What 16mm Film Camera Should I buy?

Question

A friend of mine and I are working on a few films and were wondering which camera we should go for. I want a camera that is in color and will give me the old 70's exploitation/slasher look.

Answer 1

ok well if you're going to work  with 16mm film you'd want a light meter too.  The old Sekonics with the big round ball are just fine.  But also ask yourself if you can get the same look with regular 8mm or Super 8 because of prices of the film stock and processing fees.  Also you'd have to see if there are labs in your area as well as telecine houses that can handle 8mm film.

Now.  For 16mm,  if you're just starting out then a Bolex will work nicely but you'd want to make sure it's a reflex camera so what you see through the viewfinder is what you'd get.  You can also go with a Beaulieu R16 which can do sync sound.  The bolex would be a bit harder to get sync sound unless you had a motor that matches 24 fps constantly.  Another option would be a Krasnogorsk-3 (or K3).  This is a great option because it is pin registered so the film runs more easily through the camera and you don't tear as many perfs.

If you're in it for the long haul, you'll want to go with an Arri.  You can get the newer versions ( an SR3 now I believe) or go on Ebay for older models.  Just make sure they're in good condition.

As for color or not, that depends on what film stock you buy.  There  are lots of choices depending on where you're shooting and how you're going to expose it.  Its not just like a video camera.  There's a lot more work in knowing how to expose the film and what stop to set the lens at to ensure proper exposure.

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