Beaulieu S2008 Batterieadapter mit Varta AA Akkus in der Hand

Insider Tip Beaulieu S2008: Use the Affordable 4008 Alternative with AA Batteries

Hand on heart: If you're looking for a really good Super 8 camera, sooner or later you'll come across the legendary Beaulieu 4008. For many of us, it's the “Holy Grail”: solid, professional, and equipped with lenses that bring tears to your eyes (of joy!).

The problem? It's incredibly expensive these days.

But what if I told you there's an almost identical sister model that often costs only half as much, yet can do nearly all the same things? I'm talking about the Beaulieu S2008.

I'll tell you now why it's such a bargain and how you can get it back in shape with our new adapter—while saving a considerable amount of money in the process.

You can also watch my video about it, where I compare the two cameras directly.

The Duel: Beaulieu 4008 vs. S2008

Can you spot the difference at first glance?

Vladi holds both cameras (4008 and S2008) side by side toward the camera

Probably not, right? The Beaulieu S2008 came onto the market only about five years before the famous 4008 and looks remarkably similar to it. Back then, it was absolute high-end equipment.

The reason everyone is chasing the 4008 today while the S2008 is often overlooked came down to one annoying detail: the power supply.

Like many cameras from that era, the S2008 uses a very specialized battery with an unusual 3-pin connector. We and others have had modern battery solutions for the 4008 available for quite some time, but S2008 owners were often left high and dry. And without power, even the most beautiful camera is unfortunately just an expensive paperweight, which is why S2008 prices are so low.

Your Chance to Grab a Bargain

That's exactly where you can take advantage. Since there hasn't been a sensible battery solution until now, you can often pick up a used S2008 for next to nothing. With our new adapter, you can turn it into the technical equivalent of a 4008, for a fraction of the price.

One small catch? Okay, the S2008 can't shoot extreme slow motion at 70 fps like the 4008. But honestly: With film prices the way they are today, who still wants to burn through film at 70 frames per second? Exactly.

The Solution: Our New Battery Adapter

We couldn't listen to the complaints anymore and, typically for Ausgeknipst, built something of our own.

Our adapter replaces the old specialized battery and runs on 4 standard AA NiMH rechargeable batteries. That's brilliant because:


  • You can get replacements at any gas station (regular batteries will do in a pinch, but we recommend rechargeable batteries).
  • You can use your regular charger.
  • The voltage is a perfect match for the camera's electronics.


Installation Is This Easy

You don't need to solder or use any tools:

  1. Charge the batteries: Grab 4x AA NiMH rechargeable batteries (Eneloop or Varta are great).
  2. Insert them: Put the batteries into our adapter.
  3. Slide it in: Slide the adapter, including the circuit board, into the handgrip. The orientation doesn't matter—the contacts always line up.
  4. Close it up: Screw the lid on.

Vladi screws the lid onto the handgrip

The best part: Our screw-on lid has a metal thread. Unlike cheap plastic parts, nothing strips here, even if you change the batteries frequently. The lid presses the adapter firmly against the contacts, ensuring reliable operation.

You can find the adapter directly in our shop here:

Beaulieu S2008 battery adapter (including lid)

(Note: You'll also need 4x AA NiMH rechargeable batteries and a suitable charger, which you can get at any electronics store.)

Watch Out When Buying a Camera (3-Pin vs. 1-Pin)

Before you buy up all of eBay, here's one warning. There are two versions of the S2008:

  1. The 3-pin version: This is the standard version. You can see three small contact pins in the battery compartment. Our adapter is made specifically for this version.
  2. The 1-pin version: This one is extremely rare and has only one contact pin.

At present, our adapter works only with the 3-pin version. If you happen to have one of the rare 1-pin cameras, let us know. If enough people ask for it, we'll get back to the drawing board!

Conclusion

Don't let the hype around the 4008 drive you crazy. The Beaulieu S2008 is a fantastic, underrated camera. With our adapter, you can bring it out of its slumber and still have enough budget left for what's most important: buying film and shooting!

Do you still have questions about the Beaulieu, or are you unsure whether the adapter will work for you? Just get in touch.

Good light and have fun filming!

Your Vladi

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