Home Movies (1944)

PAGE 6 Home Movies' Post liar Survey Club Members Quizzed On Their Wishes For Improved Equipment T. . HREE-TO-ONE predominance of 8 mm. cameras and projectors over 1 6mm., strong demand for a back-wind on cameras, great interest in singleframe projection, and a desire for better optical systems, sound-on-film and color at lower cost are among the interesting results brought out by a survey of movie club members throughout the country recently completed by Home Movies. Questionnaires were sent to amateur movie clubs in all parts of the country as a rapid means of obtaining a crosssection of the opinion of a large number of amateurs. The response was gratifyingly large, especially in view of the considerable number of club members now serving with the armed forces, and demonstrates the keen interest felt by amateurs in the design of future equipment. Of the total number of equipment users replying to the questionnaire, 38.0'c consistently employ titles and 12.5% use some form of sound — figures which show the importance amateurs attach to titling and the strong desire for sound. If one amateur in eight now projects with sound, it is obvious that when more convenient methods and apparatus are available, the proportion will be far higher. The five wanted camera features receiving the highest total of votes were the back-wind, sound, frame-counter, lens turret and a motor for longer footage. Heading the list was the backwind, which received more than three times as many votes as any other feature, 40.4% of all the clubs favoring it. It is evident that an increasing number of movie amateurs desire to regularly make lap dissolves, wipes and other effects which are only possible when the film can be moved in both directions. The next feature in order of popularity was sound with n.8r', of the clubs asking for it. Most of them specified sound-on-film. Since sound has been available for years, it is obvious that what is meant is a convenient system at a price within reach of the amateur's pocketbook. In several cases replies specified "sound at a price." The other three features among the five leaders were tied, each receiving the approval of 10. 6r', of the clubs participating. The demand for a frame-counter is not surprising, since a back-wind is of little value unless the counter makes it possible to wind back a precise number of frames rather than feet. The lens turret has always been a feature of the more expensive models, but the vote suggests that manufacturers of lower priced equipment might well study the possibility of incorporating it in their cameras. The same is true of the demand for longer takes on a single winding. Perhaps the answer to this will be found, not in stronger springs or multiple springs, but in the batterydriven electric motor, or an air-turbine operated by small cylinders of compressed air, carbon dioxide or other gas, as was done years ago on a portable camera for expedition work. The parallax-corrected viewer was next on the list, with 8.5 ' c of the clubs asking for it. This has been a general trend for years, but there is evidently still a demand for a view finder which can be easily and quickly adjusted to show the correct field for close-ups, titles, inserts and other material shot at extremely close range. Next in popularity are magazineloading and moderately priced fast lenses. It seems highly probable that the greatly increased optical manufacturing resources created in the United States by wartime demands will make the dream of faster lenses at a reasonable price a concrete reality. This will probably come in several directions: mass production of a few standard types; drastic simplification of methods of grinding, polishing and assembling; and perhaps even more radical techniques made possible by the use of plastics for some components. Six other camera features received a sufficient number of votes to make them worthy of inclusion: easier film loading, cheaper color, focussing on the film, dissolve, single-frame exposure and a built-in exposure meter. The expressed wishes of movie club members in regard to projectors presents a clear and precise picture, since four major items received the overwhelming majority of votes. These are: good single-frame projection, more light, quieter operation and compact sound at a reasonable price. While the popularity of this feature has been recognized, it will come as a surprise to many that good single-frame projection is demanded by more ama HOME MOVIES FOR JANUARY teurs than any other projector detail, indicating a rising interest in the study of individual frames which will doubtless be reflected in the slide-film and sub-standard still camera field as well as in the design of post-war projectors. Many of those voting for better singleframe projection specified they wanted a much brighter picture, which, of course, goes hand in hand with more light, a cooling system which will not interfere with light transmission, and adequate pressure at the gate to hold the film flat. The demand for more light was to be anticipated and it seems likely that war-time developments in lamp design and optical systems will make this a post-war reality. More powerful light sources, coupled with optical systems which will transmit that light efficiently to the screen, should bring bright pictures of adequate size within the reach of every movie amateur. The demand for quieter operation will also cause little surprise. With the growing use of sound, it becomes increasingly important to silence mechanism of the projector as far as possible, since the majority of spectators sit within a few yards of the machine. An electric phonograph in the home, for example, produces virtually no audible sound save that which it is producing, and an equally self-effacing silence would do much to increase the popularity of projectors in the home. Equally insistent is the demand for sound, and since three-fourths of the voters who expressed this wish are 8mm. users, this carries with it a host of new poblems, some of which are still unsolved, so far as has been made known. Many voters specified sound-on-film, and there is little doubt that this would be the most satisfactory solution. However, the low linear speed of travel of 8mm. film makes the matter of an adequate frequency response a serious problem with present methods, and it would not be surprising if the final solution were to be along drastically new lines. Pending such a development, it is probable that a convenient auxiliary device, such as a magnetic sound-on-wire recorder and reproducer, would be popular, particularly if it could be positively coupled to the projector. Well behind these four leading items, six other projector features were favored by a significant number of club members: combined 8 and 16mm. operation, better lenses, less spilled light, larger reel capacity, better cooling and definite, marked speeds. To further broaden the scope of this survey, questionnaires are now being sent dealers, asking preferences of their customers. In this way, the opinions of all classes of cine equipment users will be obtained.