"Only a Penny" Wrote it last night! Whatcha think?

[Mike Buckles]

4score, do you have a super 8 camera? If not, you might want to consider picking one up on ebay... some of them are really reasonable! I'm sure someone here could give some good suggestions on which model would be best...it really is a different look from dv, a more tangible process, and it makes you really feel like a filmmaker!! Plus, my super 8 films from when I was a kid in the 70's are still around...the dv won't be, as it is not an archival format. You probably will transfer to video and edit, but it is so cool to project your films on a wall or screen...dv can't touch the image that Kodachrome gives when projected...but if properly transferred to video, it looks great too! MikeyB

[4score]

It's funny you should mention that MikeyB. Just as I was logging on to the forum, I was thinking to myself..."ya know, I should broaden my experiences as an aspiring film maker and look into a VERY cheap camera." Then you advised it! Well, the thing is, I'm going to college in August and am trying to save a little spending money. I know ebay probably has some very decent deals.....but even then, I'm not sure I could afford all else that I would need to buy. Anyone have any good BASIC starting points for me? CHEAP-ish camera recommendations? I'm only familiar with my little mini-dv camera but would love to jump into film!

Thanks,

Chris

[Mike Buckles]

I understand about the money thing...in about a month, I'll be in the same boat, but for different reasons! Well, I would use the minidv for now, at least you'll get your production made and finished for a minimum of cost. Maybe after your in college, you can buy a cheap super 8 camera and experiment...you can get a cheap one for next to nothing...then maybe move up to a nicer one or rent a nicer one in your town if you find you like it! Either way, make your dv movie now before you go away to college! MikeyB

[Alex]

Digital = calculator while Film = math "longhand" (on paper).

While most people primarily use a calculator nowadays, to have never had the experience of longhand math can actually be a limiting factor in your growth.

You should know every aspect of film production even if you plan on doing digital only videos in the future because everything you learn will help you thrive in the digital world.

[cameraguy]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="verdana, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="verdana, sans-serif">Originally posted by 4score:
but even then, I'm not sure I could afford all else that I would need to buy. Anyone have any good BASIC starting points for me? CHEAP-ish camera recommendations? I'm only familiar with my little mini-dv camera but would love to jump into film!

</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have often raved on this board that IMHO the Canon 518 SV is one of the best bangs for the buck out there. Seen it go as low as $15 and as high as $65. Its rock solid and has all the necessary features for a beginner or financially challenged pro. You can always use your Sony dv for sound.

[4score]

Well, I do have a job at a grocery store right now and will be working until college to get some spending money together. I guess I'd be willing to spend between $100-$400 for the whole package. Lots of research to be done first....I dont even know what all I would need to get started. I want to make sure that the camera I get will have some manual settings and abilities such as frame rate ect. I'm reading reviews and learning how they work exactly. So far....very interesting!

Another basic question...How do you transfer to video to edit? Is it expensive to set that up?

Chris

[HenrySuper8]

Nice and simple script, i like it!

You should really work on making a dirty and smokey atmosphere in the film i think [img]smile.gif[/img] Low light, some smoke machine working on low speed producing this classic light pins and some good furniture would be cool!

[4score]

Thanks Henry, I'm glad you liked it.

Yeah, it was just one of those quick ideas that make a good little short [img]smile.gif[/img]

The low light smokey scene would be great for the poker game. I like it. Thanks!

Chris

[Mike Buckles]

Ebay has a fair number of those Canon Super 8 models that Cameraguy suggested for right around the prices he mentioned..very reasonable! That would be a neat, inexpensive way to dive into Super 8! I want to get a manual for my super 8, I've never tried the intervelometer frame by frame, and I want to plug the camera into the wall so I can film clouds/sunrise/sunsets without exhausting the batteries...The manual tells how to set the power source..dang if I know what I did with the original manual..lost it in one of the moves, i guess...I did find my Bolex projector manual last month..that rocked! Mikeyb

[cameraguy]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="verdana, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="verdana, sans-serif">Originally posted by MikeyB:
Ebay has a fair number of those Canon Super 8 models that Cameraguy suggested for right around the prices he mentioned..very reasonable! That would be a neat, inexpensive way to dive into Super 8! </font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

I should make clear that the Canon 518 SV is different than the regular 518 Autozoom camera. The 518 SV can be seen at this link

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=4691

The other (older) Canon 518's which do not have the "SV" label are a bit inferior and much more common can be seen here.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=4691

The "518 SV" is newer and has a similar design to the popular and more expensive 814 and 1014 "electronic" models. The SV has full manual exposure control as well as 24 frames per second which are some important basics.