Kodak Raises Super 8 From The Dead; Camera's Specs Aren't Worth The Price?
Introduced more than fifty years ago, Kodak's Super 8 camera was the choice for budding filmmakers and visual artists.
However, the company stopped producing the device in the early 80s following the rise of video technology.
Now, Kodak has announced that they are bringing the beloved film stock camera back to life with specs that can compete in the digital age.
Kodak revealed a prototype of the camera earlier this month at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
"On the heels of celebrating 50 years of manufacturing Super 8 film, Kodak is launching an initiative aimed at putting Super 8 cameras into the hands of a new generation of filmmakers as well as meeting the needs of top directors, indie filmmakers and others who appreciate the art and craft of filmmaking," reads an official press release by Kodak.
Known simply as the Kodak Super 8, the device will carry both analog and digital features.
Like the original camera introduced in the 60s, the camera records on cartridges that hold 50ft of film stock, which is enough for about three minutes.
And like in the old days, users will ship their cartridge to Kodak where it will be processed and digitally converted to video.
The processed cartridge is mailed back to the client, although they will also receive a password to access the digitally converted footage online.
According to Gizmag, specs of the new Super 8 includes an onboard SD card and a plug-in mic port, this means that sound and video will have to be synced manually during editing.
There's also a flip-out 3.5-inch LCD monitor that receives a feed from the SD slot and a headphones port.
The camera body, which was designed by Yves Behar of FuseProject, is made from machined metal with leather inserts on the carry handle and optional pistol grip.
Kodak Super 8 will be available in two colors, bone china and midnight black.
Kodak has yet to announce the new Super 8's price, although Kodak chief executive Jeff Clarke mentioned in an interview with Wall Street Journal that film cartridges could go for as much as $50 each.
