I wasn't sure where I should post this at. I want to shoot movies using film, I like the look and the quailty of film more than digtial. I have been looking online and I can't find anywhere to buy a film camrea. Is there somewhere to buy these camrea or do they not sell them any more because of ditgial?
Where to find a film camera?
- Thread starter fobers95
- Start date
Barry_Green
Moderator
Ebay, and they're cheap cheap cheap. Look for a CP16/R for a low-cost, entry-level, high-quality 16mm camera, you should be able to snag one for under $1000.
New fiom cameras are very expensive. But I've seen Arri BL 4 go for $5,000 on ebay. That's insane...
New fiom cameras are very expensive. But I've seen Arri BL 4 go for $5,000 on ebay. That's insane...
That's a very broad question. What kind of film are you looking to shoot? 8mm, 16mm, 35mm, 70mm? 16mm Bolex cameras can be found on eBay for between $200-2,000. Arri SR cameras around $2,000-4,000.
I would suggest a Bolex to get started, if you've never shot film before. If you want a camera for sync-sound, I would rent an Arri 416. There's so many mechanical bits to a film camera, it would be better for a rental house with camera technicians to inspect and repair it, rather than chance something breaking or being out of adjustment. You'll also need to buy film from Kodak, develop it, and get it transferred to some video medium. Things can get expensive quickly.
I would suggest a Bolex to get started, if you've never shot film before. If you want a camera for sync-sound, I would rent an Arri 416. There's so many mechanical bits to a film camera, it would be better for a rental house with camera technicians to inspect and repair it, rather than chance something breaking or being out of adjustment. You'll also need to buy film from Kodak, develop it, and get it transferred to some video medium. Things can get expensive quickly.
Barry_Green
Moderator
A 35mm film camera can cost under $500 for something like an Eyemo, to around $10,000 for a decent quality reflex sound-silenced camera system.
But before you start talking about getting a film camera you'd better acquaint yourself with the cost of film, developing, and transfer. Figure somewhere around $100 to $150 per MINUTE of footage.
But before you start talking about getting a film camera you'd better acquaint yourself with the cost of film, developing, and transfer. Figure somewhere around $100 to $150 per MINUTE of footage.
It sounds like you need to do some research. Try the words 'shooting on film' in Google, see what you find. It's hard to give advice if you don't know what you want. But if I were to give advice it would be to get the cheapest thing you can, film size included. 16mm is what you probably want. Keep in mind that if you do shoot on film you would need some way to edit what you shot, so you'll have to make some decisions on that front. The most convenient method is to digitize it, but you can experiment with anything if you're just learning.
David G. Smith
Steak Knife Member
I do that search all of the time... and it makes me sick to my stomach to see the amazingly low prices that great film movie cameras are going for. 35mm Arri BL IV pimped out packages for $5000.00ish makes me crazy. Those cameras were upwards of $100,000.00, in today's dollars, when introduced. I still get tingly in the southern parts with the thoughts of picking up an Arri Super 16 SRIII, kitted out with a zoom lens and all of the doo-dads, for around $5k. The thing is... great movie cameras are now available at such low costs for a reason....
David W. Jones
Veteran
Makes me glad I sold my film gear while it was still worth something!
To the OP.... Many film schools now use digital cinema cameras due to both the changing times, and because of cost. For what it's worth, you don't need a film camera to learn the basics of shooting a film. A simpe digital camera will allow you shoot and view your footage instantly, where a film camera will add a huge time delay to viewing your footage, which can be a hindrance in the learning process. The other issue... Cost! You will be paying a huge amount making mistakes in the learning process shooting film, where learning by shooting digital is a non issue.
All the best!
Dave
I remember a newspaper article from when I lived in my hometown, probably five or six years ago. It was a profile of the Humboldt State film department, where the person in charge went off on the horrors of digital cinema, and how they're one of the few film programs that actually requires the use of film which makes them superior. It was a really bad article, and he clearly had some flawed ways of thinking, but the point is that their continuing use of film was enough for a small article in the newspaper. Six years ago. So if prepping for school is the only purpose it may be a waste.
But I still say get a stills camera and some black and white film. It really is fun.
But I still say get a stills camera and some black and white film. It really is fun.
David W. Jones
Veteran
Kind of like those radio programs that insist on teaching future DJs how to spin records and clean tape heads, when computers are used now. There is nothing wrong with a history lesson, but seriously, we don't require new car drivers to learn on a horse and buggy.
David G. Smith
Steak Knife Member
NO YOU ARE NOT.
If you are going to, "...Make it into the industry..." you will have to master very complex crafts and if you insist on doing it only on film... you had better bring a very fat checkbook with you.
David W. Jones
Veteran
Are you going to shoot silent movies?
If not then you will need a silent, also known as a blimped 35mm sync sound camera, which can be very big and heavy. An older ARRI 35 BLIII kit for example can be had for around $6K, but you will likely also need fresh batteries. You will also need a changing bag to load your film into the mags. You will also need a tripod capable of holding that weight, figure at least $3K for a used head/legs. You will also need PL mount lenses for your camera, either primes or zoom. A cheaper prime set is close to $20K, while a cheaper zoom can be had for around $6K. You will also need a slate to sync your audio and video together, and since we are on the subject, you will need a audio sound recorder/mixer/microphones/boom/cables/headphones, in order to record your sound for your movies. So there you have a basic Film/Audio PKG for oh say $25K Min, not including any film. While we are on the subject of film, unless you get some kind of deal, you are looking at around $625 per 1000' of 35mm film, which is only 11 minutes. This is just for film stock, which you will still need to have processed at a lab, then transferred to files for editing. Then there is the issue of how you are going to transport this film kit from location to location, unless you are just going to shoot films in your backyard. You will need at least a van. Of course that is only the beginning. Are you excepting to do films which resemble your favorite films? Then you will also need lighting/grip/electric gear.
IMHO, by the time you are a director in the industry in a position to make those decisions, film will have gone bye bye.
Useing film needs to continue, yeah its more expensive and you don't get to see the footage right away. Film has been used since movies first started why change that now? Without film its going to be hard in a 10 years to find a older movie film lasts a lot longer than ditgial and has a better picture. Watch the documentary on Netfilx Side by Side its about ditgial and film.
Shooter
Veteran
Just as a little reality check ( and not to burst your bubble)...
Shooting film is very expensive.
Cine film is not really being made by any major players any more or for much longer at least.
Film cams may have got cheaper ..but cine lenses are still very very expensive.
Post producing in a film workflow is a very expensive and a long process. ( no matter which way you do it)
You need to ask your self..
What kind of budget might you have for equipment to shoot with if you intended to buy what you need?
Do you know what is neede3d to shoot a film on film?
What kind of budget might you have to make a film thru to completion?
How will you edit it?
How much would you budget to rent a camera kit, lighting and grip rig?
If you did want to disclose these amounts...people here will check your reality for you.
David W. Jones
Veteran
Have you even shot on film? You might be disappointed with the results you get off the bat. I can honestly say that I have shot bad footage with both digital and film. After all, film is not a magic bullet to great looking movies, it's just an acquisition format, that when used by a talented team, can give great results. Then again the same can be said about digital.
Just so you know, my first still film camera was a pinhole camera made from a Quaker Oatmeal box, and my experience shooting motion picture film more than doubles the time you have been on this earth. It's not that I don't like film, it's just that I'm realist who happens to live in the hear and now.
All the Best!
Dave