Finally, and with an elegant delay of 8 years, the KODAK Super 8 Camera has been announced. A pure combination of analog and digital, the KODAK Super 8 is a filmmakers’ gem, that contains some hidden magic, wrapped in a very steep price.
KODAK Super 8 Camera
The KODAK Super 8 Camera was introduced at CES 2016. Fast forward eight years, and today Kodak has finally announced the camera. In 2016, the initial price was a couple of hundred American Dollars. After 2-3 years, the price jumped to $2,500. And now…? A lot more…Here’s below one of the great videos by Frame Voyager. This video titled “Kodak’s ‘now’ Un-ABANDONED SUPER 8 Camera” was published 1-year ago. Check it out below to learn more about KODAK’s new/old Super 8 Camera (the part about the Super 8 Camera starts at 5:30):
A combination of analog and digital
As stated by Kodak: “We’re excited to announce the limited-edition release of the KODAK Super 8 Camera. There are some moments that digital just can’t replicate. The incomparable warmth, depth, and beauty of film simply have no equal. These are the moments that inspire us, move us forward, and enlighten us. Merging analog magic with digital convenience in the most accessible and easy-to-use film format ever invented. Kodak’s new Super 8 camera is the most advanced camera in its category. Industrial design, lens options, and a complete system from action to cut. It’s more than a camera. Welcome to your new platform for creativity. Nice to see you again, Super 8”. The characteristics of the camera are described by Kodak below:
Merging analog magic with digital convenience in the most accessible and easy-to-use film format ever invented. Kodak’s new Super 8 camera is the most advanced camera in its category. Industrial design, lens options, and a complete system from action to cut. It’s more than a camera.
Kodak
4″ LCD Viewfinder
Composing shots on Super 8 is easier than ever before. The LCD viewfinder swivels, allowing a wide range of shooting angles. Thanks to its expanded screen, navigating features like aspect ratio overlays, interactive menu selection, and camera settings is intuitive and straightforward.
Extended Gate
16:9 (widescreen) shooting and increased visual resolution. The Super 8 Camera’s extended gate optimizes more capture area of the film strip – allowing for an 11% larger image than traditional S8 cameras. This 14:9 full frame gives your Super 8 film the flexibility to intercut with other modern media capture formats, seamlessly filling the frame of today’s TV and video screens.
Interchangeable C-Mount Lens
The new Super 8 Camera comes equipped with a detachable wide-angle 6mm 1:1.2 C-mount lens, offering a range of creative choices for filmmakers of all levels. Use any other C-mount prime lens or adapters to mount the lens of your choice. Experiment with vintage lenses for a retro feel.
Connectivity & Crystal Sync
Capture high-quality audio seamlessly with the onboard sound recorder and external microphone connectivity via 3.5mm input directly to the integrated SD card reader. Monitor audio levels with live meters on the built-in LCD. The first modern Super 8mm camera with crystal sync at 24 and 25 fps, plus over and under crank at 18 and 36 FPS. Enhance capture with any HDMI-enabled monitor via the micro HDMI output.
Versatile Handling
Sleek top handle design with an integrated run button to start and stop shooting. Comfortable handling. Perfect in any setting, from studio set to hand-held action.
Pistol Grip
Switch easily from the top handle navigation to the detachable pistol grip with an additional run button for eye-level shots and a traditional Super 8 camera feel.
Today’s Latest Film Technology
Each KODAK Super 8 cartridge is loaded with 50 feet of motion picture professional film – choose from 3 different KODAK VISION3 Color Negative Film stocks, or reversal stocks including TRI-X Black & White Reversal Film and EKTACHROME Color Reversal Film.
What’s Inside the Box
- Pelican Case
- KODAK Super 8 Camera
- Wide Angle 6 mm Lens 1:1.2
- C-Mount Cap, Lens Cap, and Lens Hood
- Pistol Grip with trigger
- KODAK Super 8 Camera Battery
- Micro USB Charging Cable(s)
- KODAK Super 8 Camera USB Power Adapter
- Cleaning Cloth
- KODAK TRI-X Black & White Reversal Film 7266
- Getting Started Guide
Technical specifications
Explore the slides below containing the tech-spec of the KODAK Super 8 Camera:
And here’s some footage:
The article in 65 seconds
Price and availability
The KODAK Super 8 Camera will initially launch in the US and later become available in other countries. Kodak will contact customers in a sign-up order when a camera is available for purchase in your region. “Considering the limited availability of the camera, we appreciate your patience and participation in this process. Thank you for your loyalty and continued interest in the KODAK Super 8 Camera” Kodak says. The price is $5,495 USD. Sign up to reserve yours.
Related resources
Let us know your opinion about the KODAK Super 8 Camera. Is it worth the price? Would you invest $5,500 to shoot some Super 8 magic?
Personally I would love to have one. I started out shooting regular 8 in the 1960s before getting my first Super 8 camera in the early 70’s, but I’m afraid the price will prohibit me from buying one. If you’re interested in film, for this price you can pick up a very nice 16MM camera, film and have money left over. I do hope the camera is a success and the pricing will come down and other companies will jump in the market. If I had an extra $5500 laying around, I would order one today.
This camera being C-mount is ideal with my TS-160 to get fantastic results. Instead of the 54mm back tube length, C-mount would be much, much shorter.
The inverse square law would make 8mm format be hyper light transmissive! But all things would hold focus to mere inches from the lens’s front and macro would still go well into MICRO magnifications. Full details: infinity-usa.com (top links on Home Page).
KODAK should be aware of this. These lenses are based on TWO-time R&D 100 award winning tech and a variant is aboard the ISS imaging the Bose-Einstein Condensate for the first time in zero-G.
$5500… Really? Kodak has lost their mind. I love Super-8, but even a new camera being introduced at one-fifth that price would be utterly inane. Honestly, even one-tenth would be… There are still quality Super-8 cameras out there that can be purchased for less than a $100, and after another couple hundred to be fully serviced, will work like new (and probably outlast this new Kodak camera due to the vastly superior engineering/workmanship of days past). When this camera was first announced years ago and was expected to cost a few hundred dollars, I was interested. But $5500? Seriously? This is just a sad joke. I mean, as Ricky correctly stated above, you can get into 16mm using very nice equipment for that price, shoot several rolls, have them developed, and still have a lot of cash left over.
Love it! Don’t love the price. Should be $1K max.
Then I’d buy two 🙂
Looks pretty sweet but I don’t know how they landed on that pricepoint, the idea of being able to preview on screen and have audio recorded and synched is pretty sweet but I have no idea why they are charging that much. Your going to tell me their is even half of the retail price $2750 worth materials in this thing, strip it down and have one that can do super 16, 35mm and a something larger than 35mm with different price points, I’d consider a price like this if they had cartridges of some 65mm film. For this price it’s just going to be a few people with too much money dicking around and waxing nostalgic