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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Topic: Spending on 35mm gear
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Scott Norwood
Film God
Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 04-06-2011 06:52 AM
A local theatre that is being renovated into a multi-use space will be re-installing its 35mm equipment (Century projectors on Simplex soundheads) later this year with the intention of presenting occasional film screenings. They will be upgrading the lamphouses and buying some other items (Kelmar table, house reels, lenses, etc.), but this will all be used equipment.
They are in the same booking zone as a major Showcase location, so they would not be able to get most new films, anyway. I expect that their film presentations will mostly be classic titles, which I am sure will be available in 35mm for the forseeable future.
They will be installing video projection as well (it is sort of expected these days, I suppose, and they are hoping to do rentals for business events (Powerpoint, etc.) during the day). Since most of the equipment (CP650, screen, speakers, etc.) is the same as for video, and they already have a booth and projector heads and bases, the cost to add 35mm capability is actually quite minimal. If they had to buy the equipment brand-new, they might not have decided to do 35mm at all. (Not because of fears of obsolescence, but because it will not likely be a major part of their programming.)
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Leo Enticknap
Film God
Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 04-06-2011 12:19 PM
35mm issues aside, one thing I have noticed in the last 2-4 years is that used but in good nick 16mm machines - even halogen-lit classroom portables - have skyrocketed in second-hand value. About 6-7 years ago I was given an 1970s vintage Eiki by a schoolteacher friend - the school was clearing out its basement. All the belts were perished, the bearings had dried out ... in short, it was good for spares only unless you were prepared to strip it totally, overhaul and reassemble. Thinking that the spares could be useful for my 'good' machine, I gratefully accepted it. Last summer I was having a clean out of the garage - needed to free up some space - and decided that it had to go. I put it on Ebay with a very honest description of its condition, expecting to make a tenner if I was lucky, and the thing fetched £140!
I've taken a bit of an interest in this because I'm on the lookout for a xenon-lit machine for the theatre at the university I work in. Whereas a decade ago, you could have got one for £300-500 easily, people are asking for four figures now.
16mm does seem to be making a bit of a comeback among arty / hippie / experimental type filmmaking (story), and so I wonder if this is driving the price of used equipment up.
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