General questions on transfers

[DannyOKC]

Hello. I've been a super 8 fan for a dozen years, though I've shot only a few rolls.

A friend and I are going to shoot a short soon. I've been reading the sites and forums, trying to get a better grasp on everything, but some things just aren't that clear.

So here are some basic questions:

1. Pro8mm offer package deals with film, processing, prep, and transfer. Are these deals the way to go, or could we save money by buying film from one place, processing at another, and transferring at another?

2. When it comes to transferring, should we even bother with the high-end stuff at this point? Our end goal is a bona fide short film that our friends will enjoy. We've got the cameras, audio equipment, and Macs. Would we be better off to go cheaper this first go-around, or should we stick with Pro8, Yale, etc.?

3. For doing outdoor, black and white night shots, what would be the best film to go with? Will any regular photography light meter work?

4. Last but not least, can anyone point me toward a site that has super 8 clips detailing the film used (and perhaps camera, techniques, etc.) or any other similar resource?

Thanks much.

-Danny

 

[directorik]

1. The Pro8 deal is a good one. It's usually much cheaper to
process and transfer at one place. Have you done any comparison
shopping yet?

2. Impossible to say for sure. Do you have the money to try
a couple of different transfers? Start with the cheapest, see
what it looks like, then on your next film try the more expensive.

3. You only have two choices - Tri-X and Plus-X. Tri-X is the faster
of the two. But it's not fast enough to shoot at night with no
lights. If you have enough lighting to use Plus-X it's a finer grain
film. Yes. A regular light meter will work. Set it to the correct
shutter speed.