Gakken Super 8 projector kit brings hand-cranking back into style

As we've seen, there's at least a small, devoted following out there keeping the venerable Super 8 format alive, and it now looks like they'll soon have another tool at their disposal, with the retro-minded folks at Gakken set to release their new Super 8 projector kit. While it's practicality may be in question for serious Super 8 enthusiasts, they will at least get a bit of an understanding of how things work by piecing it together themselves, not to mention a mild workout by hand-cranking the film through the projector. It's not all old school, however, with Gakken turning to white LEDs to light up your masterworks. If that's got your interest piqued, you'll apparently be able to get your hands on one of these in Japan next month for ¥8,000, or about $80.

[Via Gadget Lab]

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Mar 14th 2008 3:58PM]

That thing would make a great base for kick ass LCD or DLP projector project.

[PhilxBefore @ Mar 14th 2008 4:08PM]

That way you could handcrank your way through Bee Movie on HD-DVD!

Which just so happens to cost 13 times more than this!

[phanbouy @ Mar 14th 2008 6:14PM]

my old friend in NYC is an awesome multimedia artist. he does a lot of Super 8 work, which he has to transfer to DV by aiming a camcorder at the wall where it's projected. some extra lumens from an LED backed projector would make for a much higher image quality and brightness for videotaping.

[Tasayu @ Mar 14th 2008 4:00PM]

It is not 80 dollars, the price is ：2,300円 which is around 30 bucks!!! I saw this at the local Japanese book store for 28dollars.

[Nate @ Mar 14th 2008 4:05PM]

Dumb. Yeah that's it.

[stevew @ Mar 14th 2008 4:15PM]

Ah, Wonderful, hours and hours of fun. Had one as a kid in 1960 (dad made films). Keystone Cops and Charlie Chaplin on any white wall or door. Slow motion speed it up all with a twist of your wrist. Also you had to learn how to thread and fix the film loop. Lots better than sitting with your thumb over the button on a remote!

[YoMomma @ Mar 14th 2008 4:30PM]

does it plays doom?

[andres @ Mar 14th 2008 9:55PM]

yes, it plays doom, blends, and people welcome it

[Jesse Dula @ Mar 14th 2008 4:41PM]

You mean no one has posted how superior their iPhone is to this as of yet?

[Zak @ Mar 14th 2008 4:54PM]

You should have noticed by now, and your post proved it again, that's it's never the Apple fans that start this crap. it's always the Apple haters that start it. If you don't want idiotic Apple comparisons to everything, stop posting them.

[Sam Zebian @ Mar 14th 2008 4:47PM]

Pretty good price if all you need is a basic projector for your Super 8's, only downside is the hand cranking for real practicality. If it really is as cheap as Tasayu says, then I would get this if I used Super 8's.

[Zak @ Mar 14th 2008 4:56PM]

"Gakken" is the sound my cat makes when she coughs up a hairball.

[Rubicon @ Mar 14th 2008 6:26PM]

For some reason I WANT

[dhughes @ Mar 14th 2008 11:26PM]

What about hand-cranking your way through a porn flick?

[The_Steven @ Mar 15th 2008 1:20AM]

wtf?!!? Well I'll bet the steampunks will want it.

[Hy @ Mar 16th 2008 7:21PM]

I'd like someone comes out with a sort of USB output for super 8...sort of the USB vinyl turntables, but to digitize vintage video in a cheap way (aiming the camera doesn't just fit the best needs, and telecinemas are too expensives)