Lo-fi heaven! Digital Harinezumi: Digital Super 8mm camera

Some bloke called Steve Weiss showed me this little camera in San Francisco and I fell in love with it. So of course I had to have one!!

It’s called the Digital Harinezumi from Superheadz in Japan.

harinezumi_500x375

It can’t be summed up much better than this from “Urban Outfitters”

Creating warm, dreamy and surprising videos, the tiny Harinezumi camera (about the size of a 110 film camera) by Superheadz was inspired by the Super 8mm silent film of the ’60s and can take 2 hours of footage (without sound) while being compact enough to carry with you just about anywhere.

Don’t feel like filming? The Harinezumi also takes color-saturated, dreamy still photos. Playback function; resolution option; self timer, auto exposure; digital screen display; viewfinder at the top; 640×480 movie size; f-8.24mm. To get your digital videos and images onto your computer, you’ll need a microSD card and card reader, not included.

* Includes: Harinezumi video camera, limited warranty and instruction manual
* Takes 1 CR2 battery, not included
* 3.5″w, 1.5″d, 1.25″h
* Plastic, electronics

It’s really the opposite of what I have been shooting with really. But there is something about the lo-fi image from it that I adore. It really does have a very Super 8mm look and feel to the pictures (despite the crappy rolling shutter issues from the cmos chip).

The film below really captures the last 10 days of my USA trip after RE:Frame in San Francisco. Starting off at Zacuto with Steve Weiss recording new episodes of Critics, that’s Scott Lynch taking the piss out of Steve’s “Self Love” Video which you can see at the bottom of this post. Then the video goes to LA where the LA meet up happened of about 30-40 odd people from twitter and facebook. We all met up on Venice beach and had a great time down there. Great to see Brian Ramage (Reubal), Paul Reynolds, the Jag boys, David Aldrich (who makes the dirt cheap D-Focus available from the Jag boys), Oleg, Rodney Charters (24 DP), Alex Kubalsky, FCPUG main dude Michael Horton and many more! Then there is a little bit at the end with the lovely Sara Collaton. It was a right old 5dmkII/7D fest though!

There is something really freeing about using something so basic and retro as this, no sound, fixed lens, tiny. I simply adore the images that come out of this camera. It really reminds me of the old home movies my dad made with his Super 8mm camera.

If you want a really fun little toy camera and try something very different check it out. They are in very short supply. The only place I can find them in stock is Urban Outfitters. It costs $170 and it’s worth getting the accessory pack which contains a 2gb micro sd card, USB convertor and battery. You can also but them from Photojojo here.

Digital Harinezumi: Lo-fi coolness! USA Video Blog from Some Like It Shot on Vimeo.

It is very plasticky and I don’t think it will last forever but I am really quite smitten! I can’t think of a better Christmas present than this for people!

Memories of My ReFrame Shootout from Steve Weiss on Vimeo.

This is a camera test.
I shot this vintage (Super 8 film look) video using my new Digital Harinezumi toy video camera bought on-line at urban outfitters for $170. Using a prototype Zacuto Zgrip Point and Shoot (stabilizing handgrip), I shot all of the footage here. All of the scenes of me I shot holding the Zgrip, pointing the camera at myself. No post process was done to this video, just captured and edited. Shot on October 21, 2009 at the Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco while attending the RE:FRAME Collective.
Shot and edited by Steve Weiss

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 00:33 and is filed under Camera Reviews, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Responses

Commanderspike
November 8, 2009 at 01:12

Really like the aesthetics. This had me wondering if there is a plastic lens you can get for the 5D Mark II which gives a similar look!! I know Lomo brought out some fisheyes for the EOS mount recently. Wouldn’t it be great to pick up a vintage lens from eBay to give a really interesting low-fi look to 5D footage. So much more appeal than yet another expensive L lens.

Reply
- Ron Coker
  November 8, 2009 at 21:45
  
  Try Holga 60 mm F8.0 Cheap Chinese plastic toy lens … has Canon end cap mount. $32.95 from http://www.holgamods.com
  
  Reply
  - pbloom
    November 9, 2009 at 07:57
    
    nice tip thanks ron, different look, size, feel etc to this camera though
    
    Reply
- Jonathan Kennedy
  November 9, 2009 at 00:43
  
  You could probably use the Lomo Diana adapter and lenses to get a vintage kind of feel on that. I plan to give it a try once I have my 7D.
  
