8 mm film conversion

[edDV]

Back in January we were discussing professional transfer options for 8mm and super 8mm film

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=252746&highlight=aerial+8mm

This is still an unfinished work in process for me but below were my preliminary results after doing a web search and calling several places.

Bottomline, go for aerial transfer technology (or flying spot scanner). Avoid MPeg, direct to DV will allow frame reconstruction. In addition to avoiding MPeg, beware of capture methods that use computer capture cards unless you understand their process completely.

Some of the sites listed below have excellent FAQ's on the aerial process.

I need to get back to this project someday.


" from EdDV VHelp Advanced Conversion Forum Jan 13, 2005

Well here is my first cut short list of 8mm film transfer houses grouped type. Prices and services vary and this list far from complete. These tend to be the ones favored by the Google search engine filtered by my opinion of credibility. Additions and comments welcome.

High end houses doing 8mm using Rank Cintel flying spot scanners and primary-secondary color correction.

· CinePost, Atlanta, GA
http://www.posthouse.com/TELECINE_PAGE.html

· Super 8 Sound, Burbank, CA
(no web page found) referred by Wood-Land

· Debenham Media Group, Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.3516.com/


Specialty 8mm to MiniDV “Prosumer Masters” with high quality equipment.* (random list)
*typ. Broadcast grade 3CCD cameras and aerial image telecine system

· Video Conversion Experts, AZ
http://www.videoconversionexperts.com/Film_to_DVD/default.htm
http://www.videoconversionexperts.com/Film_to_DVD/Film_Restoration.htm

· Film to Video, NM
http://www.film-to-video.com/tutorial.html

· Wood-land Film Transfer, IA
http://www.wood-land.com/Pages/faq.html

· Todd Video Productions, MO
http://www.toddvideo.com/transfer.html#Pricing

· Rainbow Pixels, NC
http://www.rainbowpixels.com/prices.htm

· Videotransfer.com, TX
http://www.videotransfer.com/movietransfer.html


Add schematic2 to the list (no web site)

Wood-land has a particularly good FAQ. Film-to-Tape has a good tutorial on the basics and what kinds of vendors to avoid.

PC Magazine did a good overview article
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1618829,00.asp "

[papakilo]

You might want to look here
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1819216,00.asp

I have used Cinepost http://www.posthouse.com/ personally and can attest to the good quality they produce.

PK

[big8ptbuck]

I have been using http://www.homemoviedepot.com for just the same thing. They do a real good job and I think there reasonably priced. We had 61 3" 8mm reeels converted to dvd.

[edDV]

I have been using http://www.homemoviedepot.com for just the same thing. They do a real good job and I think there reasonably priced. We had 61 3" 8mm reeels converted to dvd.

I would recommend you specify a MiniDV master tape so that you get all the film frames preserved. It is easy to make a DVD from that master. It is also possible to extract the correct field order for frame reconstruction so that a progressive DVD can be made.

DVD (MPeg2) is good for playback but not archive.

Be careful that true MiniDV masters are actually being made. Many volume houses encode only to MPeg2. Then they will sell you a MiniDV copy of the MPeg. That is a no no.

[rindless]

I haven't read all the posts in detail, but would like to know if it's possible to print / develop large good quality pictures from super 8mm film ?

I've got a super 8mm movie trailer and i'd love to have pictures of some of the frames.

Thanks.

[edDV]

I haven't read all the posts in detail, but would like to know if it's possible to print / develop large good quality pictures from super 8mm film ?

I've got a super 8mm movie trailer and i'd love to have pictures of some of the frames.

Thanks.

Best results would be obtained from a high end film scanner available at service bureaus.

Cost per frame wouldn't be that much. You would get a tiff (or other still format) on a CDR.

[vhelp]

@ edDV

Have you seen (ben to) the link on the first page here, and
seen the sample by one of the users and his cam ??

I have a color quick CAM and I remember how it was great at taking
640x480 pictures (in my early days) w/out interlace. I don't
know much about 8mm film (reals) but I'll assume that they are
all progressive frames.

If you haven't seen the sample mpeg (link below) do so. It's
very concincing. I D/L 'ed it yesterday, and I was impresst of
the quality. (no noise, just gold old film grain, if any, on my LCD
monitor) It was nice and clean. This guy did a good job.



--> Telecine[Typwriting] <-- the article
--> Typewriting.mpg

Its 16fps, but the user encoded it to 29.970fps to make it smooth (for
a 16fps origin) - Looks great to me, IMO.

I give this user two 's

-vhelp 3373

[edDV]

Well most people don't have enough film to justify building a "process". Better to use the money for an expert transfer. Top end way to go is Rank Cintel flying spot scanner for 8mm and 16mm film and a high end film scanner for stills.

For 16mm film you can now get it done on a Rank for 12 cents per foot.