Chloe Borkett

Wooh there guys no need to argue. I'm a documentary photographer and if you came to me wanting a start out but decent camera I could run off a pretty darn good list and those cameras wouldn't be in the press range of a blad... that's silly money when you haven't even mastered your technique. However I do believe it's good to start with good optics and basic range of easy to use/learn functions what ever your level. I think from all the really generous advice I have received here and doing further research into models that people have recommended and considering my price bracket, I'm proabably going to go for a Nizo or the Canon - it has a good lens range and all the main functions I would need to do a first short and they have obviously been tried and tested by more experience folk then me... so yeah I'm just waiting till I've got a £150 or less and I will buy I'm sure. The project I'm doing is probably very much a photographer's kinda short rather than a filmmaker short... but hey you gotta start somewhere and I just want to experiment...

Thanks for your tipsters really helpful... I realise I know rather little about film. So perhaps you could help me some more so I continue wading through my decision making!! Is it good to have fades, time laspe etc functionality built into the camera - I thought you could do this shiz in FCP or whatever?? Could you explain? Also by functionality I was referencing the above but also the lense range, how you focus. Do you see through the lens or is it a range finder that kinda stuff, as personally that can affect the way I work... oh and to have a good light meter... although I have an external meter if you have no way of altering the settings on the camera its redundant, right?

This would be a great first camera. Rock solid with a great lens. Exactly - I'm just looking for a cheap entry level camera - but obviously wanted to know the ones that had decent lenses, different film speeds and a decent zoom range on the lense, oh and light metering capabilities - which this little bad boy seems to have. I did start a project last year, but I borrowed a Bolex from a friend and it was pretty bad.. you couldn't adjust the light meter and it was so heavy, I had serious camera shake. So I wanted to invest a little more in something a little easier to handle. Doesn't mean the short I was trying to make is going to be any better, but it might just make things easier...

Hahah I know it's not bad... but I don't have $600 ... I was thinking more $200!!!!! I only want it for small projects...

Hi there! I'm a photographer not a cinematographer, so I don't know much about what kit is good etc. I've been squatting up though and although the 'Which Super 8 Camera to Pick and Buy' thread is great... it's expensive!!! I was just wondering what a cheaper alternative to a Canon 814 or 1014 would be? Something with the same functionality but waaaaaaaaay cheaper!!!! Just some brands and models would be fab so I can do some more research rather than not knowing what to even look for!!! Thanks in advance for any advice! Chloe