  Reply
  - pbloom
    November 9, 2009 at 07:56
    
    except it doesnt give same frame rate, aspect ratio, resolution, look, size etc…
    
    Reply
    - Peter Randall
      November 9, 2009 at 18:27
      
      After watching a bunch of your shorts, Philip, it does appear you have fun!
      
      Reply
    - Jonathan Kennedy
      November 9, 2009 at 21:07
      
      That’s true. I just mean the lo-fi effect of a plastic lens itself. It’ll definitely not look or feel the same as this camera. (Which I desperately want now, haha.)
      
      Reply
Phil Johnston
November 8, 2009 at 06:17

And I thought April fools was in April, no doubt you will be selling your lo Fi in your USA store soon.

Reply
- pbloom
  November 8, 2009 at 20:07
  
  it’s a lot of fun. Not in my store as Amazon don’t stock it.
  
  Reply
Sami Sänpäkkilä
November 8, 2009 at 08:54

One day we will be looking back at those rolling shutter issues like we do super 8 films, oooh, look at those dreamy waves in the image

Looks really really nice this one!

Reply
Hunter Boone
November 8, 2009 at 15:38

Lomography camera’s are really something. I have the Action Sampler Flash, love the colors it creates.

What accessory were you using to hold the camera in the last shot?

Reply
Casey Hayward
November 8, 2009 at 16:57

I have been following this camera for some time. It can also be had here:

http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/zumi-digital/

I don’t work for those guys, just thought some people might feel better not buying a camera from Urban Outfitters.

Reply
- pbloom
  November 8, 2009 at 18:28
  
  thanks will stick link on my post, although i bought my camera from them and had no issues as they specialize in quirky cameras
  
  Reply
John Marc Green
November 9, 2009 at 09:54

This may be a dumb question, but here goes anyway: How do you pick the music for your films? And, what’s your biggest “go-to” source for previewing/choosing music?

I know it’s a broad question but is it mainly just intuitive, like you know the mood you’re going for, and you know lots of music already? Or, do you have a general idea what you want and then you search for tunes that fit using some service like iTunes? Or maybe do you just have a piece of music in mind when you’re shooting?

If you have time to discuss this in a separate blog, that would be awesome! If not, just any ideas would be helpful.

Reply
Derek VG
November 11, 2009 at 02:10

As someone who’s shot a great deal of Super 8 lately, I think the most striking similarity comes from the kind of angles people choose to shoot with a small camera like this, rather than the visual qualities of the format itself.

Still, I like the concept of a consumer video camera that won’t do audio. It forces people to concentrate on creating visuals, rather than just attempting to “record” everything. That’s one of the reasons there is so much beauty in a lot of the old Super 8 home movies.

Reply
- pbloom
  November 12, 2009 at 00:02
  
  shame version 2 records sound
  
  Reply
  - Jim Jolliffe
    November 12, 2009 at 15:02
    
    I was thinking the same.
    
    What’s does it look like when played back at a decent size? Can it be played full screen or broadcasted on TV without getting too pixellated?
    
    Reply
Anthony Burokas
November 11, 2009 at 03:01

I do love the “crappy” look of the lens, colors all smeared around, and there’s a familiar green tint to a lot of footage. It certainly looks like video when the skintones crush, bu the rest of it really does have a snazzy “lo-fi” look that it’s just so much easier to do with the right tool, than to try and dumb down good camera footage in post.

I just wish it wasn’t so jello-y with the CMOS. Ugh. Really ruins it for me.

Reply
Jim Jolliffe
November 11, 2009 at 13:24

What a great camera, I’m gonna have to buy one this week! They are about £120 here in the U.K.

But, it looks like the next model is coming out soon. I wonder if it will still have such lovely super 8 qualities, or whether it will start to look a bit videoish and boring:

http://nicnichols.com/FourCornersDark/?p=4297

Reply
hudson
November 12, 2009 at 11:08

For about $0.01 (or €0.000001), you can give a similar low-fi effect to your 5D or 7D videos with a pinhole lens made from a spare Canon body cap: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/eos-5d-mk-ii-sample-clips-gallery/465037-pinhole-movies.html

The camera will still record audio, so it isn’t a perfect facsimile of the real Super-8.

Reply
- jerry v.
  December 8, 2009 at 11:34
  
  Please keep in mind guys that super8 gives a rich creamy B&W image while being projected. This camera produces very low quality digital.
  (of course super8 color is another can of worms).
  
