An excellent Super 8mm motion picture camera. It was made by Chinon Industries in Japan for GAF in about 1971, and has several features:

1. 7.5mm to 60mm F/1.8, 2-speed power zoom lens (8:1 ratio) & manual zoom.
2. 180º shutter opening.
3. Filming speeds of 1, 12, 18, & 32fps(instant slow motion button)
4. Aperture display in viewfinder with over & under exposure warning zones Aperture display shows: F/1.8 to F/16.
5. Diopter viewfinder eyesight adjustment.
6. Viewfinder shutter to block out stray light when used on a tripod and your eye is away from the viewfinder.
7. An wide range filmspeed accepting capability of: Daylight w/filter settings ASA 16, 25, 40 64, 100 & 160 and Tungsten or without filter settings: ASA 25, 40, 64, 100, 160 & 250.
8. Light meter battery saver button, activates light meter only when cartridge is in camera.
9. Separate drive & zoom and light meter battery compartments (light meter battery is a Mallory PX-14 2.7 volt equivalent...or use two small PX13 cells). Battery power meter on back of camera with separate buttons to test motor & drive batteries or light meter battery.
10. Slopped handgrip with thumb release trigger and locking setting (run, runlock, and lock).
11. Electric Auto Fade-in/out switch on right side of camera. Fades smoothly....however....to use in auto exposure mode you have to have the meter battery installed. It will work without the meter battery but set at Auto, but will then only fade in or out from completely open to completely closed. This was a change from the previous ST-111 model which had a mechanical fade switch which wasn't as smooth...but still allowed fades even in manual override settings.
12. Cable release separate sockets for Single Frame and Continous Run.
13. Manual exposure setting dial on top of the camera; can also be used to fade in and out when in manual mode.
14. Remote control and battery charging socket: this is a dual purpose socket....if you have the battery charger and use NiCad cells instead of Alkaline batteries, you can charge the batteries while sitting in the camera. If you plug in a micro plug electrical remote, then you can use this as a remote control socket.
15. Large microprism focusing aid in viewfinder.
16. Film movement indicator on top of viewfinder.....moves up and down if film is transporting; allows you to know when film is finished.
17. 58mm Filter Threads on lens.
18. Threaded movie light socket on top of camera (daylight filter moves automatically out when threaded in).
19. Filter button on top of camera to allow for instant filter removal and replacement...such as if filming indoors and panning to film an outdoor scene thru a window, so you can release and allow the filter into position, or other similar needs.
20. Backlight control button on front of camera above zoom lens. When depressed in and camera is set for autoexposure, it will open the aperture by 1.5 Stops and will return to the autoexposure setting when released.
21. Red end-of-film indicator comes down automatically and covers the film movement indicator window above the viewfinder display.

As you might be able to tell, this is one of my favorite cameras. If used carefully, it is capable of very sharp and steady Super 8mm movies. The only drawback to this camera is the lack of a 24fps setting (which was added to later models such as the ST-802, ST-1002 etc). This same camera with different cosmetics was made under the REVUE and NORIS names, as well under it's own CHINON name and similar models under several other brands (JC Penny, Wards, Sears, K-Mart)...not necessarily this exact model...but many similar to it.

If unable to get a battery or batteries for the builtin light meter or if the builtin light meter should no longer work, you can use the camera manually. If using manually, with either an exposure chart or separate hand-held light meter.....open the lens aperture by 1-Stop compared to what the meter or chart indicates. This is only a guide.....it would be best for you to try setting it exactly at what a separate meter indicates, and then at 1/2 Stop open above that, and then at 1 Stop open above that, and then at 1.5 Stops open above that. This should all be done on your initial test film. This will give you a representation of what exposure you should use and what best suits your personal taste in exposure image density for how you want to film and project. These cameras are often overlooked bargains, since many do not necessarily associate the GAF name with quality. GAF had their products made by several various subcontractor companies....and not all of their movies cameras were made by Chinon. The ST series is Chinon made, but not the S and SC series; some were made in Hong Kong, China, and Japan. The original selling price on the GAF ST-111E was $179.95 back in 1970/71. Optional accessories included a case, close up filters, cable release. The camera came originally with a screw-in rubber lens shade, attached eyecup(which was made of a type of rubber that deteriorates after 20 plus years), battery charger, and snap on plastic lenscap.

Happy filmmaking!
Best wishes, Martin W. Baumgarten

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