Eastman Kodak recently announced a commitment to Super 8 by unveiling a New Super 8 camera at CES 2016. The camera, still only a prototype, is projected to be available later this year, and combines a retro design with digital functionality to bring Super 8, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, into the digital age.
A spokesperson for Kodak has pointed out that the prototype features a flip-out digital viewfinder; audio is expected to be recorded on an SD card. He cautioned, however, that the camera is still in the early stages and nothing is finalized yet. Beyond the camera, Kodak has designed a roadmap for a new Super 8 ecosystem, including film, developing, transfer to digital, and other post-production tools.
With this new camera and its film-to-digital path, it looks as though Kodak is seeking to take advantage of the buzz generated by the recent features that were shot using film: Star Wars, in 35mm; The Hateful Eight, in 70mm; and Carol, in Super16. This new camera is an exciting development for long-time film users to get reacquainted with the Super 8—which was the original springboard for many of Hollywood’s directors—as well as a way for digital enthusiasts to become familiar with film.
