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Author
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Topic: Whats the Most affordable way to Shoot 16mm Please
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Robert Lewis
Film Handler
Posts: 58
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted May 24, 2009 03:31 AM
Hi Mark.
I recently (a few months ago) decided to get into filming in 16mm and got a very nice Bell and Howell H16 Rex 4 camera. I found that camera aspects of the interest were easy to research, but on the stock and processing side I was disappointed.
This is largely down to Kodak. In this Country we are treated very badly by the Company.
In relation to colour, there is virtually no availability of reversal stock in 100ft rolls (which all Bolex cameras take), and it is almost impossible to get it processed here. It is possible to purchase 100ft rolls of reversal stock from the USA or Germany, but I have not found a processing laboratory in this Country where you can get it processed. If you have a camera which takes the 400 foot rolls you can purchase reversal stock here, but I understand that even so it is very difficult to get it processed here. I am informed by various film stock suppliers that Kodak will simply not supply 100ft rolls of reversal stock in this Country notwithstanding the fact that they supply it in the States and in Germany. You can, of course, get reversal stock in 100ft rolls processed in the States and Germany, but by the time you work out the total costs involved it is quite expensive.
The position in relation to negative colour stock is a little better in the sense that it can be purchased here, but processing 100ft rolls is very difficult and in order to project a film it has to be printed on to positive stock, and that involves added cost.
The position in relation to Black and White stock is somewhat easier, although it took me some time to establish the best way forward. B & W stock can be purchased in both reversal and negative form in 100ft rolls as well as 400ft rolls, but I found the best way of getting the stock processed is to use "no.w.here". They were most helpful, I found, and they will process 100ft of reversal stock as a negative and then provide a print for projection for £30 if you are not a member, or £20 if you become a member. They will, of course, also process negative stock and provide a print for projection (costs are the same). They will also supply negative stock at a keen price, and that is reduced if you are a member.
Membership costs £110 per annum, and you are able to to use some of the equipment yourself provided you have been trained, and so you are able to reduce costs I believe. I found their contact to be most friendly and helpful.
Again, you can get B & W stock processed in the States and Germany, but in Germany, for example, VAT is 19% and shipping costs are added expenses.
I hope you find this information helpful.
I would emphasise that I am very new to 16mm filming, and there might be ways forward which I have not discovered. If you find any I do hope you or any other member of the Forum will share the information.
Regards.
BOB LEWIS
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Robert Lewis
Film Handler
Posts: 58
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted May 24, 2009 04:04 PM
Thanks Simon (Wyss). I did indeed mean Bolex. I can't think why I should have typed Bell and Howell!! I sometimes wonder whether my keyboard has a will of its own.
It looks like a most helpful thread is underway here.
I did look at Spectra when I was researching costs, etc., for colour reversal stock and processing, and they are very competitive. The problem is that three trips across the Atlantic and VAT and Import Duty have a marked impact on the purchase and original processing costs.
Because of this, whilst I "got to know my camera" I made a conscious decision to use black and white stock and I have been very pleased with my results so far.
Dwaynes Photo (also in the States) also offers a good and competitive service in relation to Ektachrome 100D (7285), but again added costs are significant. I am not sure whether they supply B & W reversal film, however.
The German suppliers suffer the handicap of 19% VAT, expensive shipping costs and a poor Euro to the £ exchange rate. Or perhaps it is we who suffer the handicap. However, there is no liability for Import Duty.
All of this simply brings me back to the point I made in my first posting: Why oh why can we not get supplies and processing in this Country of a product which is readily available in other Countries.
At the end of the day, I guess commercial decisions are at the root of the difficulty, and I guess too that sooner or later I will find the call of colour irresistable. I shall just have to dig deeper in my pocket in order to satisfy my interest.
Bob.
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David Pannell
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1072
From: Horsham, West Sussex, UK
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted May 26, 2009 06:39 AM
Hi Tom,
Just wondering, but I wasn't aware whether you were at the BFCC in Ealing on the 16th.
As I'm sure you know, there are quite a few of us dotted around Sussex, so it might be nice to get up a contingent for the next convention in October.
There's Mike Peckham in Worthing, Mark Williams in Bognor, Rob Koeling in Brighton, Kevin Clark just over the border in Kent, and myself from Southwater, - plus anyone else whom I have inadvertently forgotten - apologies!
Your recent posts, I am sure, have had the effect of rousing interest in your obviously fantastic film collection - what an inheritance!
Hopefully looking forward to some more of your posts on the Forum and who knows, we may all be able to meet up one day.
Cheers,
--------------------
Dave.
Valves and celluloid - a great combination!
Early technology rules OK!
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