Hey guys,
Just started to shoot super 8 and I have a Canon 518SV.
Got an old hanimex projector out and had a look. This was basically a muck around film to see what it would look like... I did a few things without thinking (shooting into the sun with only using auto exposure etc)... and you can tell a huge difference between into and back to the sun. But I am not sure what super 8 is suposed to look like as I have never really seen much of it.
Most the shots seemed to lack a bit of colour (except for the one directly with my back to the sun) and looked kinda washed out. I only ever used Auto exposure letting the light meter do its job itself.. but it seemed to be unstable. I have no idea about getting the right settings.. my camera does have a manual exposure control. Just the film looks "mucky" I guess.. with the exception of 1 or 2 shots.
The other thing is the daylight filter. I am unsure if I have to do something to activate it or not. Kodachrome pack says daylight with number 85 filter.
My camera manual says it has a built in filter which is cancelled when outdoor film is placed in or a key is placed in the top. Is this right to leave it be to shoot outdoors or do I need to put the key in or buy a number 85 filter?
Finally is this camera an ok camera? and should I start using manual exposure?
If anyone has some tips or ideas that would greatly help, thanks.
Got my first super 8 reel back - Some q's
Moderator: Andreas Wideroe
Hello Seer.
Colours look mostly washed out? This could be due to either of two reasons. Is the footage actually overexposed? If so, the light meter could be ineffective, giving you incorrect exposure. If the footage appears correctly exposed but with washed out colours, then you may have been shooting in the middle of the day during sunny weather. This is a definite no-no, especially with Kodachrome. The best times to shoot are late afternoon and early morning when the sun is low in the sky. The light will be softer and more attractive, giving rich saturated colours. The middle of the day can provide very harsh lighting which will wash out colours and create too much contast for the film to handle. Alternatively, overcast days are great for filming as the light will be soft and diffused.
I recommend manual exposure if you want the best out of your camera and film. Take a light reading from a mid tone - eg. something that is not too dark or too light. Auto exposure can lead to all sorts of problems. The most frustating and annoying thing for me about auto exposure, whether on a super 8 or video camera, is the fluctuation of the iris setting if moving between dark and light objects. The sudden change in exposure can be abrupt and disruptive, especially if it happens frequently in the footage. To avoid this, lock the aperture setting in the manual mode.
If you place the key in the top of the camera, usually this cancels the daylight filter in most camera designs. You don't want to do this! You must keep the 85 filter in place when filming outdoors, otherwise, you will get a slight blueish cast and possibly more washed out footage.
Colours look mostly washed out? This could be due to either of two reasons. Is the footage actually overexposed? If so, the light meter could be ineffective, giving you incorrect exposure. If the footage appears correctly exposed but with washed out colours, then you may have been shooting in the middle of the day during sunny weather. This is a definite no-no, especially with Kodachrome. The best times to shoot are late afternoon and early morning when the sun is low in the sky. The light will be softer and more attractive, giving rich saturated colours. The middle of the day can provide very harsh lighting which will wash out colours and create too much contast for the film to handle. Alternatively, overcast days are great for filming as the light will be soft and diffused.
I recommend manual exposure if you want the best out of your camera and film. Take a light reading from a mid tone - eg. something that is not too dark or too light. Auto exposure can lead to all sorts of problems. The most frustating and annoying thing for me about auto exposure, whether on a super 8 or video camera, is the fluctuation of the iris setting if moving between dark and light objects. The sudden change in exposure can be abrupt and disruptive, especially if it happens frequently in the footage. To avoid this, lock the aperture setting in the manual mode.
If you place the key in the top of the camera, usually this cancels the daylight filter in most camera designs. You don't want to do this! You must keep the 85 filter in place when filming outdoors, otherwise, you will get a slight blueish cast and possibly more washed out footage.
Hey man, a fellow australian!
Well I think I fixed the muddy part .. my projector needed a GOOD cleaning... after that I found it had a focus and then going beyond that an even clearer focus (hanimex dual 8 projector). This gave an awesome image.. the shots into the sun obviously were bad but I expected that now... but the rest were really good.
Well I think I fixed the muddy part .. my projector needed a GOOD cleaning... after that I found it had a focus and then going beyond that an even clearer focus (hanimex dual 8 projector). This gave an awesome image.. the shots into the sun obviously were bad but I expected that now... but the rest were really good.
Aussie Aussie Aussie! I'm in South Australia. Where abouts in Oz are you?
You got an awesome image with a Hanimex projector? If you thought that was awesome, wait till you see projected footage from a projector like a Eumig or an Elmo or Bauer. These machines are equipped with very sharp lenses and will reveal the full potential of your Canon camera's optics. Hanimex products are actually made by a variety of different companies so you never really know who makes a particular product that you pick up with the Hanimex name.
I have two Canon super 8 cameras myself - a 1014E and an 814, as well as two Canon 35mm still cameras with various lenses.
You got an awesome image with a Hanimex projector? If you thought that was awesome, wait till you see projected footage from a projector like a Eumig or an Elmo or Bauer. These machines are equipped with very sharp lenses and will reveal the full potential of your Canon camera's optics. Hanimex products are actually made by a variety of different companies so you never really know who makes a particular product that you pick up with the Hanimex name.
I have two Canon super 8 cameras myself - a 1014E and an 814, as well as two Canon 35mm still cameras with various lenses.