Post New Message | Read Current Messages | FAQ
This is an archived message in our
forum
Posted by Doug Clifford on January 07, 2002 at 07:54:53:
In Reply to: Converting 8mm 3inch reels to a digital format? posted by Derick Behrends on January 06, 2002 at 16:49:06:
: Hello,
: I recently inherited a Bell and Howell Electric Eye Model 290 camera with several 8mm tapes. The camera is in mint condition and plays the tapes fine. Most of the tapes are from the 60s and 70s. I am interested in converting these 8mm tapes into a digital format. What is the process used to do this?
: Thanks,
: Derick Behrends
Hello Derick,
First let's clear up some confusion. Film and tape don't mean the same thing. What you have is 8mm film. (8mm tape would be from a camcorder, not a movie camera, and would be erasable, unlike film.) The Bell & Howell Electric Eye Model 290 seems to have entered the marketplace in 1958. Super 8 movie cameras were introduced in 1965 which quickly made 8mm obsolete because Super 8 film had larger frames and sound capability. Unless there is a projector built-in to your movie camera (something I've never heard of), don't rerun your reels of film through the movie camera - the risk of scratching them is great.
The most common service available is transferring 8mm and Super 8 film to VHS video tape. Many labs and camera stores offer this service. It is not inexpensive.
Recently a few companies have begun offering to transfer old movies to DVD which can then be viewed using a DVD player or a DVD drive. This is even more expensive but is likely to prolong the life of your family memories.
Here's another St. Louis company to look at http://outsidetheboxdigital.com
Film to DVD transfer is expensive and the service is difficult to find. One St. Louis company which does film to video transfers also claims to offer film to DVD transfers but doesn't publish the price. http://www.toddvideo.com/
The sooner you do it, the more likely you will rescue those precious memories from decay.
Here's one company which offers transfer service and has an excellent explanation for how the transfer is done and what to look for in a company which provides this service. http://members.aol.com/filmtotape/page3.htm
Searching on Google using the phrase "film transfers" or "film to video transfers" will produce many companies which offer this service. Do not shop for lowest price!
If you choose a company which requires you to mail them the order (because of distance) be sure to insure and mail the package by certified mail, return receipt requested, and insist they do the same when returning your order. Second, I would not trust them with all the film reels at one time. Third, I would have them make you at least one copy of each master tape or DVD disk - then put the master tape in a cool dark place away from motors and watch only the other copy.
Follow Ups:
Select From Our Indexes
