Ok, call me an idiot. I know next to nothing about photography, but I find myself currently in posession of a Canon 514XL camera. I thought at first it was a video camera, but I see this is not the case. so, what exactly is a camera of this type used for? what kind of film do I need? If I were to sell it, how much should I be looking for? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Either through here, or in my email, reverend.biff@live.com thank you very much --J
Canon 514 XL
- Thread starter ReverendBiff
- Start date
This type of camera was used for making home movies - birthday parties, weddings,
vacations, that kind of thing. Exactly what a video camera is used for today. In the
1970's we didn't have video cameras so we used this type of camera for making
movies, too.
As our Founder said, Super 8 is the kind of film used in that camera.
I see them listed on eBay for about $200
Super 8 movie making has a certain look that many like, especially compared to cheap DV cameras. With the advancements of Kodak and telecine since the 70's, if you want to shoot on film, there is no less expensive way to do so. Of course, its still going to cost a couple hundred to shoot a serious movie and get it telecined.
But then listen to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZIS_mfxGKQ And tell me you don't want to shoot Kodachrome!
But then listen to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZIS_mfxGKQ And tell me you don't want to shoot Kodachrome!
It's too bad many of those photos weren't actually taken on Kodachrome film. They are just a collection of images from Flicker, and I can tell you for sure many of them were shot digitally. It's a bit fraudulent, if you ask me.
I shot on Kodachrome for many years. I wouldn't trust scenic photos to anything else. The colors are amazing ... sometimes a little too vivid, and the grain is almost non-existent.
thank you much for the help. now I just need to decide if I want to use this camera, or possibly sell it. I am a stand-up comic and help to promote a couple bands, and i just launched the first edition of my new web radio show, where we will also be doing video pranks. i want to be able to shoot video, but i need to be able to post it online, is that something i can do on super 8? i really like the camera, and i think it would be cool use a medium that isn't used as often anymore. that's more our kind of style anyway.
If you are delivering digitally, and only digitally, you'd be better off buying a $300 miniDV camcorder, because the transfer to the computer costs nothing, and you edit it on just about any computer with iMovie or MovieMaker. I have a little Canon ZR-800 that probably costs $250 new which I use for all sorts of quick and dirty stuff.
I'm sure someone out there knows a place that sells film cheaper, but here's a link to Spectra. They'll sell you a whole package deal in for Super 8 where they'll send you some film. You use the film up and then send it back to them for processing and telecining. You can have them send the footage back on a variety of different media from just film to minidv, betaSP, or even on an external hard drive(you have to supply the drive).
I'm planning a shoot in the near future and unless I find someplace better/cheaper I'll prolly use them and have them send me the footage on a hard drive.
http://www.spectrafilmandvideo.com/Film.html
You should decide ahead of time what exactly you'll be filming, and in what conditions you'll be filming....such as daylight, indoors, night time, etc...then call spectra and have them help you decide what kind of film to use for each situation, and what setting should be what on your camera for using those films.
Of course it never hurts to find out how to set all the stuff yourself, as an informed filmmaker is a powerful filmmaker. If you want to make some KILLER films I'd suggest grabbing an vintage/antique exposure meter off ebay($20 or so, and make sure it comes with it's original instructions), some filters(they're 43mm, but I'm unsure of the fit from different sets, so I'd visit a local camera shop to have them test out some various 43mm's for fit), and grad a few books on making films. I havn't read it yet, but skimming through it it appears that "Cinematography by Kris Malkiewicz" covers all the bases.....there's alot of crappy books on filmmaking out there that just end up being "fun". try to avoid these and grab technical books so you know what your doing. In this post :
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=13518
I list a number of books on the subject, and in fact the book "The Camera Assistants Manual by David E. Elkins" has an excellent list of books to search out.
Good luck with Super8!! It's a GREAT looking format! Here's a link to something shot on Super8 :
http://www.windowseatpictures.com/06vtc/intro.html
I'm planning a shoot in the near future and unless I find someplace better/cheaper I'll prolly use them and have them send me the footage on a hard drive.
http://www.spectrafilmandvideo.com/Film.html
You should decide ahead of time what exactly you'll be filming, and in what conditions you'll be filming....such as daylight, indoors, night time, etc...then call spectra and have them help you decide what kind of film to use for each situation, and what setting should be what on your camera for using those films.
Of course it never hurts to find out how to set all the stuff yourself, as an informed filmmaker is a powerful filmmaker. If you want to make some KILLER films I'd suggest grabbing an vintage/antique exposure meter off ebay($20 or so, and make sure it comes with it's original instructions), some filters(they're 43mm, but I'm unsure of the fit from different sets, so I'd visit a local camera shop to have them test out some various 43mm's for fit), and grad a few books on making films. I havn't read it yet, but skimming through it it appears that "Cinematography by Kris Malkiewicz" covers all the bases.....there's alot of crappy books on filmmaking out there that just end up being "fun". try to avoid these and grab technical books so you know what your doing. In this post :
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=13518
I list a number of books on the subject, and in fact the book "The Camera Assistants Manual by David E. Elkins" has an excellent list of books to search out.
Good luck with Super8!! It's a GREAT looking format! Here's a link to something shot on Super8 :
http://www.windowseatpictures.com/06vtc/intro.html
This is what I hate about getting old. The light meters I used are now called antique.
Ouch.
Hey atleast you can feel safe in the fact that it means frugal, functional, sleek, and well engineered. I'd rather be vintage then expensive, plastic, and generally ugly.
P.S. It's actually near impossible to get a good color temperature gauge at a decent price that isn't 30+ years old. I went with a Gossen Sixticolor off E-bay for just $120....do that on modern equipment for under a grand!
P.S. It's actually near impossible to get a good color temperature gauge at a decent price that isn't 30+ years old. I went with a Gossen Sixticolor off E-bay for just $120....do that on modern equipment for under a grand!
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