1. Computing
About.com
Desktop Video

Discuss in my forum

Super 8 Mobile Video App

By , About.com Guide

Super 8 applies an analog feel to mobile video, letting you shoot and access your footage like the good old days. Check it out for some movie-making fun.

Shoot A Super 8 Movie With Your iPhone:

The Super 8 app for the iPhone began as a promotional tool for J.J. Abram's and Stephan Spielberg's film of the same name, but while Super 8 the movie has come and gone, the app lives on! Nominated for a Webby award for Best Use Of A Device Camera, the Super 8 app truly mimics the experience of shooting with an analog camera. The app includes easy sharing features, including one-click publishing to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, but it's just as much about shooting a cool video as it is about social networking.

Getting Started:

First, you'll need to download the Super 8 app from iTunes or the App Store on your mobile device - it costs $0.99. To enable one-click publishing, you'll need to access the app through your device's General Settings, and make sure your social media accounts are enabled. You can also enter your YouTube login on the profile page if you prefer to share that way.

You have the ability to view the whole camera and all of its parts with this app. Click on 'Case' at the top of the screen, and you'll see the instruction manual made to imitate an old-fashioned paper pamphlet, and also the exterior look of your camera. Click on the camera, and you'll arrive at the record screen. Before you begin to shoot, you can choose from seven different filters, including imitation sun-flares, opt to add scratches to your film, or make the frame jump so it looks like the film stock is skipping in the gate. Swipe to the left and you'll be able to eject your cartridge. The app keeps all of your shots on the same cartridge until you're done, and then you can 'develop' them when you're ready to edit. Swipe once more, and choose from seven different lenses to attach to your camera body.

Recording With Super 8:

Now you're ready to record! Just press the record button, point, and shoot. An old-fashioned counter will let you know how much time has elapsed so you'll know how much room you have left on your cartridge. The app automatically keeps the counter running until you remove the cartridge from the camera, so that you know can keep track of how much you've shot. Each cartridge is kind of like a movie - you can choose to share the whole thing or just selected scenes.

Developing and Sharing Your Film:

Once you think you've collected enough shots, you can eject your cartridge and develop the film. You can title each of the cartridges you shoot to keep track of your footage, and also credit the people that helped you shoot. The app keeps a list of scenes, which you can share with email, Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube before or after you develop your cartridge.

Click 'Develop', and depending on how effect-heavy or long your film is, wait anywhere from seconds to minutes for your film to develop. The developed cartridge will be stored in a stack in the library so that you can access it whenever you want. If you want to watch a roll, just go to your library and click 'View'. You'll be taken to a virtual projection room, where you can pull down the projector screen and watch your film in real-time, forward or reverse.

Super 8 keeps it simple - there aren't any editing options besides arranging and deleting scenes, and adding authentic leader to your film. In doing so, the app inspires in-camera editing, and gives you that home-movie feeling where what you shoot is what you get.

All prices as of April 2012.

©2013 About.com. All rights reserved.