From a beginner

[Nofare]

Hello,

#1 - I would like to shoot water going up from a plate to a tea kettle. What super 8 camera can shoot in reverse? How do I get that shot anyway?
#2 - How should I go about buying a super 8 camera and make sure that I'm not buying something that's broken?

Thanks for the info.

[Matt Pacini]

I don't know of any S8 cameras that can shoot in reverse more than a few seconds or so (mostly to do in camera fades), but why not just shoot in regular, then flip it in reverse in software?
You ARE going to transfer it to video, right?
That's the easiest way.

Matt Pacini

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[Supa-eight]

If you want film, try the Nikon R-10. It can shoot in reverse. Or film it upside down and film the film during transfer to video. But the previous answer has a point, if your shooting all video then you can just do this using a cheap NLE.

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[sasounet]

Or shoot using a good Fujica single8 camera; they can shoot in reverse the hole film if you wish.

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[technicolour]

Nofare,

Regarding your second question, depending on where/who yout buying your camera from if its from a private home or shop, take along some batteries. You can then test the camera to see if the motor is operating, open the film compartment door while the motor is running and touch the little wheel that turns inside to make sure it has plenty of pull on it. If it feels weak its likley the film wont move proplerly. Also, look through the viewfinder and watch the exposure meter, usually a little needle the travels up and down and make sure the meter moves up and down as you point it at weaker and stronger light, this makes sure the light meter operates correctly (which is the most important bit!!) if the light meter doesnt work, your buggered.

Also, if you buy a sound camera and your planning on recording sound make sure that when you press the trigger, that the little pinch wheel engages and lifts up to meet where the film would be, and that its turning round


hope all this helps good luck

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Jim

[Nofare]

Thank you all for the help.

Just a few notes though.

#1 - I plan to transfer the film to DV to edit it at home before getting myself a 35 mm print of the edited super 8. So I'm not sure how flipping the film in reverse in the software would help me.
#2 - Now, with the Nikon R-10 and the Fujica single 8 cameras: would I have to fast forward the loaded film in the dark to then shoot it in reverse, like I would do with a 16 mm camera ?

[technicolour]

errm......

Whats stopping you filmming it normally and then playing it backwards?

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Jim

[mattias]

well, just do it in software for the dv version. and since you'll have to use an optical printer for the blow-up anyway, it should be easy to reverse the print as well.

/matt

[Nofare]

Thanks.

[#Pedro]

If you really wanna do backward shooting inside the camera, with a standard S8 silent cart, it works that way:

Take a Beaulieu with declutch button (that tiny button that stops the take up friction when pressed) and shoot about 90 frames (watch the frame counter!), lens covered or shutter closed. More than 90 frames a S8 cart can?t take. Never do that trick near the end of a cart, the film may jam.

Then switch the reverse mode, and the Beaulieu will shoot in reverse at about 12 fps. This must be considered when determining exposure. Watch the frame counter, until it shows "0" again, while counting backwards.

Then cover the lens again and shoot 90 or more frames in normal mode, to wind up the backward szene into the cardrige.

This way it really works, but only for that 90 frames. The reason is, that the film is not really backwarded, it is only folded into the free space of the cart during pressing the declutch button. Theses free loops of film can be transported backwards during reverse operation, where they are folded again into the free space there.

Even if all that is possible during digital editing, it?s fun trying it out and this way producing a film with all that effects for projection on a large screen, in original film look and quality.

Pedro

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