8mm, 16mm? what is the difference?

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projectaero

Could someone please describe to me what film is used in motion pictures, and the difference between 8mm and 16mm? as when i do a search on ebay etc it comes up those cameras but the footage looks 70's.

thanks
 
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What differs is increasing film width and thereby film frame size - bigger means better quality/resolution etc. Super-8 is more of a consumer format whereas 16mm is semi-professional. There are two main types of film - reversal (what you refer to as 70's look) and negative (typical motion picture film look).
 
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so is 8mm the same as super-8 or is 8mm different?

also is there any films you know of filmed in 8mm or 16mm that are well known?

one last thing, can someone explain reversal and negative to me, when i think negative i think 35mm picture camera.
 
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Compared to video, yes, but it makes you plan the shots more, and thereby spend less film.
It's a matter of taste, if you think the look makes it worth it or not.

Where I live, the cost per minute of film (incl raw film, processing, SD scan & VAT) is
8mm approx 12€ per minute
16 mm approx 30€ per minute
 
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I find film a pain in the ass being a student, but if you really want the cinematic film look then invest in film but make sure you know what you're doing exposure wise and also how to load the film. Video is fine for student projects though, personally i thing that film should only be used on profitable productions unless its super 8mm or unless its very short
 
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doing some rough figures.

1 - buy a $2000 hd camera which gives a docomentary type look
2 - buy a $50 in great condition super8 camera and buy the film which if things go right should be able to film it for all that price.
3 - to go a 16mm film.

is it pointless making a feature film in super8, the chances of it getting distributed would be low wouldnt it?
 
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Motorstorm said:
I find film a pain in the ass being a student,
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All students until only about 15 years ago used film to learn. Just
about every filmmaker over the age of 35 working today learned
using film. Film isn't really a pain in the ass, it's just more difficult
than video.


projectaero said:
is it pointless making a feature film in super8, the chances of it getting distributed would be low wouldnt it?
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Not at all. Most likely your movie will be distributed on a digital format.
What the movie was shot on is secondary to how marketable it is. Everything
being equal - compelling story, excellent acting, great lighting, perfect
audio, creative directing and editing - a movie shot on super8 has an
equal chance of getting distribution as one shot on video or 16mm.


projectaero said:
did Krasnogorsk ever make 8mm?
i got told Krasnogorsk are really good 16mm cameras
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I've never heard of a Krasnogorsk 8mm. The K-3 is a solid camera
but not very good for making features. It's very loud (not good
when recording audio) and it's spring wound - meaning the motor
isn't run electronically. You wind a spring and when the energy is
gone the camera stops.

It's an excellent camera for silents shorts and it has excellent
optics and a very solid drive system. I've used one for years,
putting it in many dangerous places - close to explosions, in
a car flipping, on a bungee cord for a POV shot.
 
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