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Standard 8 compared to Super 8
Standard
8mm film is in fact 25 feet of 16mm motion picture film which is run through
the camera twice. On each run, pictures are exposed down one edge of the
stock and then down the other. When the film is processed, it is then
also split right down the middle and joined at the ends to form 50 feet
of 8mm film.
Super
8mm film is actually 8mm wide to begin with. Also, it has smaller sprocket
holes which allows for a larger image. Finally, it is sealed in a self
contained cartridge for easy loading.
You do not have to load Standard 8mm film in darkness,
just be sensible and load it in slightly subdued light (i.e under a tree,
not out in the sun.) The outer layers of film on the spool protect the
inner ones from light whilst the film is being loaded.
We must also mention Single 8 here. That is Super 8mm
film, again sealed in a handy cartridge, but this time the spools are
on top of each other rather than mounted on the same axle as in Super
8.
A couple of other points worth mentioning. Although
the image area on Super 8 is actually larger, this does not necessarily
mean you always get a better picture. A Standard 8mm camera has a proper
film gate with a pressure plate which keeps the film steady and in position
behind the gate. With Super 8, the pressure plate is plastic and is built
into the cartridge. This can result in image weave and jiggle (the film
is actually moving from side to side a bit whilst being exposed.
Secondly, many Super 8 cameras have such enormous zoom
lenses on them (to try and appeal to as wider market as possible) that,
due to the number of elements of glass in the lens, you can often get
a much worse picture than that achieved with a single prime lens on an
old Standard 8 camera.
Also, standard 8mm film can be wound back in the
camera and then re-exposed for all kinds of special effects and double
exposure tricks.
This document last modified Wednesday, 05-Jun-2002 15:10:39 BST
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