Absolute Newbie - I want to buy a camera

[JackMartinEF]

Hello everyone. I am an Art/Photography student from Wales - UK and I want to buy a super 8 film camera. I am mainly planning to do animation with it. I was going to buy one from ebay and was wondering what kind of functions were essential.
One thing I want to know about also is Sound - Is it worth getting a camera that can record sound too? or are the shortage of Sound Films so great that it is not even worth it?

Thx for your help.

Jack

[cameraguy]

Originally posted by JackMartinEF:
Hello everyone. I am an Art/Photography student from Wales - UK and I want to buy a super 8 film camera. I am mainly planning to do animation with it. I was going to buy one from ebay and was wondering what kind of functions were essential.
One thing I want to know about also is Sound - Is it worth getting a camera that can record sound too? or are the shortage of Sound Films so great that it is not even worth it?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Since you want to mainly do animation a few things that would be important are: Camera must have single frame capability, it would be nice to have a remote control or cable release socket, Manual exposure control and lastly I would want a camera that has good tripod balance.

[tgreathead]

I agree that you DEFINATELY need an EASY single frame release (cable release socket, or at least a pull trigger).
No one makes film that can shoot sound anymore so don't worry about that.
Manual exposure is very useful in animation, but if you are controlling the lighting then it's not a necessity.

[JackMartinEF]

Do most cameras have a place to connect an "EASY single frame release (cable release socket, or at least a pull trigger)" ??

[regular8mm]

Hey Jack,

I'm in Thornbury and visit castles in Wales a lot.
Every camera is different, many do have a single frame socket for a cable release. They are manually operated. Sometimes the more electronic ones do not work. Check the manual before buying to see if it has manual SF.
Another thing you will need is a set of close up lenses usually, unless your camera has macro focusing. The lense will get you closer to the art. I would say that manual exposure capability is a must. A tripod at least will be needed to hold the camers still while shooting animation.

[JackMartinEF]

Thx for all your help guys. I have now bought a camera on ebay from Germany. It's a CANON 514 XL-S MACRO Super 8 Movie Camera.

Here is what it says about it on http://www.city-net.com/~fodder/s8mm/cameras.html (Super 8mm camera guide.

CANON 514XL-S
3.23 lbs. f/1.4, 9-45mm lens
Auto/manual zoom
Macro focusing
TTL reflex viewing
Split image focusing 18, 24 fps
Single frame
220? shutter Auto/manual
Backlight control Auto/manual level control
Earphone, LED monitor
Mic/auxilliary inputs
Sound fades

I wanted to get one so I wouldnt need to get another one. So lets say that in a while I wanna make a sound-film even if its expensive to buy a film (on ebay) I would be able to if I wanted. Stuff like that. I paid ?74 P&P included. The only thing listed as wrong with it was a "broken eyepiece" Which I think is no great problem.
When it arrives and I have had abit of a go, you guys will no doubt hear from me again with some problem about it. Thx people!

[oldasdirt]

I would not recommend a sound on film camera.Here's the reason.Sound striped film is no longer made and will not be made again ever.At least by Kodak anyway since they scrapped their film striping machine some years back.Also,as your skills grow you will probably want to try shooting negative film.I don't know if the mag heads would cause problems scratching neg film or not but at the cost of neg film,processing and transfer,I wouldn't take the chance.I would recommend a Beaulieu 4008 ZM or perhaps the older S2008.I had a Canon 1014 that I shot with for years and I did do a shoot where rotascope animation was used.
Marty