How do I film and develope a Super 8?

Question

I've been looking for a Super 8 in Ebay

for the past week and once I finally find a good one it always says 'great for collection!' which I really don't know what it means and I also don't know how to work them. I've never even touched one before!

So, how do i work a Super 8? How would I know if it works? Where do I buy the film and how much is the film?

Answer 1

basically on ebay you need to ask a lot of questions.  Does the camera turn on, has any film been run through the camera, is the gate clean, what film ASA does it take, does it have a manual. etc.

They're simple to operate, you can still buy super8 and regular 8mm film from Kodak, just make sure the ASA of the film is compatible with the camera.  You can check out Super8wiki for info on a whole bunch of cameras.  You can order from the Kodak website or search for a place where they sell in your town.  Film depends on what stock you get and if you can get a student discount.

Super 8 is basically a point and shoot kind of thing with the light meter inside the camera.  Some have auto exposure but others are manual (which is fantastic).  You'd need to record audio separate cause they don't make the film with the magnetic strip anymore.  

You basically put in the cartridge and run the film through.  once you're done you need to take it to a lab for processing and telecine to be able to get it digitized for a computer.  Some labs will put the footage onto a hard drive for you (at extra cost) and others can put it on a MiniDV tape for you or a DVC tape (which is bigger and needs a deck for capture).

Super 8 is not obsolete since a lot of great stuff can be made with it.  It has a fantastic look and you get a lot more light latitude than with video.  Basically you can s***w up a bit more with film than you can with video.

However, before you run film through your camera, I suggest you save a good bit of money for processing and telecine (which can get expensive, look for student discounts at labs), and especially, learn how to light well.  Good lighting renders a much better looking shot.  Also, make sure your  story is worthwhile to shoot since you'd have to put money into it.  Message me for more info.

Answer 2

super8 is obsolete, which is why it is hard to find. a "collectors" camera is one that is complete, but not warranted to work. it is a display piece, not a working camera.

The super8 film comes in a cartridge. i used regular 8 so i am not familiar with the safety precautions, you need to get a camera that has the original operating instruction manual.  regular 8 required camera loading in total darkness, we used a "changing bag" a light proof bag to be able to change the film in field. The film reel was flipped at the end, and then exposed going the other direction, much like an audio tape. Film works well in daylight, but will require considerable artificial color balanced lighting when used indoors.  If you do mostly indoor shooting, you should try and get the tungstan film.

Super8 cameras usually featured electric drive motors, automatic exposure setting and a manual focus 6x zoom lens.

The film is only processed by Kodak, you will need a mailer to send out for development. If you buy film at a camera store, they should have pre-paid mailers available. You will need a projector to view when it is returned.  Editing is not easy, most directors would "edit in camera", which means they would plan out the shooting to get the scene shot exactly in timed sequences.  Audio is a magnetic stripe on the edge of the film, but not all cameras had audio recording, so most super8 sound projectors could record audio narration as it is projected.

have fun.

Answer 3

super 8 is not obsolete.  i use it all the time.

i've always gotten mine developed by a professional.  if you live in a big enough city, there's bound to be someone who can develop your film.  if you want to edit your film digitally, you'll also need them to transfer it from film to DV.  

using a super 8 camera is not that hard, but i suggest you get a practice roll and just experiment with the lighting and zooming.