small format or super8 today or both

Post by **themagickite** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:04 am

thinking of getting a subscripting to one or both of these, worth the effort?
also do the mags complement each other, or do they both cover the same sort of stuff?

Post by **reflex** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:52 am

They complement each other, so I suggest getting both if you can afford to.

As you might imagine, they're very small magazines run by a handful of film fanatics, and every subscriber helps to keep them running. Perhaps the best thing to do is to order a sample issue of each.

I've worked on smallformat since the first issue. As an aside for everyone on this board: New writers are always welcome - the magazine could benefit from a few more contributors in North America.

We've got upcoming pieces on Pro8mm, Spectra, and Film Rescue in the next issue or two. I also got to do an interview with long-time Toronto filmmaker John Porter - inspiring because he's been making Super 8 films since 1968 and yet he still has dozens of ideas and new directions. I asked him something like, "What's your next film going to be?" and he laid out his concepts for a half dozen wickedly clever experimental film projects.

Post by **Rick Palidwor** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:11 am

reflex wrote: I also got to do an interview with long-time Toronto filmmaker John Porter - inspiring because he's been making Super 8 films since 1968 and yet he still has dozens of ideas and new directions. I asked him something like, "What's your next film going to be?" and he laid out his concepts for a half dozen wickedly clever experimental film projects.

Reflex, did you read my profile of John Porter in Super 8 Today?
Rick

Post by **reflex** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:40 am

Rick Palidwor wrote:Reflex, did you read my profile of John Porter in Super 8 Today?

Nope, I missed it - let me know which issue. I'll give it a read later this month when I'm down in Chicago near a stack of back issues.

The piece in smallformat grew out of John's European trip earlier this year. Juergen got to see him in Dresden and really enjoyed his Toy Catalogue and Scanning performances. It'll be in issue 5/2007 and is the longest feature article to appear in the magazine to date.

Post by **Rick Palidwor** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:58 am

reflex wrote:
Rick Palidwor wrote:Reflex, did you read my profile of John Porter in Super 8 Today?
Nope, I missed it - let me know which issue. I'll give it a read later this month when I'm down in Chicago near a stack of back issues.

The piece in smallformat grew out of John's European trip earlier this year. Juergen got to see him in Dresden and really enjoyed his Toy Catalogue and Scanning performances. It'll be in issue 5/2007 and is the longest feature article to appear in the magazine to date.

It's in issue July/August 2006. I'll PM you a PDF to save you the hunt.
Rick

Post by **woods01** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:48 pm

I have a friend who subscribes to both magazines and each are with their
own merits. Small Format is the slicker of the two, a modern layout, better print and photo quality and the articles seem geared to more a more advanced shooter. Its my favorite of the two.

Super 8 Today, has a more cottage industry feel to it. The magazine does
not look as professional by modern standards but has a charm of an older era of magazine publication and at times seems to have an almost
underground feel to it. It has more articles geared to the beginner but
that is not to say its a light weight magazine. Its review of the Super Mag
400 brought up many important issues that the inventor probably didn't
want publicized. And has had many other good articles useful to the
experienced.

Other than the K40/E64 articles there hasn't been a lot of duplicity between the two that I recall.

Post by **toby_tools** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:27 am

I have every issue of SUPER 8 TODAY and I highly recommend it, plus the price is right.
Toby

Post by **Angus** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:58 pm

I used to take both, but financial constraints meant making a choice and I chose to stay with SmallFormat.

to a great extent they do compliment each other. I found both very interesting, but for me Small Format has more articles that I find *useful* as an amateur.

I would say try both if you can, and money permitting subscribe to both.

Thu Oct 04, 2007 5:35 pm

How many pages does each mag usually have? (roughly)
Also, are they paper covers, glossy covers etc?

Post by **flatwood** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:54 am

I subscribe to Super 8 Today.

Post by **superotto.40** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:17 pm

i read Super8 Today, but i have missed the first issue

Post by **standard8** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:53 pm

although i think Super8 Today is a good mag it's a bit limited because it only covers one format so if your into anything else (16mm, reg eight etc ) it's not going to be of much interest.

SmallFormat has a wider remit so if you could only afford one this would probably be a better choice imho.

Post by **flatwood** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:59 pm

standard8 wrote:...although i think Super8 Today is a good mag it's a bit limited because it only covers one format....

Yes, to be absolutely clear, Super 8 Today only covers one format, Super 8, so if Super 8 is your only interest then Super 8 Today is your best choice.

Post by **toby_tools** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:13 pm

In truth,They are both great mags. Buy both if you can afford to, if not pick one. Either way we are all supporting the Film industry as a hole, and that's a good thing. So pick one and call Kodak and order some film!

Toby