EQUIPMENT

To start animating you will need the following:

Character (Model)	Camera
Set	Tripod/steady camera

There is one essential piece of equipment that you must have in order to start animating. Which is, a device capable of capturing single frames. There are two options for this, a traditional film camera or the latest digital technology. Which ever you choose, you will, undoubtedly be limited by a budget.

8mm film cameras are perhaps the cheapest option and can be obtained for as little as £20, but remember that film stock and processing will be fairly costly (at least £30 for a 2 minute production).

Digital cameras are coming down in price all the time and a suitable stills camera can be purchased for less than £100. You will require some stop motion software, but a decent entry-level package can be downloaded for free, by clicking here.

Remember that both digital video and stills cameras can be used for animation. Beware, however of any video camera which claims to have an "animation function", as this does not mean that it will capture single frames.

For those who are not on a tight budget, a decent 16mm camera can be found for as little as a couple of hundred pounds to as much as several thousand. The quality of 16mm film is considered good enough to broadcast, so expect higher film stock and processing costs. If you do decide to use a film camera to capture your animation, then always ensure that the camera is capable of capturing single frames before purchasing it.

If you decide to invest in a 16mm camera, be sure to contact us first, as from time to time we do have some in stock. Even if we don't, let us know what you are looking for and how much you have to spend and we will search our sources in order to find one for you.