  Reply
Ady
November 13, 2009 at 14:20

Have you seen the VistaQuest VQ1015 Entry? Its smaller, takes a AAA battery and takes Video too! Costs almost 1/3r of this one ^^

Some sample pics here http://www.vistaquest.jp/

Video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlIwtlrf9PI

Reply
- pbloom
  November 13, 2009 at 14:55
  
  how can i get one Ady?
  
  Reply
  - Ady
    April 26, 2010 at 13:27
    
    Oops, sorry for the late reply. I guess its not available outside Japan. If you’re ever here try walking into a Loft/bookstore etc. They do have special Toy camera sections. A visit to Akihabara, the electric town of tokyo would be nice too!
    
    If you’re not gonna be here anytime soon, Maybe, I could get you one? Either ship it, or I’ll be moving to LA by August this year. Let me know. (Mail if possible. I came back just because of the spike in replay count of my video! )
    
    Reply
andrew00
November 19, 2009 at 16:13

The version 2 model records sound but the video seems too saturated and punchy, I prefer the lower contrast of the v1 model.

Tough decision…

Reply
- pbloom
  November 19, 2009 at 17:22
  
  yeah don’t like what I have seen at all with V2… http://www.vimeo.com/7691047
  
  Reply
Dimitrios Papagiannis
November 21, 2009 at 23:13

I love the Hari. I was wondering Phillip or whomever, what are you using to convert the footage into a format you can use with FCP. Thanks

Reply
Dimitrios Papagiannis
November 23, 2009 at 07:06

Yeah they messed up with the V2. Its colors have gone from Kodachrome to a video palatte. Glad I got the Budchenko when I did.

Reply
Jean Cage
December 17, 2009 at 19:04

There is now some in France !
Here is my first test http://www.vimeo.com/8245128

Reply
Pebble
December 29, 2009 at 17:31

This is a fabulous camera. Not only does it produce the dreamy results that you mention but the fact that its so small means that one can carry it around at all times.
simply perfect and a lot of fun

Reply
anna
January 19, 2010 at 12:58

i found out that you can buy the Digital Harinezumi 2 now in Europe from some guys in Berlin on http://digitalharinezumi.aarecords.net
cheers
anna

Reply
- pbloom
  January 19, 2010 at 17:59
  
  Thanks Anna. Don’t know what they have done but image out of Harinezumi 2 is over saturated and not as pleasing as the original
  
  Reply
Tony U
March 7, 2010 at 19:01

Was really wanting this first time i saw it (in Magma book store, for those who would like another alternate shop to buy from). Was the version 1. Checked out footage all looked great! but couldn’t afford it then. Got the version 2 now, just waiting on it to arrive, only to now hear from you all that it’s not as nice image quality as the first!!!! Feel gutted as i specifically wanted that super 8 feel
but should be fun regardless I suspect. will post some footage soon as

Reply
- Tony U
  March 21, 2010 at 16:35
  
  Right, shot some footage on the Harinezumi 2. Think it came out okay. Would love to know your thoughts Philip. I prefer the look of the version 1, but think with the right conditions, you can more or less get a similar experience. And the black and white is really nice:
  
  http://www.vimeo.com/10326441
  
  Reply
andrea
April 16, 2010 at 18:50

best harinezumi is the version 1
better with firmware 1.14,
the hari 2 is crap,
why has it been changed ?

Reply
Luke
April 29, 2010 at 18:02

Whats the frames per second on this bad boy?
18 fps?

Reply
Jason
May 20, 2010 at 00:30

I noticed in the shot of yourself that you are using a monopod stabilizer? Did you make this from a gymbal system or purchase?

Reply
Martin Parr
July 24, 2010 at 23:36

Oh Dear… is this what photography has evolved into. I have a serious mind to go back to my earlier trade as a pimp – money was good and the people were more black and honest.

Reply
- pbloom
  July 25, 2010 at 00:14
  
  Come on Martin. You very well know your post is a bit OTT! As a professional you also know that this is hardly the cutting edge nor what people are using professionally at all. This is simply a bit of fun…something photography should always be. There is a reason why people are buying iPhone photography apps like crazy as people are getting huge enjoyment out of screwing with their photos. This is what this camera is like. Personally I couldn’t care less what cameras people filmed with or shot photos with as long as they are using cameras! Anyway love your work, take care. Philip
  
  Reply
_blk
July 25, 2010 at 00:25

i highly doubt that’s the real Martin Parr. Not to discount you Philip but that comment is suspect

Reply

Commanderspike

November 8, 2009 at 01:12

Really like the aesthetics. This had me wondering if there is a plastic lens you can get for the 5D Mark II which gives a similar look!! I know Lomo brought out some fisheyes for the EOS mount recently. Wouldn’t it be great to pick up a vintage lens from eBay to give a really interesting low-fi look to 5D footage. So much more appeal than yet another expensive L lens.

