GOODBYE K40...

[Evan Kubota]

I wasn't planning on getting a Rank transfer. I would rather send it out to someone with a workprinter...

Like I said, I can physically afford it, but that doesn't mean I'd rather pay more for what is currently cheaper. My other hobbies are similar in cost to my film addiction... well, car racing is significantly more, but at the level that I'm involved, it's not much different.

[Paul L.]

Maybe you can get a great deal on a Workprinter transfer. I can tell you that I paid about $20 per roll to have Roger transfer my footage. That's no picnic...

[scott]

A workprinter transfer can be had for $10 per roll. I can't attest to the quality as I have sent no film yet, but it is a good price.

If anyone wants a link, PM me.

Scott

[Splee]

For me, Super 8 is actually quite affordable - or at least it is with K40. Whether it continues to be so remains to be seen. My cameras, editor, splicer, projector etc. (I don't transfer my film) all cost less than GBP80 in total. It's the running costs that are high, but they can be spread as you go along. It's way more affordable for me than spending several hundred quid all at once on some sort of camcorder.

Lee

[tlatosmd]

I agree, those are expensive hobbies OK, let's not call it a "rich man's hobby", but it certainly not something that you can get by on with a small initial investment and coast along. The film and processing isn't even the big problem.... the transfer is. I see no point in settling for a substandard transfer after spending time trying to get good footage. And a Rank/Spirit transfer is quite expensive.

I'm not sure what you mean by a 'substandard' transfer. I know that good transfer involves frame accurancy, no flicker, no hotspot, color accuracy, steady picture, broadcast NTSC or PAL quality, not just shooting off the wall or off the screen. What do you think about this: http://www.digital-video-factory.de/Sup ... eo8_DV.htm ? (downsized, small web sample/preview from PAL file, viewable in fullscreen in WMP for a bit more visible detail)

Digital Video Factory from Düsseldorf, Germany offers all this with more than 15 years of experience. Granted, their web appearance leaves something to be desired. But they offer their service for 50-75 cents per minute, depending on destination medium (miniDV, DVD, HD, VHS, others on request) and length, as long as you send in positive material, minus 1 % discount for each reel in a job (minimum transfer length 15m/50ft, max 30 % discount), and plus supermarket price for destination medium (max 5 Euros each, unless you'll send them your own empty medium). They even include a basic color, contrast, and lightness correction.

Thus, I wouldn't say an acceptable transfer is the expensive thing in S8 film-making. It's filmstock and processing, which is why pre-paid processing is one of the most significant reasons, maybe the only reason that S8 is alive today.