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Author
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Topic: Time warp - digital didn't happen?
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Allan Broadfield
Master Film Handler
Posts: 452
From: Bromley, Kent
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted May 03, 2014 11:21 AM
Recently I was reminiscing with a like minded pal (film mad), about what would the consequences have been if digital, or indeed video of any sort, hadn't happened?
Film presumably would have continued it's development (yes I saw the pun there), resulting in even more improvements in grain structure, super 8 optical sound prints would have possibly become more common, and cheaper, as these could be printed in one pass, and features would perhaps be manufactured in cassettes of some type, like the airplane prints.
As regards film grain, this has already improved, with 16mm giving 35mm quality when blown up digitally, but it's fascinating to think what could have been.
Maybe it would have outpriced itself without the incredibly cheap DVD's becoming available?
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Mark Todd
Film God
Posts: 3846
From: UK
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted May 08, 2014 06:25 PM
Conversely if you popped in to your time machine and got out in 1895 with decent generators and lots of digital equipment and the associated tech etc would film have got going at all. Probably not.
Film development was governed by what they could do at the time with what they had if you will. If electronic development and components etc were more advanced who can say etc.
There are huge environmental benefits of the digital surge not just in film etc as well.
I love film and always will but a 2nd hand Video projector for only a £100 or so and a blu Ray player blows all but the very best 16mm clean out of the water and can also look very nice and filmic even if you like.
If S8 projector and film development had continued longer it would have been great.
What it comes down to now really is the fiddly fun that mainly appeals to men, and its very enjoyable.
Vinyl is coming back in a huge rush, but was always to begin with a massive market by comparrison. But you can buy a really great quality Chinese made record deck from around £100 + new with a guarantee in 2014 and away you go.
I don`t think the long term future of super 8 is commercial in a sense. The costs are crackers. The way to go would be for a group of collectors from all over the world to join via the net and put some money in.
To set up a digital to film set up somewhere with a super 8 camera which can do sound either to optical or mag sound direct as you film from HD, and associated equipment to slit and process etc all in house and source stock from China, India etc.
Also its a shame CHC`s efforts regarding a new machine failed but what was really needed was a buy up of old Elmo little used ST600`s etc, having upgraded sound and light and stereo connectors and guides fitted, then fully serviced and guaranteed for say £450-£500.
Its a shame but I don`t think the hobby can really get any long term ( younger ) people in any significant way. Not least as they will initially be sniffed out and sold red, scratched and crappy films and duff machines etc to begin with !!! unless very very lucky.
Films day is done really, but it would have been nice and very interesting if super 8 particularly had been longer in development.
Best Mark.
[ May 09, 2014, 09:24 AM: Message edited by: Mark Todd ]
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Graham Ritchie
Film God
Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted May 08, 2014 07:18 PM
Allan
Don't forget that long before the DTS disc, sound used to be in sync to 35mm film using a record. DTS is just an advancement of something that had been around a long time.
If the digital age didn't happen, film would still be around, however the digital age has done much to improve things, like health care, communication, the internet, Facebook ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif) etc.
The thing with all film, be it slides or Super8 etc, is the look of it when projected onto a screen. To a certain extent I still miss projecting the stuff for a living, and sometimes cringe when I go to the cinema and watch, not film but digital...it just ain't the same ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Anyway my next project is to make our small projection box slightly bigger, to include the 5 deck platter that is already running from the garage and place it in a more dust free environment. ![[Cool]](cool.gif) ..in time will be the only place in town still running a wee bit of film using a platter ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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