/1.0 lens, it’s nearly unbeatable. Elegant, precise, care with film, durable—this was Japanese engineering at its finest, built to last and to serve.
Now, that same spirit continues in Álex’s hands. May he enjoy this projector as much as I have.
FUJICASCOPE OWNER´S MANUAL IN ENGLISH
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