Film question at DVinfo.net

Andreas Fernbrant · September 9th, 2003, 08:49 AM

I know this is a Digital forum, but I don't know a better place to turn.

I'm thinking of shooting some 16mm film for a change to my Canon XL1. I have som simple questions though. Perhaps our more experienced cinematographers would like to help?

How long in a TIME scale is 1 meter/feet of 35mm film?
How long in a TIME scale is 1 meter/feet of 16mm film?

Where you live and last time you bought film. How expensive
was it?

Anything special I would need to know beforehand?

Rob Lohman · September 9th, 2003, 08:52 AM

You do know from reading Robert Rodriguez's book to transfer
the film after shooting from the negative directly to a positive
video tape, right?

Mike Rehmus · September 9th, 2003, 09:45 AM

Plenty of web sites about film length vs playing time.

16 mm costs about 50 cents per second to buy the stock and get it processed. Figure somewhere around $5 per second for finished film if you are lucky. $35mm is way more expensive. Way more.

And the cameras rent for a lot of $ and you have to handle the sound with a separate recorder.

Try Super8 if you want to play around. About $25 for 3 minutes (18fps) developed. Still has more resolution and dynamic range than any DV camera. Whole lot cheaper to use.

Super8 is used for some televison commercials.

Richard Alvarez · September 9th, 2003, 01:54 PM

I agree with shooting super 8 if you just want to try film. Lots of fun and you can do it for peanuts. Pick up a camera on ebay. Send the film to a transfer house. (Some of the labs will do this as part of the developing service).

I will be shooting a short in 35mm this december. We got the filmstock on ebay, from a proco in canada that was unloading it. Got it for less than half price. It was a steal. Sending the ends to the lab for testing, but I am certain they will be fine.

Shooting film, even super 8, helps build discipline and pre-vis skills.

Have fun!

Charles Papert · September 9th, 2003, 04:28 PM

Andreas:

To answer your first question, which is a bit exotic:

1 foot of 35mm 4 perf film running at 24 fps is .6 seconds on screen.

1 foot of 16mm running at 24 fps is 1.7 seconds on screen..

September 9th, 2003, 08:49 AM	#1
Andreas Fernbrant Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sweden - Helsingborg Posts: 283	Film quesion. I know this is a Digital forum, but I don't know a better place to turn. I'm thinking of shooting some 16mm film for a change to my Canon XL1. I have som simple questions though. Perhaps our more experienced cinematographers would like to help? How long in a TIME scale is 1 meter/feet of 35mm film? How long in a TIME scale is 1 meter/feet of 16mm film? Where you live and last time you bought film. How expensive was it? Anything special I would need to know beforehand?

September 9th, 2003, 08:52 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	You do know from reading Robert Rodriguez's book to transfer the film after shooting from the negative directly to a positive video tape, right? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 9th, 2003, 09:45 AM	#3
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Plenty of web sites about film length vs playing time. 16 mm costs about 50 cents per second to buy the stock and get it processed. Figure somewhere around $5 per second for finished film if you are lucky. $35mm is way more expensive. Way more. And the cameras rent for a lot of $ and you have to handle the sound with a separate recorder. Try Super8 if you want to play around. About $25 for 3 minutes (18fps) developed. Still has more resolution and dynamic range than any DV camera. Whole lot cheaper to use. Super8 is used for some televison commercials. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 9th, 2003, 04:28 PM	#5
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Andreas: To answer your first question, which is a bit exotic: 1 foot of 35mm 4 perf film running at 24 fps is .6 seconds on screen. 1 foot of 16mm running at 24 fps is 1.7 seconds on screen.. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

September 9th, 2003, 01:54 PM	#4
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	I agree with shooting super 8 if you just want to try film. Lots of fun and you can do it for peanuts. Pick up a camera on ebay. Send the film to a transfer house. (Some of the labs will do this as part of the developing service). I will be shooting a short in 35mm this december. We got the filmstock on ebay, from a proco in canada that was unloading it. Got it for less than half price. It was a steal. Sending the ends to the lab for testing, but I am certain they will be fine. Shooting film, even super 8, helps build discipline and pre-vis skills. Have fun!