Filming With Super 8

After learning how to develop real 16mm film stock, it was of course just a matter of time before we would experiment filming with Super 8.

Whereas 16mm is usually used for short film and 35mm for cinema, Super 8 was not initially meant for the professional industry, but rather aimed at the hobby consumer. But because of its grittier look, Super 8 was and still is used for diverse art pieces.

But filming with physical stock also comes with its caveats. This already starts with the camera, in our case the Canon 1014 XL-S. This lovely piece of camera technology, unlike its digital descendants, unfortunately does not tell you what the actual exposure is, which is why you would also want to invest in a light meter.

Since exposure in film is determined by the triumvirate of aperture, shutter speed and gain, it is only logical that you can calculate the value of one parameter once you know the other ones. Luckily, the light meter can not only measure light, as its name might suggest, but it also does the math for you. Yay!

Assuming that you told him nicely before how light sensitive the material is and the actual shutter speed you intend to film with, it will tell you the exact exposure number for the iris you will need to adjust to once you actually measured the light.

But how do you know how sensitive your material is? The actual film cartridge will tell you the sensitivity of the film inside and for what kind of light it is meant to be used in.

The 200T on the picture above is what you want to look out for when adjusting your light meter. This not only tells you that the ISO of the actual film carries the value 200 (which is not really super sensitive) but also that it is optimal for use in Tungsten light settings.

So once you set the light meter to the right values, measure the light directly in front of your object, adjust the camera to the right f. and make sure your focus is set, you can start filming. Easy Peasy!

Using both the aforementioned camera and a Sekonic Flashmate L-308B, we naturally experimented with the equipment and the light surroundings, taking turns in measuring and adjusting and filming a couple of seconds each.