More Questions and a Thank You on Super 8

[scientist]

Hello
Splicing tape is special tape and depending on the type of tape splicer you have it will determine the type of tape you will need to use (perforated press tape, ciro etc...).
Some filters are used for specific films, for instance in color film photography a filter is used to balence the film to either artificial(tungsten) or natural (daylight). So if you are shooting color it will tell you on the box of film wether it is balenced (designed) for tungsten or daylight, if it is designed for tungsten then when shooting outside you would need to use the compensation filter so that your film doesnt come back with a blue tint to it, though you may want to experiment with these types of things. In B & W filters are used mainly to adjust the contrast of the image.

Negative film is mainly used in the more professional 16 and 35mm film formats for many different reasons reversal film stocks are now considered amateur (though they are in my opinion the most beautiful stocks). Super8Sound in Cali does offer negative but I would just suggest using the original kodak super 8 stocks and do your own transfers (if your projector has an adjustable speed knob use this while making your transfer to fine tune the projectors playback speed in order to reduce the captured images flicker, plus you really don't need to spend $50 on a transfer machine, you can get just as good results shooting off a white piece of paper or project through the paper with the video cam on the other side, basically that transfer machine really is nothing special so if I were you I would experiment with diff. transfer methods and save your money to but more film or something).

Alot of the people who are scooping up this old movie equipment are film students, filmmakers, and hobbyist, check out flea markets and yard sales too, Super 8 is not dead yet, i should know I work at a lab that processes alot of it (b&w reversal).

I believe kodak is still making some sort of profit off of S-8 but alot of the reason for it still being around is obviously that people still use it and send kodak tons of mail when their is a worry about a discontinuation. This includes other formats of motion picture film not just S-8. Like I said it is not dead yet but even professional film stocks may soon be in jeapordy due to the "digital revolution" in filmmaking, so if you love it, shoot it and show it, their is and will never be anything like film.

Hope this helped
post again for any elaboration on details I missed or misunderstood.

Good Luck
long live "Supee"


Chris

[Nigel]

Well Supee said it pretty well. I transfer my Super8 to tape since like Super16 Super8 is not an exhibition format(in my opinion). I still will shoot some of my own "homemovies" and do a direct projection. As a professional though I have that film transferred for Non-linear editing. Film is not going anywhere for a long time. Kodak knows that as well as the other big players like Panavision, Arri and Aaton. Kodak has just created a cool digital still camera that allows the DP to take picture on a location and look at them through any stock Kodak makes. It is great. The bad part is the crooks over at Panavision will not let Kodak market it the professional at large. So film is alive and well and should be for sometime still. I hope you stick with it and learn all you can. If you have any detailed questions just email me and I will answer them.

Adam "Nigel" Forslund

[Jake_Paws]

When I get a chance to pickup a machine to edit super 8 film. What is splicing tape? Is it standard scotch tape or is it something special. Like for instance when I splice a reel to reel tape I need foil tape. If I used regular tape. It won't work.
For recording sound I read all the posts and a few articles on the subject. I'm puzzled because if I record sound and tape at the same time. I figured it would keep up. Just like if I recorded a video tape and went back to add sound. Can someone explain a little better?
As for film. What is all this talk about filters. I understand what a filter does. But I figured. Throw the film in and shoot. I have a Minolta autopak-8 d6. I fiugred the filter would do what it needs to. I do understand when It is dark I need light.
So what do I not get. Can somebody fill me in?
As for film that is negative. I heard of a place that takes the negative and transfers it to a video tape. That seems kinda stupid to me. Don't get me wrong I understand why they offer that. For me I'm going to pickup one of those converters that you put the projector in front of and play it to your video camera. Just so I'm not wearing out the original. What I'm getting at is. I purchased the super 8 and projector to show films. Went out or my way to make sure I can still get a lamp. I have a screen. I want the big pictures. I love the sound of the equipment running. Need I say more?
Now as for thrift store shopping. They come in with empty reels both metal and plastic and tons of other things. Then before I get back to purchase them. They are gone. Collectors? People who found out you could still get film like me? People who figured they would sell them for more on ebay? I live like 20 miles from pocatello ID. If you live in the area and are utilizing the equipment. Go ahead and leave me a reply. Would love to talk.
As for kodak. I find it strange that kodak would take the time to transfer 8mm production to there major film mfg. Yet put the developing out of the united states. If super 8 is dying. Why all the fuss. Why not let it die. Why spend time and money to transfer the dead format to another office. Business wise it don't add up. Some how kodak is making enough money on super 8. I don't know if it is collectors or schools or what but to all of us. I would like to say thank you. Something we are doing is making kodak money to keep the super 8 alive.
Another note. I would like to thank anybody who replies to my posts. Especialy the last post. Thank you so very much.

Thanks,

Josh