i'm looking into buying a 16mm camera, but i really dont know much about them. of course i don't want a super expensive camera, all i really want is something where i can change the frame rate slower and faster, basic stuff. any ideas? what are some good brands? anything i should look into? advice is greatly appreciated.

you can find some pretty decent Bolexes on Ebay....they are a good starting camera.  Figure out what exactly you want...spring wound?  motor driven?  realize a camera with a crystal sync motor (needed for sync sound) is where it's gonna start getting expensive...

here is a fairly decent one (starter kinda camera) i found just quickly searching....

If you're gonna buy a 16mm camera you need crystal sync. It might be fun awhile without it but you'll kick yourself when you want to do dialogue.

i'd get an arri SR II -- great mechanics, built like a tank -- but really with any camera, when all said and done, its really about the lens. you can have a million dollar camera with a shit lens and you're dead in the water.

hahaha...you guys...come on now.  sorry if i am wrong, but i am under the impression that he isn't looking for a $10,000 camera.  Travis...what's yer price range?

I'm not sure if anybody here has actually shot 16mm.  I did 10 films over 10 years with an Eclair ACL...it was my partner's but he sold it.  Unless you want to spent lots of cash forget about an Arriflex.  Your best bet is a crystal sync Bolex or an Eclair.  Both are decent but you can load 400ft mags on an Eclair which makes shooting alot easier.  After giving up the Eclair, I'm not concerned... I can rent Arri's for cheap.  Unless you're doing alot of guerilla filmmaking... purchasing a 16 cam is not worth your while then again a good non-sync Bolex will last a life time and not cost you an arm and a leg.  As someone said... the lens is important as I've found out with shitting lenses with Dv cams.  Make sure you have a good deep zoom lens.

Just another note here.... I'm switching from 16 to mini-DV and my analog Nagra would come in handy.  Just want to know if the sync is cool with Dv.  I didn't have time for tests so does anyone have knowledge.... if you've shot 16.... you've used a Nagra.

Quote from: WitkacyJust another note here.... I'm switching from 16 to mini-DV and my analog Nagra would come in handy.  Just want to know if the sync is cool with Dv.  I didn't have time for tests so does anyone have knowledge.... if you've shot 16.... you've used a Nagra.

I think Nagras are pretty obsolete with DV... DV audio is pretty much the same as DAT quality (48khz, 16bit, stereo), so why even record audio in analog?  I guess it could be cool, but if you go digital, i'd go digital all the way!  Make the jump.

my attitude -- if youre going to spend the money to shoot film -- spend the money on good optics. i think you'd be better off renting a good camera rather than buying a shit one. if you ahvce the money to burn 16mm on unplanned experimentation, thats a different story. i recently got  a nice super 8mm  -- quite nice for little projects.

Quote from: cowboykurtisi think you'd be better off renting a good camera rather than buying a shit one.

best idea i have heard.

Quote

I think Nagras are pretty obsolete with DV...
I'm not sure if you know the quality of a Nagra... it's not a piece of shit, it's was the industry standard before digital.  If you can't answer my question then you've never used a Nagra.

Quote from: Witkacy

Quote[/I think Nagras are pretty obsolete with DV...quote]I think Nagras are pretty obsolete with DV...
I'm not sure if you know the quality of a Nagra... it's not a piece of shit, it's was the industry standard before digital.  If you can't answer my question then you've never used a Nagra.

how's that quote button working out for ya???

hehehe.

Never used it and still trying....  my skills are still in infancy.

Quote from: WitkacyNever used it and still trying....  my skills are still in infancy.

it's okay...just takes a little bit of practice.