super 8 projector question...

[smtristan]

I've got a question, I'm attempting to do stop motion with my old braun nizo 801 macro...and I don't know how to use the camera, so when I shoot something I was wondering if there was a fast and efficient way to view the shot?

does a film projector do this? or do I have to get my film developed before I can use a film projector?

needless to say, I'm going to be shooting the entire thing in digital as well as super 8.

thanks!

[super8er]

you need to get it developed first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the best way to view back your animation quick is to use a computer program like stopmotion pro, along wth a web-cam to record single frames with next to your film camera,doing this alows your to step back and forth between prevously captured frames and live feed to size you movements. go here for a free program: http://www.clayanimator.com and get like a $15.00 web cam from wal mart or sumtin.

[smtristan]

cool, thx.

so that means I should buy some film, practice using my camera, get that film developed, look at that film through a projector, and then do stop motion with it?

the only reason why I want to use a digital camera too is because it's higher quality, and just in case the super 8 film gets messed up.

[Patrick]

"...the only reason why I want to use a digital camera too is because it's higher quality, and just in case the super 8 film gets messed up."

I wouldn't necessarily agree with digital video being higher quality than super 8. Video may appear 'crisper' and cleaner. On the other hand, film (whether that be super 8 or 16mm or whatever) has a greater degree of colour saturation that video - though that depends on the particular film stock used. If you filmed a sunset on Kodachrome for example, the colours would literally jump off the screen.

Additionally, film has greater exposure latitude then video - this of course depends on the type of film stock used as well - and if you are using negative or reversal film. Negative film has greater exposure latitude than reversal. Though smaller film sizes like super 8 do not seem to handle contrast as well as larger film sizes. Still, I have seen examples of super 8 reversal handling contrasty situations more efficiently than many video cameras would.

Though I agree with the part of your quote that seems to suggest that video can be more convient than film - ie used for instant playback and providing back up footage just in case the film footage gets incorrectly exposed or the focus is off.

[RalphS]

a cheap webcam is the best way to get started. Don't worry about image quality until you've learned how to build armatures and do animation.
Check out http://www.stopmotionanimation.com/handbook/