Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Eiki Ex-5000 portable 16mm?

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Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 01-10-2010, 04:41 PM:

Anyone know anything about the Eiki EX-5000 16mm? is it a decent machine? I have a chance to buy one off a local cinema. It looks like it takes a 500-1000 watt Xenon. They never used it so its been in storage for a while. It has handles on the top, and the reel arms come off for transport.

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 01-10-2010, 06:09 PM:

Eiki is one of the best machines made. They've been doing it for quite a while so you don't need to worry. I had an Eiki 1015 xenon that I sold. It was made in the 70s and built like a tank. It was all metal. The one you're considering probably has a plastic case which is not a problem. Most 16mm machines are no longer being manufactured. The studios not longer dub 16mm prints. That stopped in about'06.

Posted by Fred Georges (Member # 505) on 01-10-2010, 10:24 PM:

The Eiki 5000 uses a rubber belt to couple the drive motor to the cam/tank claw movement. Make sure to check that it hasn't dry rotted from non-use. I've found the saw type action of the 2 tooth claw to not tolerate shrunken or damaged film well. Also, the drive motors speed can become erratic & run way too fast & the only cure is a new motor or a rebuild. The focus rack can loosen up over time but, this can easily be repaired with rubber tubing. Try & check the machine out well before buying and don't pay too much for it. When they are up to snuff they'll put a solid image on screen. I've replaced a few because of nagging, age related problems. The 5000 was built in the early 1970's, Good Luck. [thumbsup]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-11-2010, 06:31 AM:

Yea, and good luck getting parts for them too!

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 01-11-2010, 07:27 AM:

I'll try it out... is $200.00 to much?

Posted by Richard P. May (Member # 3598) on 01-11-2010, 09:46 AM:

Also consider replacement xenon lamps. We have been looking for the proper 1000w bulb for an Eiki 6100 for months, and our supplier is finally having to order directly from Ushio in Japan, with a 3 month lead time.

Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 01-11-2010, 09:59 AM:

quote: Fred Georges
the 2 tooth claw to not tolerate shrunken or damaged film well.

I'd like to 2nd this opinion. The Eiki is a well built, quiet
running machine with good sound output. I used one of these
at a local theater where the throw was about 100' and they
were able to get a good, large, steady picture on screen.

But, the gate & claw did not handle film with any degree of
shrinkage/warpage, or anything less than perfectly made
splices well.

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 01-11-2010, 10:11 AM:

FWIW: Robert Film in Toronto services those machines, and in fact had a rebuilt one for sale for some time. Check with them for lamps, belts, etc. A well adjusted Eiki will service you as well as anything else unless you want to step up to a unit with a true intermittant. $200 is a steal if it's in good shape.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 01-11-2010, 10:28 AM:

If I remember correctly, there is something about this machine (bulb? some other part?) that is NLA. This may or may not be an issue, depending on what type of condition it is in and how much 16mm you intend to show.

If it is complete and operational as received, $200 is a good deal, regardless. Even the tabletop 350w and 550w xenon machines go for more than that.

The Eiki is decent for 16mm, but you can do better. I actually like the Hortson machines, but I might be the only one who does. I do not recommend the Prevost. Supposedly, the Kinoton FP-38E is the one that you really want.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 01-11-2010, 10:35 AM:

Hortson and prevost are far from portable
for portable xenon i like the Elmo as it will handle almost any damaged print you want to throw at it
For pedastal machines I like the Prevost/Favorite the best it has an excellent image and if the damper is set correctly good sound
the hortson always has a bit of bounce to it and the soundhead is very high in flutter

Posted by Jon Miller (Member # 163) on 01-11-2010, 08:57 PM:

quote: Scott Norwood
If I remember correctly, there is something about this machine (bulb? some other part?) that is NLA.

The lamphouse mirror, maybe?

Superior Quartz Products may have an equivalent replacement in stock or, if not, may be able to fabricate a clone from the original lamp, ensuring a stock of quality lamps for years to come.

If a lamp explodes, though, and takes out the mirror, the show may be over... [Frown]

Posted by Ian Parfrey (Member # 5122) on 01-11-2010, 09:11 PM:

Bauer Selecton IIo. 16mm projector

Beautiful machines, extremely well built and has an intermittant sprocket. Very quiet too. [thumbsup]

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 01-11-2010, 11:00 PM:

Be aware that some models of Eiki projector use a VERY expensive control board that is also hard to find.

Posted by Kirk Futrell (Member # 5006) on 01-12-2010, 01:34 PM:

I don't know about this model, and I would have to look it up, but I know that Eiki (pronounced A-key, incase anybody was wondering) did make some of their 1k and 2k projectors that use a genevea intermittent, instead of the claw design. This is better for shrunken and damaged films. I've often run 16mm on the claw design and had to stand next to it waiting to push the film down on the bottom loop after the film gate when ever the claw would stop catching. The projector actually has a elliptical rubber wheel that is supposed to resize the loop when this happens, but it rarely works perfectly. Overall though, I have found the Eiki's reliable and easy to use.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 01-12-2010, 02:19 PM:

actually the sprocket driven was bad with shrunken film as well
the factory rep from japan pronounced it I-key
they were an ok machine at best

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 01-12-2010, 02:35 PM:

Well a 16mm projector that can't play shrunken film is pretty much useless nowadays.... theres not a lot of new 16mm floating around. At home my old school B&H's can play anything why can't any "High-end" 16mm's do it, the school size Eiki's however are useless with shrunken film or even splices. I've used Prevost 16mm's, great steady image but they have trouble with shrunken stuff to... The Phillips/Kinoton 16mm seems to play shrunken stuff alright though but they are getting hard to find and are pricey.

Posted by Fred Georges (Member # 505) on 01-12-2010, 02:41 PM:

For pedestal machines The Phillips/Kinoton & the Bauer Selecton II handle shrunken film effortlessly. Never ran much crap film on a Hortson so can't vouch for them either way. In portables I second what Gordon said. Elmo Xenons. They'll run ANYTHING! [Big Grin]

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 01-12-2010, 04:02 PM:

You guys must have some seriously shrunken film--I've got 16mm back to the mid 1930's that run fine on my Eiki's. In fact, other than one or two vinegared prints I've never had any issues with them.

Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 01-12-2010, 09:23 PM:

I believe the EX-5000 series is claw-based and the EX-6000 is intermittent-based.

--jhawk

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 01-13-2010, 12:28 AM:

Actually the 6000's came in both flavors. IIRC the 6000 is a claw machine, and the intermittant model was a 6100.

Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 01-13-2010, 12:32 AM:

Crap! You're right. I admit, I put the "believe" in there because it was from a sketchy memory... sorry.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 01-13-2010, 02:46 AM:

No, the 6100 is a claw machine. The 6120 is the intermittent version.

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 01-13-2010, 09:40 AM:

mea culpa, but the thought was there.