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Super 8mm Cameras!! Anyone Shoot film?

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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,813
Whats up guys!

So I inherited a super 8mm camera a few years ago from my college. I finaly looked into it more and It turns out that what I have is the best camera canon ever made in this format. It was used in commercials and movies all the time.

I present to you my canon 1014XL-S super 8mm film camera!
Click for larger image
Click for larger image

Im planning to do a little short film using this baby and Im going completely crazy over this new film world. I ordered two different filmstocks: vision 3 200t color negative film and ektachrome 1000D color reversal film. Im going to do tests with this so I can chose my ideal film stock for shooting outdoors in sunny winter. im starting off with the hardest light situation, I know!

So now that you are informed on what I have and want to do, I have some questions. I have looked into developping the rolls that I will film and have figured out that it will be costly. one part that confuses me is the developping process. seems I have to make a positive and then get those digitalised. giving me two processing costs and two shipping bills.

SO does anyone know a way arround this or where the best place to go would be?

have any advice or insight?

I would love to hear general stories about shooting any type of film and the process.

thanks guys!
Dec 29 2011 2:00PM
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SassySloth
Posts: 3753 - Karma: 2,095
talk to Will Start, He shot a video with a super 8. He should be able to answer your questions
Dec 29 2011 2:38PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
shoot positive film (not negative) so that your developed film comes out positive and ready to be projected.

I'm assuming there's no reason to shoot negative and then get a positive made, but that's just coming from shooting slide vs. neg film stills. I could be wrong, I suppose.

Then borrow a super 8 projector, and read about how to log your own film. I have been told by someone who looked into it that you should be able to do it with a variety of digital video cameras, essentially filming the projected image. I'm not sure how easy it is to do in practice but it sounds like it you are willing you can make it happen
Dec 29 2011 3:13PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
holy hell that camera is sick.




i used these guys to have my film processed and telecined: http://www.dwaynesphoto.com/
they were recommended to me by kevin steen and they were super quick and easy. although i think the telecine could have probably been better, if you watch my Sasquatch Super 8 video you will see some weird lines in the shots.
Dec 29 2011 3:54PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
mat i feel like you've seen it already, but just in case you haven't here's the video i made. i shot on Ektachrome 100D (which is what i'm guess you meant in your post instead of 1000D). i was really happy with the way it looked, definitely had that super 8 feel. although i'd have to imagine it will look quite a bit different coming out of your camera considering i only shot mine on the Canon 310XL.

password is sassy11






Dec 29 2011 3:59PM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,813
Hey will, im thinking of actualy digitalising it by a place. They can do 2k. Maybee for my tests il go the projector route.

For the negatives thing...dont you still need to get it processed so it doesnt fade with light, or burn rather. I realy dig the 2k thing, im thinking the difference in price is worth the crazy resolution.

How much fid you pay for your film will? Already saw it and love it.
Dec 29 2011 5:56PM
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the.cheat
Posts: 2859 - Karma: 171
i see your lens cup in the back. i got one for xmas, i say 24-105 f/4 on the box and i freaked out for a second, then i realized it was a cup and we all had a good laugh. then i got a nice laugh out of putting it in the sink floating with the cap on so my dad would find it, he did and thought it was my cat and almost wrote me a long apology note. awesome gift. but sorry unrelated, cool camera!
Dec 29 2011 7:31PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
i bought all mine off of b&h, so i think it was $15 for each 50' cartridge? i bought 6 cartridges and it just barely lasted me 4 days of shooting. but i wasn't exactly being conservative since i hadn't planned any shots
Dec 29 2011 8:10PM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,813
What about developping and total cost for the total video
Dec 29 2011 9:17PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
i think developing, telecine, and shipping came out to $120, so it was somewhere around $180 total.
Dec 29 2011 9:23PM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,813
oh damm thats pretty good! so to digitalise it you filmed it on a projector right? I might get it digitised in 2k resolution, I think it will be worth it for this project
Dec 29 2011 9:56PM
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goodiepocket
Posts: 950 - Karma: 641
I also use dwaynes. They do an absolutely amazing job, great prices and are unbelievably helpful. I have used them numerous times to develop my super8 film.
I personally digitize it myself with a projector and a t2i or 7d. I think it only adds to the process and makes it a bit more personal/fun IMO.
I finally got my hands on about 10, hundred-foot, rolls of old kayaking footage of my mom in the grand canyon and other rivers. Going to put a little something together once some of these editing jobs slow down. Excited.
Dec 29 2011 10:02PM
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remster
Posts: 898 - Karma: 261
I want to see this when it is done...
Dec 29 2011 10:03PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
no, i had them do it. that's what i mean by 'telecine.' idk how they do it, but i would assume it's some sort of process like that. if i had the means to do it myself i would, but unfortunately i do not. the video file they gave back to me was far less than 2k, but it did just fine for my project.
Dec 29 2011 10:04PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
oh and i meant $210, not $180. xmas break taking a toll on my addition i guess.
Dec 29 2011 10:05PM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,813
I found these guys through forums... they are closer to me and can do the whole process including giving me full hd or 2k output in prores!

