Alan's Work!

After viewing Alan Doyle's Super 8 work I think I may want to give Super * a shot. I must admit I did and do not know much about it, but after viewing more movies on FLICKR I know that I want to try it. I have a few questions if you guys do not mind my asking. They are as follows:

1.) What is a good camera to begin with? Is a VTG SUPER 8 SOUND MOVIE
CAMERA MINOLTA XL 440 a good choice?

2.) How are the movies viewed? Would I have to use a projector.

3.) What are the basic materials that I would need to get started (lenses, film,
etc...).

James.

Hello James-
I think that any super 8 camera would work to start with. I have pretty much just gotten into super 8 and I am shooting with a couple of Bell and Howell AutoLoads. They shoot great films. I think the movies are best viewed by a projector unless you are having a really really good quality telecine done! I have had a few cheap ones done through Dwayne's photo where I send and buy my film. They are not the greatest. Dwayne's Photo (dwaynesphoto.com) is a great place to buy film and send it back to be processed. Many super 8 cameras do not allow you to switch out the lenses you most likely won't need additional lenses. I highly reccomend Ektachrome 64T. You can't project any of the Kodak Vision films as they are color negative. Since Ektachrome 64T is a tungsten balenced film you need to make sure camera either has a color correcting filter built in, in order for you to shoot with the film in daylight or you may have to buy one. Please let me know if I can be of any other help. ---Patrick

Hi James and welcome to the group.

I've seen Alan Doyle's work too, either on YouTube or Vimeo, and its stunning. You have to remember though that he was a professional and the work he has posted was either made for a client or something he did on the side while working for a client.

Most of your questions can be answered by doing some Google searches. I just went through this same process a few months ago. I wish there was an easy (hence CHEAP) way of getting Super 8 footage onto a PC, editing, and then playing it on the big flat screen TV. Doesn't seem to though, or else I'm not finding it.