Ron Coker
November 8, 2009 at 21:45

Try Holga 60 mm F8.0 Cheap Chinese plastic toy lens … has Canon end cap mount. $32.95 from http://www.holgamods.com

- pbloom
  November 9, 2009 at 07:57
  
  nice tip thanks ron, different look, size, feel etc to this camera though
  
Jonathan Kennedy
November 9, 2009 at 00:43

You could probably use the Lomo Diana adapter and lenses to get a vintage kind of feel on that. I plan to give it a try once I have my 7D.

- pbloom
  November 9, 2009 at 07:56
  
  except it doesnt give same frame rate, aspect ratio, resolution, look, size etc…
  
  - Peter Randall
    November 9, 2009 at 18:27
    
    After watching a bunch of your shorts, Philip, it does appear you have fun!
    
  - Jonathan Kennedy
    November 9, 2009 at 21:07
    
    That’s true. I just mean the lo-fi effect of a plastic lens itself. It’ll definitely not look or feel the same as this camera. (Which I desperately want now, haha.)

Phil Johnston

November 8, 2009 at 06:17

And I thought April fools was in April, no doubt you will be selling your lo Fi in your USA store soon.

pbloom
November 8, 2009 at 20:07

it’s a lot of fun. Not in my store as Amazon don’t stock it.

Sami Sänpäkkilä

November 8, 2009 at 08:54

One day we will be looking back at those rolling shutter issues like we do super 8 films, oooh, look at those dreamy waves in the image

Looks really really nice this one!

Hunter Boone

November 8, 2009 at 15:38

Lomography camera’s are really something. I have the Action Sampler Flash, love the colors it creates.

What accessory were you using to hold the camera in the last shot?

Casey Hayward

November 8, 2009 at 16:57

I have been following this camera for some time. It can also be had here:

http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/zumi-digital/

I don’t work for those guys, just thought some people might feel better not buying a camera from Urban Outfitters.

pbloom
November 8, 2009 at 18:28

thanks will stick link on my post, although i bought my camera from them and had no issues as they specialize in quirky cameras

John Marc Green

November 9, 2009 at 09:54

This may be a dumb question, but here goes anyway: How do you pick the music for your films? And, what’s your biggest “go-to” source for previewing/choosing music?

I know it’s a broad question but is it mainly just intuitive, like you know the mood you’re going for, and you know lots of music already? Or, do you have a general idea what you want and then you search for tunes that fit using some service like iTunes? Or maybe do you just have a piece of music in mind when you’re shooting?

If you have time to discuss this in a separate blog, that would be awesome! If not, just any ideas would be helpful.

Derek VG

November 11, 2009 at 02:10

As someone who’s shot a great deal of Super 8 lately, I think the most striking similarity comes from the kind of angles people choose to shoot with a small camera like this, rather than the visual qualities of the format itself.

Still, I like the concept of a consumer video camera that won’t do audio. It forces people to concentrate on creating visuals, rather than just attempting to “record” everything. That’s one of the reasons there is so much beauty in a lot of the old Super 8 home movies.

pbloom
November 12, 2009 at 00:02

shame version 2 records sound

- Jim Jolliffe
  November 12, 2009 at 15:02
  
  I was thinking the same.
  
  What’s does it look like when played back at a decent size? Can it be played full screen or broadcasted on TV without getting too pixellated?

Anthony Burokas

November 11, 2009 at 03:01

I do love the “crappy” look of the lens, colors all smeared around, and there’s a familiar green tint to a lot of footage. It certainly looks like video when the skintones crush, bu the rest of it really does have a snazzy “lo-fi” look that it’s just so much easier to do with the right tool, than to try and dumb down good camera footage in post.

I just wish it wasn’t so jello-y with the CMOS. Ugh. Really ruins it for me.

Jim Jolliffe

November 11, 2009 at 13:24

What a great camera, I’m gonna have to buy one this week! They are about £120 here in the U.K.

But, it looks like the next model is coming out soon. I wonder if it will still have such lovely super 8 qualities, or whether it will start to look a bit videoish and boring:

http://nicnichols.com/FourCornersDark/?p=4297

hudson

November 12, 2009 at 11:08

For about $0.01 (or €0.000001), you can give a similar low-fi effect to your 5D or 7D videos with a pinhole lens made from a spare Canon body cap: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/eos-5d-mk-ii-sample-clips-gallery/465037-pinhole-movies.html

The camera will still record audio, so it isn’t a perfect facsimile of the real Super-8.

jerry v.
December 8, 2009 at 11:34

Please keep in mind guys that super8 gives a rich creamy B&W image while being projected. This camera produces very low quality digital.
(of course super8 color is another can of worms).

