Movie Cameras

Movie cameras have been around since the first silent films, dating back over 100 years into history. Of course, since this time the advancement of movie camera technology has been phenomenal, and the newest models hardly even look as though they are related to their ancestors from only a century ago.

Interestingly, the concept of operation on which movie cameras are based has not changed much at all. A review of movie camera history will reveal that the motion picture is based on a device that rolls a spool of film and imposes images onto separate frames at a particular constant speed so that, upon replay through a lighting device onto a flat screen or target, the images move smoothly. There are really few differences, with most being improvements on the original design as opposed to real changes. For example, the original movie camera had to be hand cranked which required more work and produced a less consistent film speed. Today, all of this is automated and electronic, meaning there is little room for human error, and a lot less human labor is involved.

Also, the speed at which film can move continues to increase, meaning more frames per second can be recorded. This leads to clearer and more realistic images with greater and smoother movement detail. Still, since the first movie cameras were created, the basic function has remained constant.

If you look back, the Bell & Howell movie camera was one of the first commercial cameras to enter the market, and the brand name has planted itself firmly in the industry, still providing quality movie cameras and other media format today. In the times when these were first popular, the most prominent size for film was 8mm, meaning that the 8mm movie camera was the hot ticket. While 70mm film, later used for special effects and surround sound incorporation purposes, was around from the late 1800’s, it was less typically used, even up through the 1960’s, when Super 8mm film was introduced, bearing the same dimensions as the original 8mm film but with different perforation leading to a wider viewing area.

Today, movie cameras are more advanced in some ways, incorporating different aspect ratios into the framing and adhering to a higher quality. However, picking up used movie cameras and learning to operate them can still teach novices the basics of the devices so that, as they progress in knowledge, they are able to enter the industry with a firm grasp on the history behind today’s advanced machines.