Super 8 Cameras and Accessories: Must-Know Tips when buying

This 3 part series will go over everything you need to know in order to shoot on Super 8 film.

Part 1 deals with Super 8 cameras and accessories. Many times you can find working cameras at thrift shops. Learn what features you need to look for and how to test for them.

I also go over some key camera accessories that will help in maximizing your ability to get the most out of this format.

I've put together a PDF of great links that go into further detail about film stocks, cameras, and shooting tips. You will also find links to some of the items I purchased for my Super 8 camera.

Part 2 will deal with shooting a test roll and how to send off roll to get it processed and digitized.

Part 3 will document us shooting a little 2 page script on Super 8 film and the challenges that come with shooting a narrative story on film.

Special thanks to RYAN TIMMS for letting us borrow his Canon 814 Super 8 camera.

Music by: BIG FOK
Camera by: KYLE PLATZ

In Association with: PBS Digital Studios

[breakfastmachinearchive]

It's always great to see other filmmakers out there who still support Super 8. The angry, narrow-minded responses this sort of thing usually generates ("Might as well wear a loincloth and chisel on a stone tablet while you're at it!") baffle me to no end.

It's a unique format that has the potential to create incredibly evocative images that wouldn't be possible through any level of digital fakery. If only people could put down their RED Epics for five seconds and learn how to use a tool outside their ultra-modern comfort zone.

[Ender.wigginn]

Kodak did recently begin producing a colour reversal film stock as well, so if anybody watching this would like to film in colour and run it on a projector, that option is once again available.

Super 8 is such an awesome, classic medium and I am happy to see Kodak is keeping it around. I only discovered it a few years back when the film 'Super 8' was released and whatever you think about the film, it does show how much "production value" these cameras can bring to a vintage period piece. The film, while not widely acclaimed, is the only film of 2011 I can distinctly remember seeing among the MANY others I went to see that year (working at a movie theatre, I saw everything). And the movie does provide many excellent examples as to how super 8 film can add value to compositions set in the pre-digital and VHS era.

[psmayaps]

oh my god, i stumbled across this video because i was told about super 8 cameras in class, then you show nala and i'm thinking "huh, haven't i seen her before?" looked at your twitter and realize you live near my school. i've pet nala on her walks around the uncsa campus before!! small world !


great, thorough video though. so cool to know local filmmakers are teaming up with PBS to make this kind of content. i'd love to see more of your work in person!!

[looku]

Finally I found someone with real knowledge about the super-8 material. This guy did it for me! Thank you! Very good job!

[macman]

the 8mm camera you showed at the start as "one you cant shoot with" is still absolutely useable, you can still get the 16mm rolls that fit into them.

[eriksnel]

very nice and informative. the camera's to look out for are also the most expensive ones so if you find it in a thrift sotre you are one lucky bastard. i never have found such camera's there in my 18 years of collecting. but hey, for starters a simple camera is also good

[AMusician]

Great video.I had GAF ST/1002 I uses in the 70's it did the job.

[chipbrandstetter]

Like a breath of fresh air. Keep it up, brother.

[stevedaniels]

Hey Joey, great video man. It's good to see you are still killing it these days.

[vfxteamde]

I actually have an old 8mm from my grandpa i always wanted to test...guess this is the Time to start!

[Shroete]

Great video. I was looking for super8 cams on eBay the other day. now I know what to look for. thanks

[BloodRider]

My god. Indie filmmaking used to be really expensive.

[c_f]

Love this! Thanks, I just bought a Braun Nizo S800. 😀

[ozpierre]

Hey!
I just got a Nizo S800 that come out from a check and i made a change for the 1.3V light sensor so it could work without the mercury cell, and i am on my way to make my first movie next holiday.
When you talk about the filter, so you mean that i need to set it on day light? or indor? I will be using a Kahl color 200d UT 18 reversal cartridge.
Thanks for your videos by the way, very inspiring.

[eddiemcg]

great video, thank you. but you're stating that the the Tri-X is the only film that can be processed to run on the projector?
please elaborate. Cheers.

[SnepperStepTV]

The places to develop worth their salt will do the old skool trick of printing color negative onto a positive so you can project it.

[allertonoff]

Didn't know you could still get the film .. Canon really did make some quality kit in those days. i have one of their clockwork std 8mm cameras .. beautiful machine .. and the 814, my all time fav.

[knife-wieldingspidergod]

I just bought a Sankyo EM 60XL at a flea market for $5. It has a bad view finder so I can't see the exposure meter. Is the camera's auto exposure sensor located in the view finder assembly? If so, I will assume I will not have AE as well. Do you know how the manual exposure dial works? There is no marking on the dial to tell the exposure settings. On the plus side, I don't think the bad viewfinder is due to user breakage, but most likely manufactory defect. Therefore, this camera was not used, and with nearly new working parts.

[proudtobeautistic]

Hey Joey, there is one color reversal stock left in production it's the Belgian wittnerchrome the 200D. It's the only stock that gives you a look similar to the 60's kodachrome.

[steveloudon]

Hello. I love the video. If I may I would like to ask your help. I love the super 8 look and recently I've been using After Effects to take my Sony mirorless videos and use super 8 overlays to "fake" that look. There are numerous of these for sale but I want to learn how to do this myself. Are you familiar with this process? I'm assuming I have to get a camera and run a reel of blank film and take video of the screen. I apologize if I'm not being clear. Thanks.