Hello Everyone, Interesting Camera...

[RET80]

It's certainly been a while.
After a bit of scrounging around the digital filming realm, I came across an interesting camera that has qualities that best resemble that of an old super 8 camera (although technically NOTHING like it)
It's called the Mattel Vidster and its slowly becoming known with the underground film community just like the old PXL-2000 from the 80s.

It has a strange, vintage quality to it when it shoots video. It shoots at a very low resolution (320x240) and its poorly developed CMOS censor gives an unusual look and feel, it can be used for very artistic purposes.

I know its not film, but I think its certainly an interesting digital simulation of it.

Here is an example of a trailer I developed using the Vidster:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHlPDEf7uBY

I would like your input on the camera and if you have used it before, share your experiences with it.

[jpolzfuss]

I know its not film, but I think its certainly an interesting digital simulation of it.

Could you please explain why you rate that cheap toy-videocam as a "digital simulation of film"?

[superotto.40]

:roll: It means that resembles super8 because of the low resolution, but this is not the case, because for example the super8 is more than 720p HD..

[Will2]

Nice cheap video. Definitely has some artistic uses. Not sure I want to see an entire feature shot in it, but could be cool for a few scenes.

I recently picked up a Fisher Price toy digital still camera for my 4 year old and it has some of those "retro" qualities on the still camera side.

[BigBeaner]

Not bad, it really gives an interesting soft glowing look to the titles! What I don't like is it just looks like really heavily compressed video, but I guess that's not really bad. The biggest problem I have is the length and music, it could be a little shorter everything has this drawn out floaty feel when I feel trailers should be fast and enticing.

[RET80]

Not bad, it really gives an interesting soft glowing look to the titles! What I don't like is it just looks like really heavily compressed video, but I guess that's not really bad. The biggest problem I have is the length and music, it could be a little shorter everything has this drawn out floaty feel when I feel trailers should be fast and enticing.

Please excuse me, what I meant by a 'simulated film look' was that of old, 8mm footage of the mid 70s possibly 60s. It's obviously not film because unlike digital, film can be taken at any resolution and can be tweaked to look better with newer telecine processes.
But to me, it simulates amateur 8mm footage that was taken in the 60-70s roughly. Its mostly used for artistic purposes because it has that strange look for a digital camera.

As for BigBeaner, yes, it has a very soft feel to it. The reason for compression is due to youtube. Yes it is very long. I looked at it and said 'I need to recut this' which I am doing at the moment. I cut at least a good 10 seconds out of it.
This trailer was mostly done to see if it would be possible to actually create a small youtube series simply using the vidster. Im using older techniques like miniatures and composites to do the special effects on it.
I want something that would challenge me, not my pocket book. I would love to use film but holy cow, the costs could run a man ragged.

[BigBeaner]

Ahh I got you well you should've explained this before and really not knock film or any media. I can understand if you're making this into a weekly youtube series and a lot of effects well yes maybe I wouldn't spend money on film, especially since it's going to look like absolute crap on youtube but get best quality and it can be compressed down.

Film really isn't that expensive though - your movie and the scope of ideas make it costly. I've shot videos and they've costed a lot more than my current film I just finished cutting the workprint to (it's around 2 minutes and spent less than $50 and accomplished what can't be done on video) but likewise, I've spent a whole lot on film projects and video projects too! It really depended on the scope but if you have a simple great idea, you can make a short for nothing on film and it'll look extraordinary.

Availability of equipment or getting deals on them also don't help much either. I'm not telling you to use film for this project but man, if you REALLY wanted to be challenged, shoot on film and try to make a short film for really cheap and efficiently and tell the story visually without relying on dialogue, now that is a true challenge. If it doesn't work for you then hey, atleast you tried man thats what counts. I would like to see another cut on the trailer though, not on youtube if possible (sorry I like watching youtube but hate my stuff on there because of quality). Also don't think that video is so cheap either, post for HD can be ridiculous and really totally finishing on video can be as much as film or more.

[zantizoom8]

"You can tell it's Mattel, It's swell!" Mattel made some of the finest toys i had the pleasure of owning.

I would like to see something you have shot on film, if you have any.

Cheers!
-Zanti