8mm (8 millimeter)
8mm are the most common home movie Types of Film. It is 8 millimeters wide and has sprocket holes along one edge. The rectangular holes are oriented from side to side to the film and line up with the internal edges of the frames. Sometimes, the reels are in boxes that read '25 Feet' but don't let that mislead you. When purchased, this reel of film was 25 feet long and 16 millimeters wide. It was exposed along one edge, flipped over, and exposed along the other edge. During processing, the film was split down the middle and spliced together into a 50 foot reel. It is all silent film. In the 1950's, Kodak briefly offered to add sound strips to 8mm film but it required a special projector to play and was soon discontinued. We cannot transfer sound which was added this way.

Super 8mm
This film came on the market after 8mm but resembles it closely. The sprocket holes are a little smaller and are oriented lengthwise to the film. A sprocket hole will line up with the middle of each frame. This film was sold in plastic cassettes which were returned to the lab for processing. They were returned to the customer on 50 foot reels. This film came in both silent and sound varieties.

16mm
This is a higher quality film which was sold before, during and after the time periods 8mm and Super 8mm were popular. It comes in both silent and sound varieties. It is 16mm wide and can have sprocket holes along both edges (no sound) or one edge (with sound) of the film. It was sold on 50 and 100 foot reels. Older film was shot at 16 frames per second and was usually silent. More recent film was shot at 24 frames per second and often had sound.

16mm film shot at 16 frames per second will appear to run fast - the 'World War I Syndrome'- as seen in old newsreels. In order to slow it down, it must be digitally remastered for an additional fee. Please call for details if you need this service.

Movie Film in Cassettes
Some types of movie projectors required that film be loaded into hard plastic cassettes. In order to transfer this film, it is necessary to remove it, destroying the cassette in most cases. One type of cassette loaded film is called 'polarvision.' It is basically super 8mm film but tends to be a little darker. It usually transfers quite well.
 

If you have any questions or would like more information, please call us at 828-258-3674 or 800-786-0154, email us, or use our online request form.

8mm (8 millimeter)
8mm are the most common home movie Types of Film. It is 8 millimeters wide and has sprocket holes along one edge. The rectangular holes are oriented from side to side to the film and line up with the internal edges of the frames. Sometimes, the reels are in boxes that read '25 Feet' but don't let that mislead you. When purchased, this reel of film was 25 feet long and 16 millimeters wide. It was exposed along one edge, flipped over, and exposed along the other edge. During processing, the film was split down the middle and spliced together into a 50 foot reel. It is all silent film. In the 1950's, Kodak briefly offered to add sound strips to 8mm film but it required a special projector to play and was soon discontinued. We cannot transfer sound which was added this way.

Super 8mm
This film came on the market after 8mm but resembles it closely. The sprocket holes are a little smaller and are oriented lengthwise to the film. A sprocket hole will line up with the middle of each frame. This film was sold in plastic cassettes which were returned to the lab for processing. They were returned to the customer on 50 foot reels. This film came in both silent and sound varieties.

16mm
This is a higher quality film which was sold before, during and after the time periods 8mm and Super 8mm were popular. It comes in both silent and sound varieties. It is 16mm wide and can have sprocket holes along both edges (no sound) or one edge (with sound) of the film. It was sold on 50 and 100 foot reels. Older film was shot at 16 frames per second and was usually silent. More recent film was shot at 24 frames per second and often had sound.

16mm film shot at 16 frames per second will appear to run fast - the 'World War I Syndrome'- as seen in old newsreels. In order to slow it down, it must be digitally remastered for an additional fee. Please call for details if you need this service.

Movie Film in Cassettes
Some types of movie projectors required that film be loaded into hard plastic cassettes. In order to transfer this film, it is necessary to remove it, destroying the cassette in most cases. One type of cassette loaded film is called 'polarvision.' It is basically super 8mm film but tends to be a little darker. It usually transfers quite well.
 

If you have any questions or would like more information, please call us at 828-258-3674 or 800-786-0154, email us, or use our online request form.