I know in the old times, people did shoot 16mm only in half image to save money by covering the lens. Then they back roll and shoot another half image. I read it as super 8mm history in the book and people's recall. Last year, when I went to the Tacita Dean's exhibition in National portrait gallery, I was shocked she used it even as trisection image in her splendid work. However, she did it on 35mm.
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
posted November 14, 2019 02:49 AM
The film frame of standard 8 is only a quarter of the size of a 16mm frame. Standard 8 stock is 16mm silent but has double the number of perforations. The film is exposed twice, one each side. After processing the films is split and becomes standard 8. The original film of 25 feet now becomes 50 feet.
To my knowledge there is no method of using 16mm as you describe. I suppose it could be done with expensive modifications to a camera and a projector.
Posts: 264
From: Fairfield, OH, USA
Registered: Feb 2004
posted November 21, 2019 09:43 PM
A Bolex DS-8mm camera can be modified to do what you are looking for. The gate would need to be widened all the way across the 16mm film width. This gives a very wide screen image. No real practical way of projecting the film without lots of engineering and modifications, but can be transferred and viewed digitally. Problem today is that right now there is only B+W Fomopan available in DS-8mm format. It can be had on the 100ft rolls that the Bolex DS8mm camera needs. Good news is it can look fantastic if shot carefully and developed properly. Good luck.
Posts: 953
From: Sunland, CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2006
posted November 22, 2019 03:12 PM
Covering the lens will not work. You need an aperture plate in the film plane for it to work. That's what is said in the article.
[ November 22, 2019, 09:25 PM: Message edited by: Larry Arpin ]