what do you guys think about the prices? is it comparable to what you have seen?
Dec 29 2011 10:09PM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,813
forgot the link lol http://framediscreet.com/samples/
Dec 29 2011 10:09PM
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goodiepocket
Posts: 950 - Karma: 641
the prices seem pretty reasonable honestly, especially if you are looking for a 2k transfer. the 'direct from frame' processing sounds pretty interesting. It's a bit more expensive of a process than dwaynes or other places, but that is understandable. if you think you need the 2k for your project, I don't know where you would find a cheaper development at that resolution...as far as I know.
Dec 29 2011 10:26PM
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Rob.
Posts: 189 - Karma: 16
I actually just got back some older super 8mm films of my family in the 1950s to 1980s. I did it through HomeDVD (http://www.homedvd.ca/). It's one guy doing the work out of his home on the west end of Ottawa (I see you're from the Montreal area).

The website advertises up to archival HD, but you may be able to talk to him about doing 2K. If you want the archival versions (most editing capabilities from my limited understanding), then I believe he asks for a hard drive.

He's pretty easy to work with, and runs a smooth operation. He did 2400' for me in a week (last Wednesday to today, so over Christmas). I wasn't looking for the archival version though, and he did do some color correcting.
Dec 29 2011 11:08PM
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s.erickson
Posts: 504 - Karma: 992
http://vimeo.com/20950590
Dec 29 2011 11:20PM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,813
well I calculated it and looking at the whole process from ordering the stock, shooting, developping and digitizing to 2k... it would cost me about 450$ for 6 rolls, give or take for shipping. To me that seems reasonable. at 18FPS it gives me about 19 minutes which I think is reasonable for a 2 minute short.

one thing Im not sure about though is if fcp 7 handles 2k.... never gave it a try!
Dec 30 2011 12:02AM
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mammothpunks
Posts: 5724 - Karma: 372
Check out http://www.pro8mm.com

They have packages with film/processing/transferring

They also have a bunch of different film stocks, some they even cut down from 35mm to super8

Im sure I have the super8 camera with the biggest lens on here. Canon 1218 - 12x f/1.8 lens that is monstrous. The lens threads are 88mm!
Dec 30 2011 12:26AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
If you want to save some money, find a super8 projector and video the wall. I'd suggest using a camera with a solid codec (p2) so that you at least have some resemblance of the film flexibility.
Dec 30 2011 2:42PM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,813
what about exposure now? how to manualy control my shot, I need a light meter since the camera doesnt have one except for auto exposure.

what about using a dslr to find my settings, anyone do this?
tips?
Dec 30 2011 3:54PM
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goodiepocket
Posts: 950 - Karma: 641
I am going to try both my HVX and t2i to see which looks best.
Dec 30 2011 5:57PM
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mammothpunks
Posts: 5724 - Karma: 372
http://blog.iso50.com/23724/convert-8mm-with-5d-mark-ii/

Check out this page. You pretty much ghetto rig a projector to project the image right onto the sensor of a DSLR which gives you a much better image than simply filming the wall. You replace the bulb in the projector with an LED and replace the lenses so it can focus on you camera sensor instead of a wall that is further away. You also modify the speed to reduce flicker, unless you have a nice projector that you can change for 18 fps to 24fps which you can match with 24p in camera.
Dec 31 2011 9:18PM
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