you would have to have your film transfered to a digital format like dv, or even just the raw avi file that is made where you got it transfered. they usually put it on a dvd-r. thats what i had done for my film. people also "telecine" on their own by taping the projected image, with a video camera. but the shutter speed would have to be right so their is no flicker or lines. and negative film cannot be projected so you would have to get it transfered to see it.

So basically should i shoot with my digital camcorder, or should i be looking for a new cam

well that all depends on you. how you want your film to look and how much money you want to spend. film of course, is a more expensive medium, because of the film, processing and transfers. i use super 8 mainly, but i use my hi 8 camcorder also.i dont like the look of video much at all. i fell in love with super 8 when i first saw it.

What kind of price for a super 8?

I have a hi-8 and a minidv, which of the three should i go with, im looking at about 700-1000 bucks to buy a new cam, or should i just use one that i have now, I really just want to understand what the differences are with all of the different formats all together

im not very familiar with other formats besides the two i have. but, with 700-1000 dollars you get yourself a great super 8 camera or even 16mm as well. i wouldnt spend this much money if you were to get a film camera. i only paid 30-50 dollars for my super 8 cameras on ebay. theyre very cheap. if you want more information on super 8 i recommend you check this forum- http://www.8mm.filmshooting.com/scripts/forum/viewforum.php?f=1

they discuss pretty much all small film formats. i cannot help you out too much with digital. but of course theres some great avantages being, very cheap, alot easier to make good images, you dont have to get it transfered or processed. some disadvantages is you dont get that "film" look, and film i believe is a better resolution, even super 8. i think lighting is better on film too. like i said it all depends on your preference and budget. hope i was able to help.

OK so the super 8's on ebay are really really cheap, so i can buy one of those no problem, so does super 8 have the "film" look or does it look to much like real life again?

I understand the digital will be easiest and since i have the camera already, the cheapest, and i know that it doesnt look the way i want.

Sooo i have either the hi8 or super 8, what do i go with? Also if i shoot with super 8 where do i go to transfer it to my computer, i am aware with hi-8 i can just plug it in to the usb port, is that possible with super8?

Sorry for all these questions man, i appreciate your responses

no problem. if i am helping you at all then its worth replying. 😛

if you want the "film" look, super 8 has it, probably more than most do, because it is a small format. depending on the film, it can be quite grainy. the colors are alot better on film than video. negative super 8 film looks really great too. sometimes you get can get an image just as good as 16mm. if the prices arent too high for you, and you want to get a film camera, i think you should buy a decent super 8 camera on ebay for 50-70 bucks, then id shoot on negative film, because you dont have/or want a projector to see the film. this way you can just get it transfered. then since you already have a dv camera you can get it transfered to dv and put it on the computer. id get a frame by frame transfer or a rank transfer. but rank costs alot more. i got a frame by frame done for mine. if youd like to see the results, just to know how it looks, you can email me.

The difference physically between Film and Digital is that Digital is stored on memory cards, and Film is actual Film. A camcorder is similar to a camera in the since that Digital has a card, and Film you need to have developed at some ?one hour? photo place.

So in short, if you shoot in 8mm, then you need it developed. You don?t just plug it into the computer. That?s what?s beautiful about Digital.

Film has better light resolution then digital. I think I heard it was something like four times higher then Digital.

The reason Film and Digital look so different is because Film is physically producing the images as opposed to Digital, and it gives it a ?grainy? texture look.

It?s kind of like comparing a Record to a CD. Technically, CDs reproduce music better, yet Records have a ?feel? to them that is probably there simply because it actually physically creates something instead of using a laser to read it.

Another thing that makes Digital/Video different from Film is that they are different frame rates. Video goes at 30 fps (frames per second) or 60 half fps, while Film goes at 24 fps. You read that right; film is a slower frame rate than video. And it?s that, that gives Film a ?surreal? look and feel like a moving painting while video is closer to ?real life?.

That?s probably the best way to compare Film to Digital. Digital looks ?real? or normal, while Film looks ?surreal? or dreamlike.

The reason I go for Digital is a simple one. Post.

Digital is easy to edit, transfer, and store without losing any quality. Plus it usually doesn?t cost any extra.

Film on the other hand is a b*tch. Not only do you need to pay for camera equipment, but you also need to pay for all of the film, transferring the film (not to mention finding people to do that for you, because you can?t do that yourself), and then you need the same equipment you need for Digital.

In the long run, Digital is a lot more convenient and inexpensive.

There are ways to make the Digital look more like Film through lighting, lenses, and even software you can use while editing.

However, the bottom line is Film is Film, and Digital cannot be Film. It can look relatively close, but it is not the same. If you want Film, you need to go with Film. There?s no way around it.

But I would like to make a point, that Digital is it?s own form that?s in its infancy on style, and if you are willing to spend time and be creative, you can make your own medium.

As far as 8mm, 16mm, 35mm, and all of the in between, this refers to the actual size of the film. And since it?s a ?real physical recording?, the bigger the film the higher the quality.

35mm is what studios use for features. Sometimes 16 can go up to a theatre quality, just like sometimes 8 can be comparable to 16. It depends on the quality of the film itself, and how well it?s shot.

It?s a personal preference along with budget. As Ed put it so well ?I fell in love with Super 8 when I first saw it?. That alone is good enough reason to stick with something, as long as it?s cost prohibitive.

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"Excuse me. I don't mean to impose, but I am the Ocean."

Yeah, i did my research, im probably just getting the asg vx100 from panasonic, this way i can shoot live, and it has 30/60 AND 24fps. Thanks for all the help guys, ill be shooting in digital for the ease of it and at 24fps for the look ?:D?