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Topic: Congratulations!
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Andrew Woodcock
Film God
Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012
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posted July 29, 2016 04:52 PM
It's true to say, that now, in this day and age, many people joining these forums or even remaining within them, probably will never buy a cine film or cine projector ever again.
Though it would of course be very very nice to experience many new collectors becoming interested in such machinery and film, we have to be realistic in understanding that to many, a projector in the traditional sense of the word,is little more than a tool to achieve an end means by virtue of a transfer of an old movie film.
Many others will fully appreciate the thrill associated with recreating a traditional style big screen atmosphere within the home, but will of course do so by using modern technology at a fraction of the cost and effort to carry out the job.
More disheartening to me, is always to hear from seasoned collectors of film and cine equipment who then somehow begin waxing lyrical of the benefits of digital technology to achieve the same end. As though this is some new found alternative. Oh really???
Whatever the reality of the situation, the fact remains, 5000 individuals have at least some affiliation or interest in real film and its importance of existence well before there was ever any alternative.
Long may this continue, and I live in hope that the more people that get to handle real film in whatever capacity, the more that grow to have the fascination and fondness for it that all of us dedicated film users and lovers now feel.
It gets into our bones, blood and even our DNA does this film melarchy and once bitten, never ever will the bug leave any of us for good [ July 29, 2016, 07:06 PM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]
-------------------- "C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"
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Tom Spielman
Master Film Handler
Posts: 339
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Registered: Apr 2016
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posted July 30, 2016 11:59 AM
For what it's worth, as a fairly new member, I came here looking for some advice on projector repair and transfer techniques and came away with a new appreciation for film as a medium.
Instead of just transferring old movies, I ended up buying a Super 8 camera and creating more 8 mm movies. The new interest has extended beyond 8mm into 35mm stills. A neighbor was giving away an old canon SLR and I snapped it up.
In the process I've learned more about photography in the last couple of months than I have in my previous 50 years. I bought a slide scanner from craigslist from a guy who turned out to be an accomplished sailing photographer, - another passion of mine.
At the same time, working with film has also made me further appreciate what the digital age has brought us. Ultimately the end output of anything I do will likely be digital. And the sad truth is that getting film processed is not as cheap and easy as it used to be. Even though film has enjoyed something of a renaissance, I'm not sure that situation will improve very much if at all.
I ended up buying my Super 8 film from Pro8mm and I'll get the processed film back on Tuesday according to FedEx tracking. I'm really excited about see how it turned out. I hope they do good work because I feel as if I've been gouged on shipping costs. I sent two cartridges to them via first class mail and it cost me less than $4.00 for both. I mailed them last Saturday and they arrived on Monday evening. Pretty good !
Pro8mm is charging $15.00 to return the processed film and it will have taken almost a week by the time it gets here. I'm not sure when FexEx started using mules.
I admit that I've been spoiled in the age of Amazon Prime, but when the good old USPS can deliver in 3 days for $4.00, I'm not sure what Pro8mm/FedEx's problem is.
Oh, and as far as collecting 8mm films goes, a few months ago I would have seen that as a hobby for the slightly eccentric. Today I see it as a pastime... for the slightly eccentric. But it's important to know that I consider "slightly eccentric" to be a compliment.
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