what type of camcorder will achieve a low budget 80s video look?

J

jdkhanlian

Active member
http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/musicvideo/8377-twin-shadow-castles-in-the-snow-terrible4ad

was this shot on an old vhs camcorder? or another format?

i remember my dad had a vhs camcorder, but i think the colors were more vibrant and the look was better... but i am not sure if it was because it was a later generation vhs camcorder.

i want to achieve that low budget 80s music video look.

i would like to use a vhs formatted camcorder, but if this look is achieved using beta or some other format, i will go that route.

anybody have any thoughts?
 
shot on film (there are dust specs visible) then transferred to some low fi format, then from that format transferred to web.
 
yes, i think you are right. there are also some shallow depth of field shots which indicates it probably wasn't video. but what gives it that 80s video look? just the transfer?

why does video shot in the 80s look different than video shot on a cheap sd video camera these days?

here is another example...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibuiX03ICrU
 
Looks like the first video was shot with a goodish super 8 at 24 frames. There's little weave in the gate and no flicker that I could see. They probably used tungsten film and didn't filter as the outdoor shots look pretty blue. There is also no interlacing or smooth motion that would suggest 60i. The depth of field is a product of a long lens, do you see how flat the image is as they approach the camera.

The second video is too far gone to make any accurate assessments. Looks like at least 1 round of vhs recording. It could have been shot on film or video. The early 80's cameras were tube and you would get screen burn from light sources so at least we know they're CCD cameras or film. There's also no way a VHS homecam had that much latitude.

If you want a crappy 80's VHS look just go to the goodwill and pick one up for $5. Don't use Beta SP unless you plan on smearing vaseline on the heads. Beta SP is/was of higher quality than most of today's predominant consumer/prosumer formats.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top