8mm Forum: noisy camera?

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Posted by Jacques P. Fontaine (Member # 1587) on May 22, 2009, 10:03 AM:

Hello one and all!

My name is Jacques Fontaine, Jay for short and I am a total newbee with super 8. I have been doing digital and Hi8 for years and just became interested in film because digital didn't give me everything I wanted artistically.

Any how, I just bought my first super 8 camera, thought I'd start out "cheap" until I got my "sea legs" under me. I just received my "new" Yashica 50XL ($29.95 on eBay). I say "new" because this camera has never had batteries in it let alone film! It even smells new! All seems to function correctly but man! this thing is noisy! I'v never had a film camera befor so is it normal to make very loud (to me) noises when running or will this calm down with film in the camera or because it sat for 20+ years does it need a "lube job"?

Please advise!

Regards,
Jay F.
Wisconsin

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on May 22, 2009, 01:38 PM:

Hello Jacques, and welcome to the forum.

A film camera will make noise. It is a mechanical transport incorporating the loops and pull-down of the film mechanism, and those will never be as quiet as a video camera (unless you find a way to make a sound-dampening cover.)

The dedicated Super-8 sound cameras were somewhat quieter than the silent-film models (so they wouldn't interfere with sound recording.)
Still, I think your reaction is simply also one of never having had such a camera before, and not being used to 'running noise'.

There is the possibility that the camera may have a defect or be 'clacking' loudly due to, perhaps, lack of lubing, but there is no way to determine this from your description.
Best way to find out if the camera is ok, is to load a roll and go at it.

Dwayne's Photo has Ektachrome, which is the cheapest way to start:
http://www.dwaynesphoto.com/common/3Super_8_film_for_sale_ad.pdf

Good luck; let us know how it works,

Claus.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on May 22, 2009, 10:17 PM:

Sometimes when I shoot Super-8 my wife is shooting DV at the same time. We've had to develop a rhythm of alternating cameras because if I am within 6 feet of her my camera noise winds up on her sound track.

-so yes: a film camera is a little noisy.

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on May 25, 2009, 10:24 AM:

The best way around the sound interference (other than shooting non-sync sound environments) is to use external mics on the DV camera that are directional in characteristic and placed strategically to hear less of the movie camera noise, as in at a distance or the movie camera in the "null" of the microphones.

Posted by Simon Wyss (Member # 1569) on May 26, 2009, 04:58 AM:

My advice: Switch to Double-8

Open cameras (mean you can screw on lenses), spring drive (never let you down with lack of electricity), attachment electric motors, larger capacity, serious metal film guidance, purring often very silently, surprising choice of raw stock: positive, reversal black and white, negative black and white, reversal chrome, virtually everything available in 16.

And then the projectors. No Super-8 projector compares to a Bolex-Paillard M 8 or a Eumig Mark S or a well maintained P 8 or the Bell & Howell Autoload in caring hands.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on May 26, 2009, 07:10 AM:

I hear what you are saying Bill, but keeping it simple is kind of essential where my wife and cameras are concerned!

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on May 28, 2009, 01:08 PM:

Fair 'nuff, Steve! [Smile]

Better to have beloved help, though perhaps less infatuated with the details than we, than to do it all alone!

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