[warnergt]

Are there any good ways to capture 8 mm movie film to digital video? Is there any equipment out there for this? Is there a service out there for this?

[amo]

I'm by no means a video expert, nor am I a Mac expert, but I digress: I read this interesting article about a guy edited some old family footage he found on 8mm video tapes. He manages his own QuickTime VR company and uses Final Cut Pro, so I don't think he's a newb, but what he did was simply play the 8mm video on a screen and record it using a DV camcorder. Sounds hokey, but I guess it worked for him.

Here's the link if you're interested in reading it.

[warnergt]

Excellent! I'm inspired.
I still have questions about capturing the image data. Specifically, I'm wondering about synchronizing the digital video frame rate to the 8 mm film frame rate. I'm wondering if this was done and, if so, if it was done at capture time or in postproduction. And, of course, how it was done.

Any information you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[hmurchison2001]

This little box kicks arse. It'll even clean up your 8mm videos a bit during the coding.
http://www.videodirect.com/accessories/sony/vidacc.html

[msuper69]

Originally posted by hmurchison2001:
<STRONG>This little box kicks arse. It'll even clean up your 8mm videos a bit during the coding.
http://www.videodirect.com/accessories/sony/vidacc.html</STRONG>

He's looking for a way to convert 8mm film, not 8mm video tape.
The Sony converter only works to convert analog tapes to digital (and vice-versa). It won't convert film.

[Theodour]

You can do it with a digital camera, but it must be a good one.
I've done tests with a Canon ZR-10, and the syncing becomes a real problem (bad strobing)
However, using a higher end Camera (Canon XL-1 in my test case) eliminated all strobing.
There are many differences between these cameras, but the biggest in terms of the way it captures images is the CCD count (3).
I didn't have the opportunity to try other cameras, but I have a feeling that you can get good results with any 3 CCD camera. (Canon, Sony, JVC, Panasonic)
They tend to be prohibitively expensive, but see if you can borrow one ... try a University.

[Simon X]

Originally posted by warnergt:
<STRONG>Are there any good ways to capture 8 mm movie film to digital video? Is there any equipment out there for this? Is there a service out there for this?</STRONG>

A timely question.

You have a few options:
1. Project onto a screen of some sort and video that. Quality will be poor and you'll mostly likely get a hot spot in the centre of the image. However this method may be fine for you as it has been for others.

2. There are companies who offer a service where they can transfer the footage over to tape using a projector/video camera combo unit. Essentially your still filming the projected image but inside a controlled, synced, specially designed unit. The equipment tends to be rather old, I don't think any has been produced since the late eighties/early nineties. Here in the UK this method, and the next, are the most common services available for the cost/quality ratio.

3. The are others who probably offer a service based on a custom setup they use. The method used would still involve filming the projected image using a specially designed box that contains a small screen, lens and 45° mirror.

4. Professional telecine, the type that transfers 16mm and 35mm film. Some of these devices can also transfer 8mm but are costly.
Check out Pro8mm Telecine, top right.

5. Here is a new company I've come across:
MovieStuff
Their transfer service looks similar to pro8mm as it uses a telecine machine, though I doubt it's in the same league as the Rank Cintel pro8mm uses. Nevertheless the quality maybe just as good and probably cheaper too.
What is interesting is the equipment they sell so you can do it yourself. Whilst costly for the one off it could be better in the long run if you do a lot.
If you look at the pictures on their page for the transfer equipment you can get an idea of how method 3 works. The difference with their equipment, especially on their WorkPrinter and WorkPrinter-Pro is that they are single frame, computer controlled captures. They've also modified the gate and bulb.

I haven't used any of the companies mentioned so my comments are just based on what I've read. I used to sell Super8mm, 16mm and other cine gear but haven't been to involved for some time. I'm involved with a project where I might shoot some footage on Super8mm so I did a bit of research, hence the timely comment at the start. I'm also going to be updating my web site soon too include some info on cine stuff.

Hope this helps.

[ 05-19-2002: Message edited by: Simon X ]