Ady

November 13, 2009 at 14:20

Have you seen the VistaQuest VQ1015 Entry? Its smaller, takes a AAA battery and takes Video too! Costs almost 1/3r of this one ^^

Some sample pics here http://www.vistaquest.jp/

Video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlIwtlrf9PI

pbloom
November 13, 2009 at 14:55

how can i get one Ady?

- Ady
  April 26, 2010 at 13:27
  
  Oops, sorry for the late reply. I guess its not available outside Japan. If you’re ever here try walking into a Loft/bookstore etc. They do have special Toy camera sections. A visit to Akihabara, the electric town of tokyo would be nice too!
  
  If you’re not gonna be here anytime soon, Maybe, I could get you one? Either ship it, or I’ll be moving to LA by August this year. Let me know. (Mail if possible. I came back just because of the spike in replay count of my video! )

andrew00

November 19, 2009 at 16:13

The version 2 model records sound but the video seems too saturated and punchy, I prefer the lower contrast of the v1 model.

Tough decision…

pbloom
November 19, 2009 at 17:22

yeah don’t like what I have seen at all with V2… http://www.vimeo.com/7691047

Dimitrios Papagiannis

November 21, 2009 at 23:13

I love the Hari. I was wondering Phillip or whomever, what are you using to convert the footage into a format you can use with FCP. Thanks

November 23, 2009 at 07:06

Yeah they messed up with the V2. Its colors have gone from Kodachrome to a video palatte. Glad I got the Budchenko when I did.

Jean Cage

December 17, 2009 at 19:04

There is now some in France !
Here is my first test http://www.vimeo.com/8245128

Pebble

December 29, 2009 at 17:31

This is a fabulous camera. Not only does it produce the dreamy results that you mention but the fact that its so small means that one can carry it around at all times.
simply perfect and a lot of fun

anna

January 19, 2010 at 12:58

i found out that you can buy the Digital Harinezumi 2 now in Europe from some guys in Berlin on http://digitalharinezumi.aarecords.net
cheers
anna

pbloom
January 19, 2010 at 17:59

Thanks Anna. Don’t know what they have done but image out of Harinezumi 2 is over saturated and not as pleasing as the original

Tony U

March 7, 2010 at 19:01

Was really wanting this first time i saw it (in Magma book store, for those who would like another alternate shop to buy from). Was the version 1. Checked out footage all looked great! but couldn’t afford it then. Got the version 2 now, just waiting on it to arrive, only to now hear from you all that it’s not as nice image quality as the first!!!! Feel gutted as i specifically wanted that super 8 feel
but should be fun regardless I suspect. will post some footage soon as

Tony U
March 21, 2010 at 16:35

Right, shot some footage on the Harinezumi 2. Think it came out okay. Would love to know your thoughts Philip. I prefer the look of the version 1, but think with the right conditions, you can more or less get a similar experience. And the black and white is really nice:

http://www.vimeo.com/10326441

andrea

April 16, 2010 at 18:50

best harinezumi is the version 1
better with firmware 1.14,
the hari 2 is crap,
why has it been changed ?

Luke

April 29, 2010 at 18:02

Whats the frames per second on this bad boy?
18 fps?

Jason

May 20, 2010 at 00:30

I noticed in the shot of yourself that you are using a monopod stabilizer? Did you make this from a gymbal system or purchase?

Martin Parr

July 24, 2010 at 23:36

Oh Dear… is this what photography has evolved into. I have a serious mind to go back to my earlier trade as a pimp – money was good and the people were more black and honest.

pbloom
July 25, 2010 at 00:14

Come on Martin. You very well know your post is a bit OTT! As a professional you also know that this is hardly the cutting edge nor what people are using professionally at all. This is simply a bit of fun…something photography should always be. There is a reason why people are buying iPhone photography apps like crazy as people are getting huge enjoyment out of screwing with their photos. This is what this camera is like. Personally I couldn’t care less what cameras people filmed with or shot photos with as long as they are using cameras! Anyway love your work, take care. Philip

_blk

July 25, 2010 at 00:25

i highly doubt that’s the real Martin Parr. Not to discount you Philip but that comment is suspect