SUPER8SUPER8

To be a Super 8 Filmmaker today comes with its pro’s and cons, and one of the benefits is the abundance of quality second hand gear. Definitely the easiest way pick up a cheap Super 8 Camera or Projector is eBay, but not every seller puts their goods up for sale online and you can work this to your advantage.

This post is intended to help you source the best equipment without the aid of the internet, and develop some buyer-savvy techniques to bag yourself some hidden vintage gems!

While in the 1970’s, 80’s and even 90’s, you could walk into a specialst shop an pick up a brand new camera off the shelf, to day that opportunity is rare unless you

1. Know where to look
2. Know what you’re looking for and
3. Know what to pay

Despite mentioning that we’re not using the net to find our equipment, It’s worth running a quick google search to find the names and addresses of charity shops, independent photographic shops and vintage/brick-a-brack stores. Once you’ve compiled a list, it’s time to hit the road and pay them all a visit..

Firstly, Charity Shops

Charity shopping for any product holds no guarantee, but as the wild card in our selection it is always worth popping your head through the door and asking casually if they have ‘any old cameras’ – remember its likely that wee old dear behind the counter does not know her movie camera from her medium format, and, if they have anything in stock will no doubt point you towards a tiny area on a shelf, holding a 50p Panoramic 35mm and a Kodak instamatic.

However, every now and then you’ll hit the motherload, and come in a few hours after they’ve been donated a stack of vintage goodies from a house clearance or a passed grandparent. When this happens, its likely that you wont pay more than a couple of pounds for a camera, so don’t expect it to be in 100% working condition – always carry a few AA batteries so you check if it runs and don’t be tempted to buy it just because it’s there.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll learn the hard way and spend a small fortune on junk that you can’t return, just because you had no batteries to test with. Be warned!

Another benefit of charity shopping is that you do your bit by donating your cash to a good cause.

Photography Shops

By this, I don’t mean Jessops or Currys. Jessops stopped taking second hand years ago, and I’m amazed still stock actual film even today. So, Jessops for a quick reel of Super 8 film, but a definite no for anything else.

What we’re looking for is the independent photographic supplier that has been in the same location for twenty years, and has dusty old Zenits and loads of Pentax K1000 cameras in the window that they’ve be trying to shift for almost as long.

If they have any Super 8 equipment for sale on the shop floor, it is without a doubt insanely overpriced. Don’t begrudge them this though, as they are no doubt struggling with the steep decline on analogue camera sales and are just trying to get some cash in the till.

To shop successfully in a shop like this you need to do two of these three things:

1. Build a rapport with the staff/owner
2. Know your stuff and
3. Learn to haggle

By visiting regularly and picking up some film for your still camera or some batteries – anything cheap! – you can quickly get to know the old men (which they invariably are) who run the place. Take the time to ask about the shop and the equipment you’re looking for, because I’ll bet they have a storeroom or basement with a tonne of great cine stuff that hasn’t seen the light of day for years. By enquiring, they’ll dig it out and be happy to sell it (of course!). But you can’t pay the first price you’re given if you get the feeling that it’s too much. Remember, it might be overpriced because the shopkeeper is a little bit out of touch with current prices – where eBay set the standard.

As an aside, there was a very well known shop in Glasgow called 21^st Century Films – it was a goldmine of old school fimmaking, absolutely everything was stocked.. However, the owner who we only met once, (which by chance was on the very last day the shop was open for business) was so far out of touch with prices and current technology that he had used VHS recorders for sale at £100 each! The prices for cine equipment were shocking, along with the customer service skills and we walked out emptyhanded. The point is, if as long as they believe you’re going to buy it, you have the power on your side!

Curios Stores

I love a good rake through vintage junk. It doesn’t matter what it is; musical instruments, vintage toys, ornaments - I love it. I also love that you can find great equipment here which has usually come in from a house clearance - so they want it sold as soon as possible to make way for the next influx of brick-a-brack.

Other than being ready for a good rake through boxes and behind cupboard doors, you can really get into bartering mode at these kind of places as the shopkeeper has not real attachment to his or her stock - they just want it sold! If you get to know the owner of a Curios store and tell them what you’re after they’ll usually be nice ad keep stuff aside for you as it comes in. After a while you could ask to leave your phone number so he/she can call you when something interesting shows up.

It’s win-win in this kind of store, just beware of initial price tags and be willing to ask for a discount - especially if you come in regularly.

Top points to remember:

1. Know your stuff before hitting the streets
2. Build a rapport with shopkeepers
3. Be ready to haggle
4. Test the equipment before you buy

If you follow this advice you shouldn’t go too far wrong, but it isn’t an exact science: sometime you hit gold, others you pay you money and you take a chance. When you do find something special at a stupidly low price, you can always sell it on for a profit, but I’ll talk about this in another post.

Good luck and happy raking! Feel free to leave your comments below – have you picked up any bargain gems lately? Or have taken a chance and ended up with a camera only useful as a bookend?

image by Smoorenburg