New iPhone Video App: Super 8
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 7:14PM | Glyn Evans 
App Store Description: Turn your iPhone or iPod Touch into a classic Super 8 camera, the only app dedicated to authentic Super 8 video processing. Capture all of those magic moments, process and enjoy the nostalgia of real film, all within your iPhone or iPod Touch!
Super 8 launches in camera mode where you can start recording straight away. No need to worry about deciding what effect to apply and missing out on that magical moment.
And don't worry, Super 8 saves all your recordings into its process lab so you can carry on filming and then process your videos when you want with the filters that work best!
Features:
- Authentic Super 8 view finder and record trigger button.
- Ticker countdown showing you how much reel you have left in your camera to record with
- Choose your frame rate, 12 or 18 FPS
- Showcase your videos in resolutions up to HD
- Processed video resolution output:
- Process your videos in 6 different filters within the Super 8 Process Lab that is build into the app.
- Keeps your original video so you can process it again with a different filter applied. Make your video match your mood.
How to use:
- Tap and hold the trigger button to record your video.
- All video recordings go straight into the Process Lab.
- In the Process Lab, tap on a recorded video(s), select your filter and press process. It is as easy as that to process the video you want when you want.
App Store Link: Super 8; Price: £0.59/$0.99/€0.79
Editors comments: Retro video camera apps look to be the next big thing coming to the iPhone, with this, the second one to appear in the past couple of weeks. I've not tried this app, but with a limit of just 20 seconds per capture [see devs FAQ], this app may be less appealing than 8mm Vintage Camera from Nexvio Inc.
Super 8 in New iPhone Video App
Reader Comments (42)
20 second captures? Seriously? Who would even conciser this?
8mm Vintage Camera from Nexvio is outstanding if you ask me.
Not having purchased this app yet, I am curious where the 20 seconds of record time is noted, I cannot seem to find that in the description...
@Bob, I found the 20 second info hidden away in the FAQ section on the devs website.
"Why can i only shoot 20 second clips? Part of the reason for this is to bring in an element of old Super 8 cameras. Since you only have a limited amount of film to record with on each cartridge, you have to make the most of it and treasure all of it!
In principle we thought it would be nice to limit the length of clips to 20 seconds and see what magic you can pull out in each clip! (don't worry if you want to keep recording though, as soon as the 20 seconds runs out, you can hold record straight away and start recording again)
In practice, these shorter clips also help out on processing times as we don't want you to have to hang around for ages to process a really long clip!"
I've tried and really like both both apps. It seems like the Nexvio app only exports something like a max of 480x320 on iphone 4 though compared to full res from the Super 8 app. Still should be longer than 20 seconds a pop i reckon.
I didn't really pay attention to the price... at .99c I guess it's worth checking out. Specially since I still have xmas itunes credit still :)
I am using 8mm vintage camera. Does anyone have a recommendation for how/an app to turn the recording. When I export to my computer, the video is in landscape mode. Which app can flip it around? Thanks
The faq does say if you hold the record button at the end of 20 seconds it will jump record to the next clip without stopping. I can kind of understand the time limit as so many people whine about post processing higher resolution videos. If you really want HD and all of these effects and more just get CinemaFX for Video by Nexvio.
I haven't tried it out yet, but if it works the way I imagine 20 second clips are probably saved in a timeline in the process lab. Either way you can always string these together in the iMovie app, ReelDirector, or Splice, and that amount of time is pretty decent for a transition edit anyway.
That's a BS excuse from the developer, Glyn. I used to shoot Super 8 when I was a kid (I suspect from our conversations that you did as well....). 20 second clips? That's outrageous. The only limit to shooting Super 8 was either the 3 minutes and 20 seconds of film in the cartridge or your battery life. As a very young cinematographer, I ran into both limits at times... ;-)
Standard 8mm, on the other hand, you were limited to about 20-30 seconds of shooting time because you had to wind the camera to shoot. I shot both. Big difference between the two, devs.
=M=
This looks interesting. I kind of like the idea of the 20'sec. Clips. Also it seems this sponges a filter that doesn't have all the dust and dirt all the time like retro 8 mm.
