Super 8 to dvd

[EGIDIO]

Hey guys! My name is Egidio, I'm from Italy! I've subscribed basically to ask you about this website:

www.mayovideos.com, it's a store based in nyc and they do trasfers from

vhs to dvd and such... I have 2 important super 8 tapes to transfer into dvd, as i cannot find anything like

that here in italy i have to look out overseas... they seems to have very good prices!!! what do you think about

them? have any of you ever had anything to do with this mayovideos????


Thanks a lot.

Egidio

[DB83]

To consider any firm offering to transfer 8mm (or any) film to dvd you need to establish the method they are using.

There are at least three ways.

1. The simplest. Point a video camera at a projection screen
2. The slighly better. Project the film into a mirror box and let the video camera record from the mirror
3. The best. Each frame is run through an adapted projector which scans each frame of film. Similar to this are dedicated film scanners.

Then establish the full costs. They quote 40 cents per foot. Or $20 per 50 foot reel. That is, by quick calculation, 15 euro. Not expensive which makes me think they are not using method 3 (but I could be wrong). But you also need to establish any additional costs such as making the dvd etc.

But why, as a European, look to America for this service ? No offence directed at my American friends in the forum but similar services can surely be found in mainland Europe. Certainly there are firms in the UK that do this.

[EGIDIO]

I'm sending the tapes to my cousin in new york!!! Basically they are for him! And I want him to keep the oringal too...then he can send me the dvd copies back...

[Brad]

That's twice now you've said tapes. Are you actually asking about Super8 film, or about 8mm or Hi8 cassettes?

[EGIDIO]

i'm sorry, it's my english, yes i'm talking about super8 films from mid '70s

[SuperDupont]

As DB83 says and as European citizen, why look in USA for films transfer ? You have already a few companies in Italy, and everywhere in Europe (> 100 in Germany, almost 300 in France, a lot in UK, in Switzerland, in Belgium, some in Austria, in Spain, in Scandinavian countries, etc.)
Besides that, I will add a fourth way to do film transfer : through professional framescanners like : MWA Flashscan, Müller HM, Debrie Memory, etc.
A small parts of these european companies are equipped with this kind of professional framescanners. Some of them offers restoration services.
Please think about their methods. Read this page.
And about their reputation and the quality they deliver to their customers, try a search in specialized forums and read the testimonials of their clients.

[DB83]

Hmmn.

I mentioned dedicated film scanners at item 3. The above link really does come over as self-promotion

But, the prices are quite similar and atleast this firm does show the 'extras'

I can understand the OP wishing to send the films to his cousin but in doing this he loses total control over their conversion. Once he gets the dvd back it could be too late.