Super 8!

andythefilmer

andythefilmer

Veteran
I just got a Minolta Autopak-8 D6 Super 8mm Camera off ebay for $40. I also ordered 2 cartridges of Kodak Tungsten Ektachrome and 2 cartridges of Kodak Plus-X Tri Reversal B-W film and the standard 85b color correction filter. Is this all I need to SHOOT the film? I am planning on sending it off to be converted to digital, but is there anything else I need? I don't have to worry about audio because my camera doesn't support audio and it only has auto iris. I have never shot anything on film and I'm only 14 so I guess I just want to be more familiar with the process of shooting it. How long will 18fps last vs 32fps on a 50' cartridge? Anyone done a super 8 film they want to share? I haven't figured out what my first film will be. Probably just experimental cool shots that I will jazz up in FCP once it is converted.
 
Hi! I have ever done a super8 film, but I've taken a lot of photographs on film, and I have some advices for you:

-Get some lights at your convenience store.
-Shoot, mainly, with natural light, which means sun. It's easier to think about the exposure with natural light.
-Be sure of what you want to film. Retakes are expensive.
 
1 minutes 52 seconds at 32fps @ 50 ft.

3 minutes 20 seconds at 18fps @ 50 ft.

to calculate in the future you can go to :
http://www.kodak.com/US/plugins/flash/en/motion/filmCalculator.swf

As for sound, as long as you do short takes, use a clap board(or clap your hands) after you've started rolling on both an audio recorder and the 8mm, and then match it up in post, you should be generally fine....you MiGhT have to mess around with some audio editing, just a little bit to make it match, but it shouldn't be too hard.

You can even just use a mini-dv camcorder just to record some sound if you don't have a dedicated recorder.

This isn't ideal...the ideal situation would be a crystal controlled camera that runs at 24fps along with a dedicated audio recorder, but we all work within our budgets :)

Personally I have an Arriflex 16bl which is a 16mm film camera that is crystal controlled, and I just record wild with either my Maudio Microtrack, or with my HVX-200..... but I've played with the thought of doing Super8 quite a few times....please keep us updated as you proceed.

I'll tell you one thing...pay attention to the general guidlines that come with the film, like what time of day is best for the film and such....the alternative of course is using filters, lights, light meters, and color temperature guages all together to make your film, but just stick to the basics at first, i.e. filming at the right time of day and paying some decent attention to the lighting(like don't shoot directly at the sun or anything silly like that).
 
I used to make super-8 films when I was a kid. The most basic thing is to know how to read the meter (probably one in the camera), and look up the exposure settings for your film in a book or on the box the film came in.

Unlike video, it's pretty hard to screw up film exposure -- even if you're off by a stop or two it'll still look pretty good when it gets back from the lab.
 
"http://www.videoconversionexperts.co...line_Quote.htm"


I also need give a plug to the guys over at DuArt in NYC for this transfer service. Aside from actually being a film lab with some very talented artists and technicians (some of whom taught me parts of my craft) work, their transfer services for 8mm were well done on a previous project of mine that screened at the Newport Film Festival recently.
 
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