Super 8

<p>I didn't know what this would fall under so I thought film and processing may work.....Is anyone out there still shooting super 8? I just send my first roll into dwayne's and I am having it put to DVD. I can't wait!</p>

<p>Have fun! But don't bother with Dwayne's DVD transfers; they're absolutely horrible: blown highlights, cropped frame, and lack of detail. (Their film processing is first-rate, though!)<br>

Did you use E64T, or old K40 stock, or something else?</p>

 

<p>I still shoot a lot of Super 8. Have some rolls of Kodachrome left. If you want sharp, crisp B&W give Plus-X reversal a try. Very fine grained and nice tones.</p>

<p>I am using Ektachrome 64T</p>

<p>Yup, I love it.<br>

If you want to be blown away, try shooting the negative stocks and have them professionally transferred. Vision 500T makes available-light night shooting a reality.<br>

Of course, Plus-X developed in a bucket has lots of appeal too!<br>

Don't be too discouraged by the quality of video transfer. You really need to project Super 8 to get the best out of it.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any examples of a tranfer from Dwayne's? I am going to eventually pick up a working projector. (I have some old films and I can't get a projector to work to save my life...I don't think it is me...I think I have just got a bunch of lemons.)</p>

<p>Super8 is great... if you take care in shooting your film (using a tripod, focusing and framing well, shooting in proper light), you will be amazed at the results.<br>

Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.filmshooting.com">www.filmshooting.com</a>. It's an excellent resource for super8.</p>

<p>Are you getting your film from <a href="http://www.chamblesscineequip.com/">http://www.chamblesscineequip.com/</a> He has a lot of cine stuff. </p>

<p>For processing, it really depends on what emulsion you are shooting. If you've got some old kodachrome super 8 around, Dwaynes may very well be the only place that you can get it done (if they even do it any more). If you are shooting ektachrome or any of the color reversal or b/w films, you have more options.</p>

<p>Most big cities have a "motion picture lab" that develops and transfers 35/16mm film for productions. Many of these places will do super 8 as well. The one I have used in Seattle is http://www.alphacine.com/ and they have been great. I have not used their transfer services as they are more high end than I really need. When I need to get stuff transferred, I either film with a video camera while I'm projecting with my home projector (low rent way of getting it done) or I send it somewhere that has a telecine machine for Super 8 like these guys: http://www.photoandsoundsaving.com/ (full disclosure: I am related to the owners, but they do good work).</p>

<p>Also, if anyone wants to write a small tutorial on super 8 for photo.net, let me know. No, it's not strictly "photography" but the video world is getting ever closer to photography. And just as many of us still feel that film is nifty, I think there are a lot of people who are in love with Super 8 still. I know I am.</p>

<p>Josh I would love to see something on super 8....especially using Ektachrome 64T.</p>

<p>If it requires my writing it, you may have to wait a bit. I have got a pile of articles that I'm supposed to be writing at this moment. So anything that gets added has to go to the back of the line. However, if we're lucky, some other photo.net member who is a fan of Super 8 will be interested in writing something. If not, I'll put it on the list and see if I can get to it later this spring or early summer.</p>

<p>I do love me some super 8.</p>

<p>A few years ago I bought a Bolex H8 (double 8mm), one of those russian 16mm reel-to-reel development tanks with a built-in light window, a bunch of chemicals from photographers formulary, and some rolls of Tri-X. It came out really well, considering I didn't know what I was doing, and was extremely satisfying... but the 2 hour involved development for 3 minutes of film that I have no use for put me off from ever doing it again. </p>

<p>I have a pretty nice Canon 514XL-S Sound Super 8 camera that I've never run a roll through, too. Not that the sound functions do much good now...</p>

<p>Can you use silent film in that camera? If you find it takes to long to develop the film yourself, why don't you send it off to be done?</p>

<p>Yep, it's fine with silent film. I don't shoot or process it at the moment because it's too expensive for a side hobby. </p>

<p>I just got my projector to work! :). I can't believe what I have been missing! I don't have my films back yet (first rolls will be back in 2 days) but I finally had a chance to watch my dads old Kodachromes.</p>

<p>I was a huge Super 8 fan back in the 70s and shot a few small projects with it as recently as about 1990. I still have some equipment -- including a Canon 514XL-S just like Trevor -- but sold off the stock of Kodachrome 40 sound cartridges I had been keeping in the freezer. I'd love to still play with it for fun, but at this point Super 8 is no longer viable, at least for me. The big advantages of Super 8 back in the day were 1) that it was much cheaper than the alternatives and 2) it was much easier to use. But that's no longer true. Today, extremely high quality video equipment can be had for the cost of a couple of hours of Super 8 stock and processing, and is easier to get good results from. If Super 8 still cost $5 for a sound cartridge that I could find anywhere and get developed in a week I'd still consider shooting it, but those days are gone.</p>