Now that I have a working camera — now comes the hard part (and the part I dread) — trolling ebay for film.
There are 2 types of film that I want to work with in Super 8 format:Ektachrome (uses normal processing that you can find today)Kodachrome (discontinued film, only 1 location world-wide processes the film)Brand new (ektachrome can be bought at specialized camera dealers) or vintage, it runs about $20 a box for 3.5 minutes worth of film. That’s over $5 a minute.
GULP.
I’m hoping to accumulate 5 hours worth of film for the remainder of the year, and send batches off to process once I have a sizeable amount collected. Processing is $12/roll. So for 3.5 minutes of film, we’re looking at a cost of about $35 inc. shipping. Almost exactly 10 bucks a minute. With numbers like that, the subject of the film starts to get really precious, which, if you think about it, is part of the point of my project. I think that’s part of what makes those old faded photos from the past so special — that there weren’t so many of them. Nothing like today’s digital age (although, arguably a time and place for that, and not to mention, infinitely easier and cheaper than film) which is so much more disposable.I made my first kodachrome super 8 purchase today, and am looking to buy some kodachrome slide film as well. Guess I better buckle down and start eating ramen
