FOCUS : Old cameras still lead in high quality images

Despite advancements in technology, the 35mm B1 still image camera is still relevant in the production of motion pictures. The old, heavy camera that can take 25 frames of images in a second is still preferred by filmmakers due to its quality in terms of image resolution. Also, filmmakers say images from the camera can be kept for up to 100 years without the quality fading. “This camera is good for shooting commercials and filming material on location, not for OB (Outside Broadcast). This is because it is bulky,” says Andrew Kaneza, a local film producer. The camera, which is operated manually, can zoom up to 250mm circumference without distorting the image resolution. With the emergence of high definition (HD) cameras in the market that are cheap to operate, filmmakers are shying away from film cameras. Operating 35mm B1 camera is very expensive compared to HD cameras. “A four-minute film costs about frw 200,000 to shoot. In the current economic climate, Rwandans can’t afford to hire this service,” says Kaneza, adding that other cameras cost frw 50,000 to frw 80,000 to shoot. Also, he says, processing the clip is time-consuming as one is required to do it in the darkroom. “As a way of cutting costs, we prefer to use HD cameras. He points out that international filmmakers in Hollywood, Bollywood and Nollywood still use the camera in their filmmaking. But Rwandans can’t afford to because the machine is rare and it is expensive to hire professional experts to operate it. “Editing is done in analogue. The sound is recorded and audio mixed by a separate soundman. The sound will later be aligned together with images to make the story,” he explains. With digital technology, one is able to multitask as both a video and soundman as most cameras have their own inbuilt sound systems. “We are able to save on the number of staff. Editing is simple as it requires only one person.” That said, despite the advancement in the era of technology in terms of film making, many film makers and photographers agree that the old cameras give better quality images than the new sophisticated ones. dedantos2002@yahoo.com