I've shoot a lot of 16mm - I've even shot with the K-3.

It's pretty easy to use. But that's subjective. If you have never used a film camera at all you
will find most everything is VERY different than camcorders. But it's great to learn
something new.

You can transfer film to digital formats to edit on your computer. Most labs that process
16mm will do a digital transfer to MiniDV or even directly to a hard drive.

Any device that will record sound can be used to record audio. Hook a mic up and off you
go. You won't be able to keep the dialogue in sync, though. The K-3 isn't what is called
"crystal controled". And that camera is really loud.

But again, learning how is part of becoming a filmmaker.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

So how do i get dialouge when shooting with a K-3?

Fortune and Glory kid, Fortune and Glory

Since the K-3 is a non-sync camera you will record the dialogue in the usual
way - on an audio recording device) but you will have two problems in post:

The camera is loud - all sync camera are built to run quietly - the K-3's motor
makes a racket..
The audio will drift out of sync quickly. - you will have to work much harder
to adjust the audio tracks.

Even using a slate won't make the audio stay in sync. But it's still essential to
determine the starting point.

So is there a 26mm camera that is sync for around that same price?

Fortune and Glory kid, Fortune and Glory

I've never heard of a 26mm camera.

Any camera that doesn't have a very quiet crystal sync motor isn't going to be good for
shooting movies requiring simultaneously recorded audio. Check Eclair (an excellent
16mm camera) Bolex and Aaton. Sometimes you can get a good deal. though not as
good as the K-3 or any other non-sync camera. When checking Bolex, make sure it
has a crystal controlled motor because many Bolex cameras are non sync.

Sorry ment to say 16 lol.

Fortune and Glory kid, Fortune and Glory

Just a little warning. You may be prepared to spend the money on a 16mm camcorder, but are you prepared to spend money for all the film you need for the camcorder?

You probably are well prepared, but I just wanted to put up that little warning.

"I live to Dream"
-Steven Spielberg

Personally I think you're crazy buying a 16mm camera of any type unless you have large financial resources and/or big contracts to keep it in work.

Please explain, hethwheel. I own four 16mm cameras and I don't have large financial resources or big contracts to work with. Why to you personally think I'm crazy?

I didn't say YOU were crazy, I was answering the OP.

You can own all the 16mm cameras you want. Heck they can be bought cheaper than DV cams. But and this is the point I want to make. 16mm film costs about $1300 per hour of raw footage. Thats why my opinion is so.

I apologize for personalizing it. I'm curious to know why, in your opinion anyone is crazy to buy a 16mm camera of any type unless they have large financial recourses or big contracts. I have found that owning a 16mm camera is a great asset to my learning about shooting film.

Do you think someone is crazy buying a 16mm camera just because film and processing is expensive? Not trying to start an argument, I'm interested in a little more of your opinion on this subject.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

No worries CT.

I gave my opinion based purely and simply on business and financial grounds. I appreciate that you and many others own 16mm cameras. However they are expensive items to operate (per my previous post. And those figures don't include sound).

If a person buys a 16mm cam to shoot films/docs etc, then yes they will need a considerably higher budget compared to tape.

If a person buys a 16mm cam to learn how to shoot on film, then it is also a considerably more expensive learning experience when compared to tape.

Now I understand, that if you want to learn about "film" then you have to shoot on it. At approx. $250 for about 10 minutes, before any kind of post, its one expensive lesson. Therefore I believe you need considerably more financial resources (compared to tape) if you buy and use a 16mm cam to learn about film. Its simple economics, so yes I think one would be crazy unless they can afford the $250 dollars a roll and if funds are sparse are willing to shoot a limited few every year.

I don't know you're particular financial status CT, nor do I want to, but from my experience, my opinion remains the same.