George Aravanis

The SR3 is a sweet camera, and super quiet. With SR3 prices as low as they are I'd say to any pro with paying gigs go for the SR3.

 

But with Super 16 SR2's out there for half the price, they might be a better investment. Then you'll have some money to pickup a lens.

 

Here's another option, an SR1 or 2 in standard 16 will be half again as much money, and you'll have a much broader array of low cost lenses available. These cameras are so rock solid that I notice a major difference in steadiness between something like a Canon Scoopic (which I also love).

 

Here's a test I shot last at Easter with an SR1 that was reconditioned...

 

 

This is 4:3 but you can zoom in on the frame in telecine for 16:9 with excellent results.

 

Guess what I'm saying is that if you can get a standard 16 SR1 or 2 for $1000 then have $3500 to spend on great lenses you'd be better off with that vs. just an SR3 with no lenses and have to rent them every time.

 

I just had a standard 16 Zeiss 10-100 T2 converted to Super 16 PL by Serious Gear. Love the lens (even with the serious breathing) and now it will work with a Black Magic Cinema Camera MFT as well (if they're ever available).

Hello Will,

Thank you for your comments. I'll certainly keep my options open. If for some reason the SR3 doesn't work out as a purchase, at least I have SR1or SR2 to consider. Those aren't completely out of the question, of course. I was looking at the SR2 at first, but then found the SR3. :) I'd like to be able to have money left over to purchase more lenses so I have a selection of them as opposed to being bound to only 1 or 2 in my case. With the SR1 being a Arri Bayonet mount, that isn't a big issue?

George-- Good to hear you are getting into film. It's a very beautiful and gratifying medium. Best of luck with the SR3 when the time comes!

Oh, I almost forgot to ask you, Cory. Just like I asked Will above, about the SR1 not being a PL mount, that isn't a big deal for you? I just looked it up and there are bayonet to PL adapters, so I guess it's not a problem after all?

SRs that have been modified to S16 usually get the upmost care and treatment in their conversion. Anything converted by Visual Products or Whitehouse will give it their all, recentering the lens mount and changing to PL, updating the ground glass, adapting the shutter to fully cover the S16 area, etc.

 

If you've never shot on film before, I would highly suggest even starting out with a bolex or other non-sync 16mm camera just to get the feel of film, how it reacts to light, etc. You can find a bunch of 16mm cameras online that are dirt cheap, and may not run at exactly 24fps, or will not be quiet enough for sync sound, but it will give you a great feel of film, and how to shoot with it, before you buy an SR or other 16mm camera.

 

I felt crazy buying a film camera last week, but I couldn't be happier with my purchase, a 4:3 SR1

I was just looking through your post asking for opinions on whether or not 4:3 is dead. When I saw the picture of your SR1, my jaw dropped. It's beautiful!

Aye.

Really all you need for an SR3 package (i should know since I own one) to shoot is this:

 

onboard Batts/charger

onboard batt adapter

block battery/cable

Dove Plate/ Bridge Plate

Rails

Follow Focus

I like the long view-finder, but you can use just the short,

I like a 4x4 swing away matte box and some filters---depending on what you're shooting

Magazines (2 is ok, 4 is better)

Changing tent (or an AC who has one)

Spare Fuse (just incase)

and obviously, Lenses. I like a nice set of primes. Zeiss Standard Speeds are very good on a budget.

Awesome, thank you very much, Adrian! There's even a few things listed that I probably won't need right away. I was reading some articles earlier on how the SR body handles being shoulder mounted. As I suspected, it's not very comfortable. Surely there are shoulder support systems that can handle these bodies, right? About the lenses, I'll start looking for some.

 

 

They (rental company) may sweetly oversell you on what you need. If you want to save money have a chat with someone experienced. For example, why do you need a video tap right now?

 

Cheers,

Gregg.

Hello Gregg,

Nah, not really, I don't think I need the video tap right now. I'm perfectly content with viewing the image through the viewfinder for now. It was just one of those things where a list of items were being presented to me and I was just writing them down. Really quick, off topic, my girlfriend went to New Zealand in December last year with a tour group. She loved it there. It was her long time dream to go ever since watching The Piano. :)

Hello Oron, Adrian, Cory,

Thank you so much for your input. It helped me out today. It never registered that I should consider renting it first before buying one. I spoke to a rental place in Burbank today that has a SR3 and I was asked to send them what I need to start and they'll put a package together for me. Most of the items, next to the body and lens, are things I didn't know I needed such as a video tap. I know what it is now, of course. For being old cameras, it's the experience that's going to be brand new. It's very exciting. I can't wait to start using it.

The closest I've attempted to being there is I sent them my resume to be a production assistant! I think that'd be an experience, but I got a reply back saying they'd let me know if they needed my help. I thought perhap's it'd be just volunteer work, but maybe it isn't if they needed an actual resume from me. -GEORGE

Hello,

I was wondering, when you get a chance, if you can tell me what monitor you have attached to the Red in post #9.

Thank you! -GEORGE

Wow! That thing is a beast. I was gripping my teeth as you were flipping it around for the low shot. -GEORGE