OK, I was originally planning on doing my feature on miniDV with the mini35 adaptor. Mainly for cost effectiveness.
However a guy I know is begging me to let him shoot my film on 16mm and he'll provide all of the cameras (he has more than one) and very nice prime lenses (some of which stop down to .96) for free if I buy the film.
Here's the rub...the guy is a complete jerk...can I deal with it long enough to get the project done...will it ruin my experience? Also, what can I expect to pay for film/processing/transfer on a 91 min shooting 3:1? Pro8mm.com has a package for about $5100. Is that competitive?
Take off all of the film snob/purists hats and on a practical level...which would be better?
Is that 5100 dollar package for approx. 5 hours of 16mm film, including processing and telecine? If so, that's a pretty good deal. If you get film from Kodak, with a student discount, it'll be about 120 bucks for a 400 ft. reel (approx. 10 minutes), give or take some depending on the stock. Processing and telecine will usually end up costing you a little less (or a little more) than the amount you spent on the film in the first place.
The problem is that if you have to work with someone you don't like to shoot on film, it's not worth it. If you can get a really good DP who you enjoy working with, and you're going to use a mini35 on an XL-1, I think the pluses of that situation (fun, good working environment, awesome lenses, less expensive) far outweigh the minuses (miniDV).
I've personally found that working on films with people I don't like is sort of toxic, especially when no pay is involved.
Yeah. No point in going 16mm if it's gonna cost more and you don't like the DP.
Thanks...that's the resolution I'm coming to also.
Out of curiosity, how much is the 35mm adaptor to rent? Or do you own it?
And how much better is the quality than, say, getting the EOS adaptor (which is much cheaper), and using those lenses?
The only place in Dallas that has the adaptor charges about $180/day. Of course then you have about $40 per lens, etc.
Well the pro35 isn't just an adaptor. It projects the image on a 35mm plane (which gives it some, not all, 35mm properties) which is then picked up by the camera chip.