new to super8, need some help getting started.

[1-pippin]

ok so im currently bidding on a camera on ebay, but im mostly concerned with the types of film you can use, ive seen tons of super8 videos, and so many of them have very different looks than others, and the websites that ive been to that sell the film also have alot of options.
so i basically need some info on all the different types of film and the look you can get with them. ive seen film with a very sharp pictire for super 8, and some with that classic "muddy" super8 look, and lots of different tones and stuff.
so if someone can help me out that would be really great!

[1-pippin]

oh and what do you think of the cameras and film sold on this site? http://www.pro8mm.com/main.php

[Mafishus]

I would suggest doing a search in the forum for sample clips or screen grabs of the different film stocks. A picture is worth a thousand words, or so they say. Justin Lovell's site has a really diverse set of sample clips that are well labeled. - http://www.framediscreet.com/super8mmsamples.htm and on his companies blog as well - http://framediscreet.blogspot.com/. Ultimately, I think shooting some test rolls of different films will really show you what the film and your camera can give you.

As far as PRO8MM, I buy my film there, and have rarely had problems. I've found that their 100D cartridges jam more than any of the other stocks I've used. Actually, it's the only one that has jammed on me. I couldn't tell you why, though. The cameras are too expensive, IMHO, unless you've got a really good budget for your production. I bought a really good Beaulieu on Ebay, and had it modified by them -crystal sync and Max8 - for half the cost of their baseline camera. I hope this helps.

[James E]

So much really depends on what you want to do. There are plenty of excellent older Elmo super series cameras that meter most all of the current modern film stocks properly in auto mode, save V500T. But The manual setting can compenste for that. They're very basic and easy to use, but by that same basic measure very limited as to features. There are also plenty of good basic Minoltas,Elmo's, Canons etc that do and don't meter modern filmstocks properly but do have manual meter settings to compensate. It really comes down to the one most important thing: MONEY. How much have you got to spend. For my money, if it wasn't an issue I'd throw down for a Canon 1014XLS any day. And I will be sometime soon. It has pretty much everything you could every want and need in a S8 camera for $300-$700 depending on age, condition, accessories etc. At the same time I've shot tons of film W/ my Canon 518SV which for the money is one of the best entry level cams there is. I'd also really love to have an Elmo Super 110 R w/ the acompanying DR1 for sync sound recording. The number, type, style, ability, of cameras is practicaly endless. Blow some serious dough on a Lecina Special w/ C mount lenses. OR a ZMII w/ the same plus crystal sync. Or go grap a crappy $2 specail at the thrift store and leter rip. It's really all up to you.

Ask youself this first
1. How much do you have /want to spend for a camera.
2. In considering 1, what am I going to do w/ my camera? Point shoot and edit? Lap fades? Time lapse? Lightweitht and portable or heavy and stable?
3. What film stocks do you want to use?
4. In considering 3 whats your budget for telcine?
And so on.

I buy my film directly from Kodak which is considerably cheaper, but also limited to the 5 stocks they sell. 1-800-621-film
Ask lot's of questions and enjoy the process.
Cheers,

[Muckymuck]

If you're just starting out, I'd say just buy any cheap Super 8 camera on ebay which appears to work, get some Kodak Tri-X black and white film (high speed so you don't need to worry about lighting and will work in every camera), shoot whatever you like, get it processed and enjoy the results.

Unless you're actually in the film business, you don't need to worry about expensive cameras. With cameras at 99p plus postage on ebay, you can afford to experiment.

[adamgarner]

here's some footage I shot on a 1014 xls. I love this camera since the images are crystal clear and it reads all film stocks.

Http://super8films.trigger-studios.com

Imagine if I'd had it telecined properly.

[steve hyde]

this is a good site:
http://homepage.mac.com/onsuper8/

I suggest finding the best quality Super 8 camera you can find. The cheap ones are aggravating and unreliable and you will find that film materials are more expensive than the camera equipment - so best to get good gear as a starting point.



Steve