Is a 16mm Kodak pageant a good piece of equipment?

[Paul Matej]

I was wondering if anyone could give me some information on the 16mm kodak pageant. I was looking at buying a 16mm machine and this one caught my interest. Is this machine worth my money?

[Michael Coffin]

Yes.

-Mike

[Evan Chase]

Since your post didn't mention how much you were thinking of paying for a Kodak Pageant, I would be interested in knowing that.

I have had several Pageants over the years and here's my experience:

Advantages: Quiet operation, focusing soundhead, fast rewind speed.

Disadvantages: Difficult to take apart for repair, optional lenses for larger picture, etc. harder to find and more expensive than Bell & Howells, tube models had "microphonics" (you hear motor vibration in the sound and if you tap the machine you can hear it in the speaker) I believe this was a design flaw in the sound system, since every Pageant I ever ran had this. Two-claw pulldown doesn't run worn film very well, either.

All in all, they are a good machine for under $125.

[Paul Matej]

I have been looking a lot on ebay and they had beautiful machines that were mostly sold for 50 or under 50 bucks. If I find another should I bid on it?

[Steven Sigel]

Sure -- but try to go for a "250S" model (not a 126TR, or 255 or 256). The 250S is the newer model that uses the EJL or ELC halogen lamps (same as the Eikis and Elmos).

[Michael Coffin]

And stay away from the 250E - the "E" stands for "Entry" model (I think). It has no reverse capabilities (check the motor control, it only has forward selections, not reverse). Being an "entry" model they may have made other design changes that aren't as obvious.

-Mike

[Steven Sigel]

Actually E = Economy.
The "E" models not only do not have reverse, they also do not have the super40 shutter, and if I recall correctly they don't have silent speed.

Don't buy one of these unless it's really cheap...

[Michael Coffin]

Aaaah, I knew the "E" stood for "cheap"! :)

-Mike