Sponges? I meant HAS. errr
I love Glyn's work. Truly.
So take this next comment as a sort of cold, hard love.
Glyn, when you finish off a posting about a new app with "I've not tried this app, but..." you sort of lose a bit of credibility.
I mean, let's be honest here. This blog is your project, and it's a good one. And how long does it REALLY take to download and test run an app? And does it cost SO much?
Lose the "I've not tried this app, but..." and I'll pay closer attention. Just saying. I do wish you the best.
@Mad Mike. I understand where you're coming from, but the reason I made the comment, is because I posted about the app before I had had time to download it. If you are a regular reader, then you will know that I don't download and test every app that comes along, but do like to post on an app that looks interesting and may appeal to others. I could have just left the comment "I've not tried this app, but..." out, and implied I had discovered the 20 second limit, but this would have been dishonest, something you wont get from me.
Hi guys, i designed this app and really great to go through comments like these. The 20 second issue is duly noted, i understand that real super 8 cameras have a lot longer recording time but they do have a certain recording limit of a reel's length so on one part we were bringing that element into the mix and on another part we were trying to keep render times manageable into nice little chunk clips that you could sift through easily.
I'll get onto some solution for this in updates as there are a lot of new features we would like to get into this app.
The reason for render times at all though, when compared to the 8mm vintage camera (which we think is great by the way), is that it seems as though the screen record straight from the viewfinder and create a movie from that, which limits the output dramatically from the capability of the camera.
We took a different route and allowed users to process effects onto the raw videos after they have been taken. Just a different approach and nothing wrong with either in my eyes.
Hope that explains the thinking a little and thanks everyone for the interest and for those who have downloaded the app, we're already hard working on some new features and updates.
thanks
I bought this app and I like the concept very much. I have 3 issues I like to share for improvement.
- Why do i have to keep pressing the rec button. Sure, this is a nice ui gimmick but today I wanted to record a 70's- like performance of my wife and I singing... You can;t use this app for this occoasion because you can't just leave the iPhone recording....
- Please get rid of the 20 sec limit.
- I have trouble discovering the effects section. The styling is nice, with the original buttons but the effecttoggle in the middle is not very intuitive. I pressed it a couple of times and saw changes, but what I'm selecting exactly is a mistery..
Keep up the good work!
Eric
Hey Mr Booom,
Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts, and especially for being open to users' comments. Not many developers take the trouble to do this, and it really makes a difference in establishing credibility in the community.
My own experience with Super 8 so far has been pretty good. I admire your sense of style and restraint in designing this app. It will be tricky to maintain the balance between simplicity and authenticity on the one hand, and loading up the app with features on the other. I think the example of Hipstamtic shows that it's possible to remain true to the basic metaphor of an app -- this is an old-fashioned home movie camera, yo! -- but still add features and effects compatible with that concept.
I'm going out now to play with your app in the snow. Hope you'll stop by again as things move along.
Sure thing glad to stop by, we always thought that too why devs don't get more into these discussions, it's really good to hear users thoughts as well as let you know what our thinking was, helps the whole thing in my view.
Obviously we can't implement every suggestion that everybody makes but the points that are brought up regularly, and when you guys explain what the issue is for you in particular, that helps us hugely as we hit the drawing board to push things further and refine other parts.
We've given a promo testing code to Glyn to have a play with also and review so watch out for that. Hope you guys are enjoying the app and come with us on this one, as personally i'm really excited about where it's heading and how far we can push it.
Booom
Hey.
Awesome app, I will buy it soon.
Why not make an option for 20 second limit?
Keeps everybody happy then.
Longer vid = longer render
I think we will be doing something like that either choosing different time limits or opting to switch it off. Probably should chat through with the other guys first but hey it seems like something that's on the cards with this particular issue.
If people want to render long minutes worth of clips, i'd rather it took a bit longer than having them think we are restricting users.
thanks, will keep everyone posted
Booom
I'm interested in getting some idea on what really delegates this app from Nexvio's 8mm app (besides the obvious resolution difference).
Any thoughts?
Cheers,
Len
OOPS!
Not "delegates"... I meant "differentiates"
;) darn auto-correct...