Ernie Zahn

A few words of warning/bonus about the Chinons. A lot of them are sold as "non-running" or "as-is" with the owners thinking that they are broken. 90% of the time, the drive belt disintegrated. A quick replacement (I use rubber bands) and viola, a $20 paperweight turned into a powerful camera.

Thank you for the tip:)

The other important question is schedule.

 

If you'll only really use the camera for a few weeks or months shooting a feature, it can make more sense to rent. If you own it between pictures, during pre production and post, the value of the camera isn't earning any interest, and it's not being used. A rental camera would be out on other shoots at that time, making money for the rental company. The value they provide in return is that they eat the depreciation and take the risk on obsolescence. They also maintain their equipment between rentals, and provide technical support. That's why rental is the way the vast majority of feature films and even TV shows go.

 

OTOH, if you'll be shooting things like stock footage or time lapse, there may be circumstances in which it makes more sense to own a camera.

-- J.S.

And to add to that, owning a camera like the RED, would give you good opportunity for "Camera for Hire Freelancing." If you line up enough jobs you could earn back the value of the camera in fair amount of time.

nevermind i found the answer. And would like to get a hold of that:-)

I'd forget the DOF adaptor and get in line for a RED camera... it does 720P, 1080P, 2K, and 4K, multiple frame rates, and the body only costs $17,500. With basic accessories and some RED lenses, you're still way under your under-100K budget. See:

http://www.red.com/cameras.shtml

 

Downside, you aren't going to be able to get it right away.

That looks really nice. What media does it record to HDcam HardDrive?

Thanks, then I'd add those to the list. I've used the Chinon brand before and liked the results.

The list is actually revised, here's what I'm looking for:

Beaulieu 1028

Beaulieu 1068

Beaulieu 6008

Beaulieu 7008

Beaulieu 9008

Chinon 200/8 XL Pacific

Chinon 200/12 XL Pacific

Cosina MSXL 204M

Cosina MSXL 206M

Cosina MS 208M

Elmo 612 S-XL

Elmo 1012 S-XL

Elmo 230 S-XL

Elmo 240 S-XL

Elmo 260 S-XL

Kodak Supermatic 60

Kodak Supermatic 200

Nizo 6056

Nizo 6080

Sankyo XL61-200

So I'm new to HD and quite frankly a little confused. I just had some Super-8 footage telecined to HD in 1080. It was recorded to MiniDV which doesn't retain HD, but since it was recorded with HD equipment still delivers a better picture than SD by itself (Am I right so far?). For my next attempt at HD telecine I'm going to use HDV tape stock by Sony with an HD camera and then capture this into Final Cut HD with it selected to the proper device for capturing. That latter process will deliver the best quality, as I understand it. But there is HDCam that delivers an even better HD picture. I've already seen samples of HDV and very satisfied with, and at the moment, have no interest in upping to HDCam. BUT if my film is x-ferred to HD with HDV then captured with an HD device into an HD program (FCPHD), what would be my best option for distributing for festivals? i.e. If a festival has an HD Projector and accepts HD video would an HD Tape of the film be acceptable? Or is there another format I should put it to? As I understand even if the HD video was uncompressed an still under 8 gigs (short film) a DVD Dual Layer would still not be HD correct? So my best option for HD exhibition is keeping it on my HDV tape.

Please excuse me if this post sunds sarcastic, I really just want to understand this. I'm not trying to sound fresh.

Thanks, then I'd add those to the list. I've used the Chinon brand before and liked the results.

I'm looking for a 200ft/60m camera i.e.:

Nizo 6080

Nizo 6056

Beaulieu 1028 XL 60

Beaulieu 1068 XLS

I believe Sankyo also made 200ft cameras. If there's one I'm missing, let me know I'm looking to do 7 minute takes for scenes. Please PM me or e-mail me if you have one to sell> bfspublicrelations@gmail.com

Thanks for the links :)

Hi Ernie,

 

As you probably know, <$300 won't get you very far toward anything but a Super-8 camera. In the 16mm world, you might try hunting for a deal on a Krasnogorsk K-3 or a non-reflex Bolex. The former is a Russian camera that you can actually find brand new for about that price (at least I did several years ago) - albeit with some inherent problems, even straight from the factory. They tend to scratch film and can have some other mechanical maladies. Several companies and individuals used to (and likely still do) offer overhauls, but after parts & labor, those often come out to more than you paid for the camera. You might either try finding a used overhauled one (or at least a well-maintained, problem-free one from a trusted seller), or, if you're feeling lucky, buy a new one and hope it doesn't scratch your film.

 

I bought a non-reflex Bolex model a while back for around $200, and while it was kludgy to shoot with (parallax error, aging parts, some odd design elements), it did a decent job. If it had broken down at some point, I would have been out of luck, but fortunately those things are built like tanks. I would recommend finding one that comes with a lens(es) so that you don't have to hunt those down separately. As with all used cameras, be sure that the owner has run a roll through it *recently* to confirm that it's working properly.

 

Best of luck!

Thanks for the input. :) Considering the information you've given I may wait until I can pay for something a bit more up there in price. I'd still rather pay more for a camera to own than the trouble of renting. If I were iving in the city, it would be different. But it's a bit of a trek into the city for something like a camera. Are there cameras that use 100' magazines.

