35mm...the new 16?

[Will2]

Has anyone else noticed all the 35mm cameras being dumped on eBay recently? It has me wondering if 35mm filmmaking is becoming slightly more affordable.

• Arri 2Bs and 2Cs which are really amazing cameras when maintained well are going for $3000 and less.
• Camera are staying on rental house shelves so deals can be made there even if they aren't lowering the published rates
• Buying shortends, recans, ect. in 35mm is easier than 16mm. I just bought 3600ft of Fuji 64D for $180. My lab tested it and it's fine.
• Telecine on Rank/Spirit/ect. costs the same on 35 as 16mm and is coming down fast in price
• Processing is of course twice as expensive since the film is twice as long for the same runtime
• The cameras are of course not very practical to take on vacation except possibly for an Eyemo.
• The quality difference is amazing, especially in the background detail; plus shooting with that huge viewfinder is great too

Just some thoughts.

[grainy]

[*]Buying shortends, recans, ect. in 35mm is easier than 16mm. I just bought 3600ft of Fuji 64D for $180. My lab tested it and it's fine.

Just some thoughts.

I've been getting that feeling. Also you see Kinor 35 cameras on ebay for what K3s used to go for back in their (long gone, apparently) heyday.

[BAC]

The projectors are huge 8O . It would take up half my living room. I'll stick with 8mm.

[beamascope]

I'll admit $180 for 3600 feet of any film format is a sweet deal.

[carllooper]

[*]Processing is of course twice as expensive since the film is twice as long for the same runtime

While twice as long it's also twice as wide so should cost four times the price.

I might pick up up one for doing digital to film transfers. Shoot Super8 > digital intermediate > 35mm film > box under my bed.

Carl

[avortex]

If you shoot 2-perf (AKA techniscope), you have 50% less in film, processing and telecine, so you can end up with less expense than 16mm.
Exciting times... 8)

[S8 Booster]

+ if film production was limited to only 1 standard 35mm the price could technically go down......


shoot....

[carllooper]

We'll need to change the name of this forum to "large gauge film forum".

[LeoStehlik]

We'll need to change the name of this forum to "large gauge film forum".

well... wasn't 70mm gauge the "real" large gauge film? compared to that, 35mm is still a small-ish format

[Mana]

Well not just 35mm, I just got a Factory converted Bolex EBM Super 16 package including a zoom and original box for less than $700 shipped! And this camera is clean!

[richard p. t.]

I too have started taking advantage of 35mm. I have a Konvas 1M which I have been shooting with. Of course, for myself, I can do my own processing. I also have a 35mm projector which is great. I shot 1000' by single frame hand cranking on a trip to Tasmania last month. Was very heavy carrying the Konvas as well as 100' cans of film in the bush.
Takes up a lot of room in the drying racks too when I process it.

[avortex]

Wow! Travelling with a Konvas! You're a brave man, Richard...

I've recently purchased a Cameflex CM3 modified for Techniscope, and can't wait to start shooting with it. Shooting 35mm at cheap prices: a dream come true! Now it's time to make movies...

[Will2]

I just rebuilt a battery for a pristine Arri 2C. Can't wait to try it out.

That viewfinder has such a bright, large image and it is much easier to focus than 16mm.

[carllooper]

I too have started taking advantage of 35mm. I have a Konvas 1M which I have been shooting with. Of course, for myself, I can do my own processing. I also have a 35mm projector which is great. I shot 1000' by single frame hand cranking on a trip to Tasmania last month. Was very heavy carrying the Konvas as well as 100' cans of film in the bush.
Takes up a lot of room in the drying racks too when I process it.

Hey Richard - let me know when you're having a screening - would love to see what you've done. And I can fill you in on my progress with the DIY datacine about which we were speaking some time ago. And otherwise talk film and philosophy.
Carl

[Will2]

well... wasn't 70mm gauge the "real" large gauge film? compared to that, 35mm is still a small-ish format

Just held a strip of 70mm and a 65mm film at my local rental house...can't imagine how amazing those images must look if they are scanned at 8k; not that anything can actually display it at 8k other than a print.

If you want to see what film can do check out this movie on Blu-Ray.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103767/