8mm Film Processing

[Mike R]

I was not sure whether to post this here or not, but here goes.  My dad has an old 8mm movie camera and some unshot film that he is going to give me.  Where can I get this processed?  Can I do it myself?

He is also including a bunch of rolls of home movies he would like transfered to VHS or DVD.  Anyone know where to get this done?

Thanks all.

[Brian Sweeney]

I just loaned a friend my Super-8 Projector for this reason. I bought a device; basically a rear screen projector with a close up lens for the Video camera several years ago. It worked well. They are usually available on close-out, or used on Ebay.

Just one random Google Hit:

http://www.slidescanning.com/ys/super8_film_transfer.htm

It's not cheap when paying to have it done.

[Mike R]

Thanks.  Do you know what the name of the device might be so that I can look on e-bay for one.  I am certainly willing to do the work, but just didn't know there were any options available.

[Klug]

If you want the absolute best, talk to Roger at moviestuff.tv.

About the home box transfers, don't. Most 8mm projecters only run at 16-18 fps. That won't help with the transfer to VHS/DVD, you'll have serious flickering. It is very annoying. Plus, you will have 'hot spots' - where light areas of the film will register as overexposure on the VHS/DVD.

[Brian Sweeney]

Of course paying to have it done professionally will result in higher quality transfers.

In my case, it would have been fairly expensive for 4 hours of 8mm, Super-8, and Super-8 sound.

I used this device:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Telecine-Unit-SUPER-8-8mm-16mm-Film-to-Video-Transfer_W0QQitemZ7614380065QQcategoryZ83878QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Again, random Ebay search to hit the unit.

[Tom Hildreth]

With a borrowed video camera I simply placed next to an 8mm projector  (both pointed at the same screen) I got some 8mm transferred to VHS about 10 years ago. It did indeed suffer from flicker, but otherwise worked suprisingly well.  

I still have some long reels of 8mm I would like to get on DVD, but have no idea how to do it. This is especially troublesome becuase I really only want to put about 25% of each reel on DVD.

8mm/Super-8 were so common there must be endless miles of the stuff from the 1950s through 1980s that really ought to be captured on a more modern format for posterity. Yes, it's dirty and jumpy usually, but the lives of a generation are out there on this stuff.

[Mike R]

Thanks all for the reply.  Thanks Brian for the links.  I agree that some of this stuff shouldn't be lost.  My dad has loads of the stuff including me riding a horse in a junior rodeo back in the day, my grandparents there, and lots of other stuff that can't be replaced since many of the folks are now gone.

I also had visions in my head of making a couple of videos with the film he had left or buying some to write, edit, and produce my own first Rowley Family movie.  Any thoughts on where to get 8mm processed?  Cost?

[Jack Fisher]

The video camera beside the movie projector, looking at the same screen, (not a beaded screen - but a flat white surface)  worked for me quite well.  I then transferred home movies to DVD using the Plextor PX-AV100U into which plugs the video and audio cables from the video camera.  The Plextor unit then connects to the HS USB port.  It comes with cables and software, and is small enough to fit in the pocket.
Browse http://www.plextor.com for more info.

Jack

[Paul]

Mike,

I finally had a chance to check and found two video transfer systems that I bought before and never used. Both are new in the box.

One is a small Ambico "The Director" for slides and film, and the other is a larger Aztec Video Deluxe transfer System for prints, slides and film.

The outside of the boxes got splashed with water when we cleaned the basement last year, but not major, and the items inside never got touched and are perfect. Let me know if you're interested. $25 for the Ambico, and $40 for the Aztec. Shipping included.