Hi,

I've been looking around for a 16mm camera to do some simple short films. Maybe a sound one or two. I own a DeVry 16mm is nothing short of a black box with a hole in it. I've considered renting cameras but factoring in:

$100+ for the camera

$25 for transportation

$?? For insurance (required by the rental services in my area)

It's hard enough for me to manage schedules to saitsfy everyone invloved in a project. I'd rather not have to factor in return of the camera. When I work on a project with a larger production crew and a resonabl budget I'd like to flock to rentals, but as long as I have projects where I act as: writer, producer, director, director of photography and anything else; I'd rather have a simple camera I can use at my leisure. It'd be worth the money if I knew it'd be one less thing to worry about for scheduling.

So what I'm looking for is a camera up to $300 that will take at least 100' rolls and shoots 24fps. Are there 100' cameras that use loadable magazines? If not that's fine. But if anyone could help me out with this, It'd be much appreciated.

Thanks for the info :)

Oh ok, thanks for the input. But if it had been put to telecine with a 3CCD camera and HDV stock would that be HD?

Hey all,

I'm trying to up the quality on some my films. I have footage that was telecined to super-8 in standard definition on to Mini-DV. I have Final Cut Express 2, which I know is standard definition, but if I had Final Cut Pro HD and captured my SD footage onto that say Final Cut 5, would there be an impovement in picture quality? Or is it all just pre-determined by the original source of telecine? My second question is if I had used a 3CCD camera for telecine and used HDV tape stock like this for example http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller...egoryNavigation, would that contitute full HD telecine?

I can't afford a Beaulieu, Man.

get one from ebay.de, if no luck I can put you in touch with someone who can get you a deal. :D

Hi all,

Has anyone had much experience with the Nizo 3056? I just shot some scenes for movie with this camera and I've noticed it produces a little bit of a soft focus. Has anyone else had this issue?

-Ernie

Hey all,

My filmgroup started production of our first feature length. No crew members that I was able to get a hold of (and will work for free) are available to till September so for now I'm acting as Co-Writer, Director, DP, Executive Producer, and minor cast member. :P But the DP job is going over to someone else soon, which I'm happy about. The last shoot I was supporting actor and DP and of course director. But everything is coming out nicely so far. I'll put up some stills at www.myspace.com/bfstudio when they're telecined.

-Ernie

Hey,

I was wondering what the best media was to archive audio recordings? I thought it might be minidiscs, but does anyone know of a better one? I figured DAT wasn't good because it's video equivelent, miniDV, is very unstable and doesn't really last. Thoughts?

I'd like to download the trailer, but that site you're using is such a pain in the backside... absolutely intolerable. I tried, but ended up with no download and no more patience.

 

The stills look interesting though.

I'm sorry it didn't work for you. If you can give me a link to another file hosting site, I will post it up. Or I can send to you directly if you have AIM or a service like that. Or I could also try e-mailing the trailer to you, it's 6MB as long as your e-mail will accept that size.

Here's the trailer:

Wolf in the Fold Trailer

Bonnut Film Studio has finished it?s first in a handful of short films leading up to the production of our first Feature Length film. ?Wolf in the Fold? was filmed completely on Super 8 in Tri-X and Plus-X, with the exception of the time lapse, which was shot with a still camera with Tri-X.

The style of the film is mainly German Expressionist (i.e. F.W. Murnau) mixed with Early American Cinema (i.e. D.W. Griffith). So as you can guess it is a silent film, a very nice musical soundtrack by Tom Stroll accompanies it. The film was written, directed and edited by me, Ernie Zahn and it was telecined very well by Co-director of ?Sleep Always,? Mitch Perkins.

The DVD will be available soon with commentaries, trailers, scouting footage, and outtakes. The DVD?s will have complete artwork on both the jewel cases and the DVD?s themselves.

Here?s the story for ?Wolf in the Fold:?

30 years after the over throw of their monarchy, this small country in Eastern Europe is plagued by a string of murders committed by what the locals believe is a phantom or demon. It's up to Freder (Dylan Rose) and his investigation partner, Charles (Alex Dadzis), to solve this series of killings before the stability of the country is compromised.

CAST:

Dylan Rose as Freder

Christina White as Aurelia

Alex Dadzis as Charles

Parker Bonnell/Kieran Hartley as Raymond Grehm

Tom Stroll as The Killer

Griffen Sandberg as The Hobo

Jamie Kalifah as The Vandal

Kieran Hartley as The Messenger Boy

I will post the trailer here soon. For now I have some screens of the film. If you would like to reserve a copy of the film let me know at OverTheHillsAndFarAway@msn.com. They will be $5.00 + $1.00 (Shipping/Handling).

Here are some Screens:

Does anyone know any places in Manhattan where I could rent 3CCD MiniDV cameras. I really appreciate it, I'm kinda in a jam and I'd really to hear any input or links ASAP.

Thank you much

Thank you, and yes I understand there's more to it. But the frame rate is part of it and my current MiniDV camera, aside from the fact it's shot, won't give me any options as far as frame rate goes. I've been shooting in Super 8 for quite some time and video is becoming to seem like a-whole-nother animal. I have my lighting etc down, this frame rate looks ugly is all. Thanks for your help.

Are there any MiniDV cameras that aren't abosolutely pro that shoot in 24fps or 24p as it seems to be called in the digital community. I'm getting a new DV camera and I don't want a $9,000 camea but I do want something that'll shoot at that frame rate. It can still be a consumer camera, I just wanna get rid of that home movie look without having to pay $9,000. Thoughts or input

Cool, thanks.