Claire Reilly

I get full access to Film camera's in my second year, as well as a decent tuition in how to use them, so I figure, why buy a film camera now, when I get taught how to use them properly over the next year? I don't have the time to practice or the facilities to process film for quite a while yet, especially as I'm currently living in the middle of nowhere. I just wanted something I can make films with that look half decent, with a decent laptop and editing program. I will be taking the camera off auto though, I know a little about lighting so I'm going to see what I can do (I'm not even attempting to use digetic sound for now). I'm also thinking of getting some work experience with companies who produce short films/commercials for the internet, so familiarity with digital equipment should be a plus. In the end I know I should be using film to learn on, but I'll be starting to use film camera's in class from October, so if I have a digital one of my own for now, then I should end up being able to work well with both in the long run. Thanks for the advice though :)

Thanks everyone who has replied, I'm really grateful. I think I'll be going for digital as film looks a bit expensive to clumsily fiddle with as a complete newbie. Thanks again :D

Hi everyone, I'm about to embark on a three year drama degree at a top uni in the UK - the degree is half theatre, half film and you can specialise in the second and third years... anyhoo...having been an avid contemporary theatre geek for most of my life, i recently have fallen out of love with the theatre and in love with film. I'm really new to this, I've been studying film for the past two years in an academic sense via A levels but I haven't had any technical experience (for some coursewrok i was handed a camera and told to go make a film....i physically couldnt get it to work - t'was v.old though). I want to make surrealist shorts, preferably with stop motion as I adore stop motion cinematography and want to have a go. I'm looking for a camera that's simple to use and has the capacity to make aesthetically delightful films...preferably not over the £500/$1000 mark. Recommendations for computers and software programs for editing would be amazing as well. Thanks all. Reilly :D