Duran Duran Girls on Film Motor Drive Sound: Which one

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Feb 9, 2008

Ok, here's something completely random. I have never seen the video
of "girls on film" only hearing it on the radio for the past 20+ years or so.

I think its an Olympus motor drive listening to the rate and the high-pitched sound it makes.

Does anyone know which camera/drive they recorded?

Now, back to our regular topics....

Denis P. · Feb 9, 2008

Can't help you with that particular question, but since we're discussing motor drive sounds, I thought I'd share this.

A couple of days ago I got a Nikon F3 with MD4 motor drive. Never used it before, and I don't ever use motor drives, but this one came as a set...

So, I got the camera and loaded some batteries in the motor drive to test it. When I heard the sound it makes, I suddenly felt like the proverbial Proust with his "Madleine" cookies...

It looks like I finally nailed the source of the "camera sounds" in almost 99% Hollywood movies I've seen so far. You know, that idiotic motor drive whizz-clack sounds you hear in a Hollywood movie when the main character shoots e.g. a 1950-ies Leica or even a Rolleiflex (sometimes even including a visual of the stroboscopic flash firing - and the flash is nowhere to be seen)

Ahhh, one of the mysteries of life solved

So, when I saw your question, I thought it could also be that one - don't have that song at hand, so can't really verify...

But, I could record the F3/MD-4 combo sound and provide the sound recording for you to compare

Denis

Dinesh · Feb 9, 2008

I don't have an answer either. Although I have to admit that, as a young adolescent, it was my favourite video!

GM Bennett · Feb 9, 2008

Jeffrey - I think this line of enquiry officially designates us as "camera geeks". However, acknowledging this to be true, I searched my iTunes list and "Girls on Film" shows up (twice, actually) in my 80's playlist.

After listening, my money (or at least a beer) would be on the familiar Nikon F3/MD-4 combination, and I bet there would be a lot more of those around at the time ('81-ish?) than the Oly drive. Graham

Gay Larson · Feb 9, 2008

I just love the sound of my Nikon F3 with motor drive!!

Ian Tindale · Feb 9, 2008

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Jk1I

Ian Tindale · Feb 9, 2008

Dead Link Removed

Andy K · Feb 9, 2008

In the video there are two cameras, a Nikon and a Hasselblad. I just watched it seventeen times to make sure...

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Feb 9, 2008

ok, I have an MD-3/F3 but really thought it was the Olympus. Glad to know there are a lot more people than myself wondering about such things.

MD-12 it is (thanks for the nikon trivia link).

thebanana · Feb 9, 2008

I just watched it seventeen times to make sure

Slow night, Andy??

Shawn Rahman · Feb 9, 2008

thebanana said:
Slow night, Andy??

I'd watch this video seventeen times even on a busy night.

Snapshot · Feb 10, 2008

Now, I want to go out and rent the video again.

colrehogan · Feb 11, 2008

Too funny! I have the video somewhere in my VHS collection.

Andy K · Feb 11, 2008

The video is available as an iTunes download...

colrehogan · Feb 11, 2008

Andy K said:
The video is available as an iTunes download...

That's fine if you have something to play it on. Can it be played on the computer or only on one of those ipod things?

Andy K · Feb 11, 2008

If you have iTunes on your computer then it can be played on the computer.

colrehogan · Feb 11, 2008

Andy K said:
If you have iTunes on your computer then it can be played on the computer.

Nope. I'll just dig out my VHS copy.

Jersey Vic · Feb 11, 2008

Thanks for reminding me..

The original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gudEttJlw3s

The uncensored version is pretty amazing as well.

I saw these guys at The Beacon in NYC 5 or 6 years ago and they were fantastic.

Andy K · Feb 11, 2008

Jersey Vic said:
The uncensored version is pretty amazing as well.

That's the version available on iTunes.

Ps. Colrehogan, the iTunes player is a free download and you don't have to buy music from iTunes, you can load your existing CDs into the computer.

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Feb 11, 2008

Wow, the video shows what looks like either an FM or FE so I am so wrong. I guess that is the only song that I can think of that has the word "shutters" in it (referring to cameras).

I didn't see the Hassy, though. Interestingly enough, they must have been ahead of their time because in their song, girls are on film "two minutes later." It takes at least 6 minutes for just the developer....

I clearly have too much time on my hands.

Kevin Caulfield · Feb 11, 2008

Jeffrey A. Steinberg said:
Interestingly enough, they must have been ahead of their time because in their song, girls are on film "two minutes later." It takes at least 6 minutes for just the developer....

I clearly have too much time on my hands.

Well, I always took it to mean that they had been captured on film two minutes later. It doesn't have to be processed for them to "be" on the film.

But yes, you do clearly have too much time on your hands.

Christiaan Phleger · Feb 12, 2008

Or maybe you used a Polaroid? Eh? Anybody up to calculate the development time of 1980's Polaroid?
I still think that J Geils 'Freeze Frame' was either the Canon F1n or the A1 with motor FN.
You can check the Girls on Film by placing a FM/FE with MD12/11 to your ear then crank the song at the same time. Like 'Wizard of Oz' and "Dark Side of the Moon'. For Nikon Geeks.

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Feb 12, 2008

Then of course there is "Kodachrome" by Simon and Garfunkel. I wonder what other cameras / film songs are out there. probably a lot. I wonder if there is a german ode to a Rollei or a Leica someplace out there on a 45 or LP.

Back to the darkroom (really).

Andy K · Feb 12, 2008

Picture Book - The Kinks

AgX · Feb 12, 2008

Jeffrey A. Steinberg said:
Then of course there is "Kodachrome" by Simon and Garfunkel. I wonder what other cameras / film songs are out there. probably a lot. I wonder if there is a german ode to a Rollei or a Leica someplace out there on a 45 or LP.

Nina Hagen "Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen"
(Not Kodachrome, but rather Orwochrom... from that time when it still had no `e´.)

And I think (though not sure) the Gevaert company once had a hymne.

Duran Duran Girls on Film Motor Drive Sound: Which one

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