The "Super" designation applies when your camera aperture plate ("the gate") is wide enough to capture an image larger than the normal frame size (ie: using the "extra" area of the negative where either sound-striping or perforations once existed -wastes of space that finally faded into obsolescence). For 16mm, going "Super" supposedly gives you 17 percent more picture area... nice if you plan to blow up to a 35 release print, but generally useless if you intend to post on video for TV release... 17 percent ain't that much. Oh, and if you want to know about Super 35 (or aspect ratios, for that matter), go learn about it somewhere else. You're here as an indie filmmaker, ain't ya?
Here is a comprehensive list of Motion Picture Film Stocks
with links to their specs.
- Super 8 film comes in 50' rolls which are equivalent to 2 1/2 minutes at 24 frames per second.
- 16mm film comes in 100' and 400' loads, which works out to 2 1/2 minutes and 10 minutes respectively.
- 35mm film comes in 400' or 1000' loads, giving you 4 1/2 min's or 11 min's of stock.
When timing shots for report sheets, know that:
Technically speaking, 1 minute of 16mm film = 37 frames, but by rounding-up you'll never accidentally run out during a take.