The A1/231 is undoubtedly the most common type of lamp used in Super 8 projectors. If your Super 8 projector is labelled as taking a 12v 100w lamp, this is the correct lamp to fit it. They are often referred to as EFP lamps, which is the standard American coding.

Not all A1/231 lamps are the same however. Many disco effect lights use the same fitting, but as precise colour temperature and performance is secondary to lamp-life in these applications, many manufacturers are these days producing cheap "long-life" versions of the A1/231 with inferior brightness and a duller, more yellow light output.

The lamps that we sell are superior quality Osram HLX Xenophots. Osram fill the capsules with xenon rather than the more ubiquitous krypton gas used in cheaper lamps. The xenon reduces the rate of tungsten vaporization and allows for a higher filament temperature, resulting in brighter, whiter light. The parabolic reflectors are engineered to much more precise tolerances than many cheaper bulbs, giving the required even light spread that good quality Super 8 projection requires. Xenophot lamps are typically 15-20% brighter than the Krypton-filled versions.

Our lamps are all new stock so buying from us there is no risk of buying one that has sat in a warehouse for years with corroded contacts. If you are unsure as to which bulb your projector takes you can check out our lamp guide.

A1/231 bulbs are also known by the following codes: EFP, 6834 (Philips), 64627 (Osram).