Super-16 Modified Krasnogorsk-3 (K3) Camera Tests | Processed & Scanned by On8Mil - July 2021

Camera Tests with my newly acquired Super-16 ready 'Krasnogorsk-3' camera, which can shoot variable frame rates from 1-48fps. It takes 100ft loads of film. Each full wind gives around 25 seconds of run-time.

The K3, originally produced between 1971 and 1993, was designed and manufactured in the former Soviet Union by KMZ. It's a spring-wound 16mm mirror-reflex camera and its popularity has continued to endure right through today. It is still used to train film students at University of Southern California's (USC) School of Cinema and Television. Filmmaker Spike Lee shot some of 'Get On The Bus' (1996) with the K3. The camera also makes a prominent appearance in Krzysztof Kieślowski’s 1979 film ‘Camera Buff’.

This particular K3 has been lovingly restored, and the gate has been widened and lens mount re-centered to accommodate shooting Super-16 on modern Kodak Vision3 single-perf 16mm film.

I was lucky to work with one of my former (Westminster) film school colleagues Ben Holt, who is a cinematographer & camera operator. He's a firm believer in shooting on celluloid film, like me, and he also shoots film (stills), in his own time.

It was such a joy to be outside in hot sunny weather with some of my favourite people, here's the result of a jam-packed day of shooting.

Disclaimer: The 500T roll was not loaded properly, hence the jittery-ness/shaky footage - this is due to the film perforations not biting onto the teeth of the pulldown mechanism properly, so the film flaps around and loses synchronisation very quickly. Was glad that this didn’t damage the camera at all, as that can happen. On the bright side, this is all part of the learning curve, and I’m glad that the issue was rectified. In future, a bit more of the roll may need to be used to ensure loading is done properly.

CAST //

Imogen Kelly (new entrant)
Amir Ebrahim (Delusions of Grandeur, One Night More, Cut) https://www.spotlight.com/8210-4504-6257

CREW //

Director: Louis Holder
Screenwriter / Scenarios: Becks Peters -   / becksxcreative  
Cinematographer: Ben Holt - https://www.mandy.com/uk/crew/ben-holt-1
Camera Trainee: Isha Thorat -   / ishathorat  
Film Supplier: Frame24 - https://www.frame24.co.uk
Equipment: Studio Holder - www.studioholder.com
Film Lab: On8Mil - https://www.on8mil.com
Telecine Operator: Sam Boullier (On8Mil)
Special Thanks: Hannah Holder + @k3super16mm -   / k3super16mm  

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS //

Camera: Super-16 Modified Krasnogorsk-3
Lens: Meteor-5-1 17-69mm f/1.9 M42 Mount
Scanner: Filmfabriek Muller HDS 4K
Scan Format: UHD 4K Overscan (One Light)
Graded In: DaVinci Resolve Studio 17 (this version is just a simple combination of Vision3 16mm LUTs, professional grading will follow soon).
Running Time: 08:51