Beaulieu (company)

Beaulieu Images is a French manufacturer of motion picture cameras especially well-known for its Super 8mm and 16mm hand-held cameras. Though they no longer actively produce new cameras, the company still services and repairs existing Beaulieu cameras.

Beaulieu's first camera was the 2008 S Beaulieu, introduced in 1965. It was founded by Marcel Beaulieu.

Cameras

Notable cameras include the advanced Super8 format 2008/4008 series and 5008/6008/7008/9008 cameras, as well as the larger format 16 mm double-perf R16.

In 1978 Beaulieu marketed and sold several low-cast 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.

Perhaps the most well-known 16mm models are the R16 Electric, R16 Automatic and the more recent 2016 Quartz. Less known are the R16 Sync and 6016 News.

Super 8 & 16mm

Among users, Beaulieu became known for its SLR-style motion picture cameras. These cameras had removable C-mount lenses, and a reflex type viewfinder (both features uncommon in this smaller format).

In most Super 8 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 -- either all of it was directed at the film, or while the film gate was closed and the film was advanced, the light hit a mirror which directed it into the viewfinder. This meant that the view through the viewfinder would flicker while filming, as the guillotine shutter/mirror mechanism moved up and down (in and out of the way of the film). This system was by this time standard on large 35mm motion picture cameras, but rare on the much smaller Super 8 and 16mm cameras. Beaulieu cameras with this design allowed for shorter shutter speeds to be used, providing sharper footage.

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, France.

Used market

The 4008 and R16 models are the models most likely to be found on eBay. 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.

External links

* [http://www.beaulieu.fr Company website (in French)]
* [http://www.beaulieu.de Repairs and spares (in German)]