Wednesday
Jan192011
App Update: Super 8
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 10:23AM | Glyn Evans 
Super 8, one of the new breed of retro video camera apps has just been updated to version 1.0.1.
Following feedback here on the iPhoneography blog, the developers have introduced the ability to set the record time to either 20, 40 or 60 seconds, or to unlimited if you like, which can be set along with the default tone and effect filter from the iPhone settings menu.
Note from the editor: I'd just like to say a big "thank you to the developers for listening and responding to the feedback here on the iPhoneography blog."
App Store Link: Super 8; Price: £0.59/$0.99/€0.79
tagged Super 8 in App Update
Super 8 in App Update
Reader Comments (13)
This may be the best 8mm app out of the bunch. 8mm Vintage Camera only outputs in very low res but is very fast. Cinema FXV render time for a 10 sec clip at 720p res was over 7 minutes! A 10 sec clip from Super 8 was rendered in a little over 20 seconds at 720p.
Great update!
The description on it's iTunes page says you need to keep the record button held down to record? Sounds a bit awkward since I use both hands to steady the iPhone. Can someone verify if you can just push the button to activate it instead of having to hold it down?
Just tested and verified. You must hold the button down. If you remove your finger it stops recording. This is unfortunate as you can not set to continue to record (i.e. on a tripod) if you step away from he iPhone.
I hope the developer can come out with a "tap to record and tap again to stop" button.
I agree with the last post - a toggle on/off button is better than holding the button for the entire shot. The processing time isn't THAT great - I find it still takes a while.
Worst of all, while processing the app keeps crashing! When I relaunch the app, the video recording is gone! (and not even in the iphone camera roll)
Not impressed so far.
This is the worst buy of my iPhone apps. You have to hold the button down when recording. It also crashes all the time when processing. The app is useless! Don't buy!
Worst app? Sure not. I'm already working with this and i'm really happy! Okay, it crashes from time to time. It crashes less if you process clip after clip and not all clips as a bunch, but i'm sure this is just a question of memory management and the devs are able to fix this.
The results are still wonderful and HD. That's important for me and the reason why i would never use this 8mm vintage cam even it is hyped by everybody.
The only alternative to Super8 is iSupr8 which got an update today - or doing all the processing with CinemaFXV.
My two cents
I bought it on a whim. I'm not sure I want to do a lot of video processing, but thought it might be fun to play with.
At first it crashed constantly every time I tried to process video. So I opened up the running apps window and killed everything running, then reboot the phone. Haven't had a crash since.
The processing effects are lovely.
I haven't been annoyed yet by having to hold down the button. This is going for an old effect after all -- a little wobbliness and unsteadiness just adds to the effect. But the developer does seem to be listening to this blog, so perhaps he will change this in the future.
I'd say for only 99 cents, this is almost a no-brainer. Sure it's not perfect, but for the price it's pretty nice.
A small addon to the above comment.
Here are two videos I shot with the app. Nothing fancy -- more test shots than anything -- but might give you an idea of what to expect from the app.
Train passing by - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oCKet2cY_4
Castle Gate - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP-506Bmm4Q
Cheers for the input guys, hope the update is working out well for you. We keep checking into conversations about the app and particularly here, where there's a lot of constructive points so thanks all, really helpful hearing how you find the app.
Regarding the record button holding, It was really a little quirk we loved in development and think it adds to the app having a tactile start stop similar to the trigger on a super 8 cam. We definitely see what you mean being a little obtuse when shooting from different angles or passing the camera around etc (although @Sonny, shooting super 8 on a tripod might lose the feel of it a little :) )
How do you guys feel about saving the video straight out to the camera library, would viewing your rendered videos within the app be a great asset, or is it not a biggie and don't mind flicking through in the photo library?
As always these suggestions are great to mix into our conversations as we continue to push it onwards.
thanks and happy shooting!
Booom
Boom, the update is fine. But i would prefer to change the film lengh inside the app.
You mean, saving the processed clips directly to the roll? If this could be done in background it would be nice. But i like to do first all of my recordings and process them when i've got time for that.
Btw.: here is a short movie i've made yesterday with Super8. It's edited in iMovie and "post processed" with CinemaFXV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7VlFvZDUh4
@Butow Maler nice one, that looks great, i love it how all these tools can be used together to make such interesting looks. Posted at http://booomapps.com
thanks
Booom