Mekel 300 Instant Analysis Camera
marketed in 1985 (1)
manufactured since 1985 until 198?
production: ?
Polavision Phototape Cassettes (2)
lens: C-Mount type interchangeable lenses
viewfinder: single-lens reflex with adjustable eyepiece
viewfinder information: correct exposure signal (green LED), not enough light signal (red LED), too much light signal (yellow LED)
exposure: auto exposure control; TTL Exposure Metering
film speed: auto for 711 and 718 Polavision phototapes cassettes (3)
CCA filter: not built-in 85A filter
filming speed: variable speed, 4 to 300 fps (4)
shutter opening angle: rottary shutter, 90º angle exposure equivalent (5)
film transport: intermittent pin-resgistered film transport (6)
handle: detachable pistol grip for handheld use
film counter: film % used indicator (LED display on the back of the camera)
power source: 28 V DC (+/-4 V) (7) \ 1 x 9 V alkaline battery for film % used meter
weight: 2700 g
dimensions: 120 x 200 x 230 mm
tripod socket: 1/4" + 3/8"
chassis: vinyl covered, sheet aluminium panels
made in Usa by Mekel Engineering (8)
(2) Polaroid Polavision is a instant film system. The film is same as Super 8 film, but with a diferent cartridge. Polavision phototape cassette have the following characteristics in common: film width: 8 mm; film length: 38.5 feet; frame size: 4.2 x 5.7 mm; frames per cassette: 2800; packaged in sealed cassette; Polavision phototape cassette requires Polaroid Polavision Player for development and viewing: you could watch your film 90 seconds after shooting. Development process automatically occurs when phototape cassette is inserted into Polaroid Polavision Player the first time.
(3) Automatic exposure control for Polaroid Polavision phototapes cassettes, type 617 (reversal panchromatic film, 125 ASA) and 618 (reversal color film, 25 ASA). ''When a cassette is inserted, a keying device automatically sets the exposure control system for the speed of the dfilm being used" (text from owner's manual).
(4) Approximately 10 sec at 300 frames per second; 2 min 35 sec at 18 fps.
(5) "The rotary shutter has two fixed 45º angle apertures located 180º apart. It rotates at 1/2 the frame rate, so each aperture provides the equivalent exposure of a shutter with a single 90º angle aperture. As the shutter is open 1/4 of the time that each frame is in the film gate, exposure time (or shutter speed) equals the reciprocal of 4 x frame rate. Example: 1/1200 second at 300 frames per second" (text from owner's manual).
(6) ''The intermittent pin-registered film transport holds the film stacionary during exposure; it ensures frame-to-frame registration and sharp images. Detail is clearly visible in examination of single frames'' (owner's manual).
(7) 7-pin plug for electric connection.
(8) In 1972 Mekel Engineering designeed other high-speed camera for Super 8 film, the VIC SP-1, but it was distributed in Usa by Visual Instrumentation Corporation and in Europe by Weinberger Deutschland GmbH.
Some scientific studies were filmed with the Mekel 300, the VIC SP-1 or the Kodak Analyst and the film was analyzed frame-by-frame with projectors as Lafayette Analyzer.