Picked up a Super 8 camera

[Davidovic]

My friends and I went to a second-hand store in search of a Polaroid camera today and I came across a film camera on sale for $15. I bought it because it was cheap, but when I googled it just now I found a couple of sites selling it for $75 up to $300. It's a Chinon 20P XL DirectSound.

Anyways, I was thinking of organising a shoot with some friends, maybe making a short b&w film noir with it, but I'm worried that it won't work. Obviously the easy way to find out is to put batteries in it, but is there any way to test that it's light-safe? Also, I'm interested in the cost of developing the film. It's obviously different for every person, but is there some kind of rough estimate as to how much it would cost to purchase, develop and transfer to DVD around 45 minutes of Super 8 film footage?

Cheers,
Evan

[DeSica]

Super 8 film isn't so easy to get developed if you live in remote area. I had some done here in Toronto at a pro facility, and one cartridge/roll wasn't exactly cheap.

Maybe around $25, if I recall correctly...was a while ago.

Nice find on that Chinon...

[Jacquot]

Although most of this is North American based, here are a few links that you might find helpful. Maybe you can at least get a feeling for costs.

http://www.pro8mm.com/main.php

http://www.filmshooting.com/

http://www.flickerfestival.com/otherflickers.html

http://homepage.mac.com/onsuper8/

[Capt Quirk]

You might also want to take a community class on phtography, and learn how to use a darkroom. Doing it yourself can be much less costly, and add that pride factor when it comes out nice. Nobody has to know about the others... ;)

[Davidovic]

Thanks for the info :) I actually know a place that develops (hopefully to DVD, I don't like the idea of cutting up film >.<) in my city. Is developing super 8 film anything like developing normal film?

[Capt Quirk]

A strip of film is a strip of film. It's just a much longer one than what you would take out of a still camera. I really can't see there being any other differences.

[jmega]

i send all mine to Yale film and video in Ca. its $14 per roll (50ft=3min 20sec) for color film and the turn around is really fast

http://yalefilmandvideo.com/

edit: just saw that you are in australia, so shipping to CA may suck