how best to get started in 8mm film-making?

[badnewshughes]

hello there everybody, may i start by thanking in advance anyone who answers my call for help!

my girlfriend has recently finished a film course and with her birthday coming up i want to buy her the necessary equipment to allow her to get started in making 8mm films as a new hobby. From my research so far i think i need to get her;

A camera
A splicer
A projector
an obviously a lot of film...

please can anyone tell me the best brand/place to get all these things from and also if there's anything else i should ensure i get her. I've seen a lot of stuff for sale on eBay quite cheap, is this a good idea (so long as it's guaranteed working etc), i would prefer to buy her old style equipment as i think it's much more 'classic' and i am a big fan of all things retro!

many thanks,
adam

[c_77]

How much are you looking to spend? Off the top of my head, a good solid super 8 camera is my Canon 814. I have the older autozoom, as well as the newer Electronic model. It's better because it has a macro lens for close-ups, and does not need separate special batteries for the light meter. I bought mine on eBay for around $75.

Don't have an editor. As far as projectors go, stick with German and Japanese brands such as Eumig, Bauer, Elmo, Minolta, Sankyo, GAF, etc.

She probably has been working with the usual reversal film. With this kind you shoot it, and then get it processed for projection. They also sell negative film which needs to be transfered to videotape. Reversal film to consider would be color film such as Kodachrome, and black and white Plus X. They might sell it in shops in the UK but they don't here. I order film directly from Kodak.

[Colorburst300]

When I started I got a Sankyo Super CM300 camera and it wasn't bad at all. Produced some clear images, although since it didn't have a frame selection (18 or 24 speed) it was all in 18fps so it would blur if you panned too fast. That was $25 with the bag and a movie light. For a projector, I found a Bell & Howell Autoload at the local goodwill store for $5. Try those places first before you go to eBay. eBayers will sell these things a lot higher than $5 and then the shiping costs get you too. For editors and splicers, check on eBay because I've seen plenty of them lingering around.

Film is going to cost you the most, with Kodachrome 40 costing about $15 a roll without processing, which is usually about the same price as the film, and that only gives you 3 minutes of film usually per cartridge, so plan to spend a bit of cash on your filmstock.

Look at it this way : everyone here has excellent knowledge of super 8 equipment so feel free to keep asking if you're not sure. It also depends on how much you want to spend to start off. I started off cheap to get the hang of it. A good filmmaker will make the crappiest equipment work like gold.

~M