Video Conversion Experts

Real-Time

Today, over 95% of the film transfer companies use a real-time transfer process. A real-time process means the film is captured at the same speed you would normally run it if using a projector. In fact, most real-time transfers use a projector or a modified projector with a camcorder. You could even setup a crude real-time 8mm, Super 8 or 16mm film transfer system at home using your projector and a camcorder. As you can imagine, using a camcorder to record the film is not the best method. In fact, you loose about 30% to 50% of the quality during a real-time transfer. Some companies use a high definition camcorder instead. It might make it look 5% to 10% better. The problem isn’t the camcorder but the film transfer transfer method, meaning that the camcorder is recording the film as it plays. Because of the transfer speed and nature of a real-time capture, the resulting video frames are usually slightly blurry and the colors are faded and washed out compared to the film.

Using Standard Definition Camcorder: Average 12 cents/ft
Using High Definition Camcorder: Average 19 cents/ft

Frame By Frame

In a true frame by frame film transfer process, the camcorder used for capture is used like a live feed. Each time a frame gets into the gate it sends a sync signal to the computer to capture the frame. As you can imagine, capturing each frame separately takes much longer and requires high-end equipment. This is why there are only a few companies offering a frame by frame 8mm Super 8 or 16mm film transfer  process. Beware, there are a few companies that use the term “Frame by Frame” with the term “Real-Time” in the same sentence. These are two difference processes that don’t go together. What’s happening is the companies are using a real-time process but trying to capitalize on the term frame by frame. Once the video is captured, any editor allows you frame by frame access to the video. So, be aware. If they use the term real-time anywhere then they are using a real-time process and not a frame by frame process.  A frame by frame process will result in video that is 20-30% better than a similarly configured real-time process.

Using Standard Definition Camcorder: Average 20 cents/ft
Using High Definition Camcorder: Average 40 cents/ft

Film Scanner

Using a film scanner is the ultimate film transfer process. Just like you scan a photograph into your computer, our film scanners scan the 8mm, Super 8 or 16mm film. Instead of using a camcorder to capture the film (like a real-time or frame by frame process), a scanning device reads the film at a fixed length. As you can image, scanning a photograph will give you much better quality than using your camcorder to video tape a photograph. The same is true for film.  Using a film scanner will result in video that is 30-50% better than a similarly configured frame by frame film transfer process.

480 line per frame scan: Average 28 cents/ft
1080 line per frame scan: Average 60 cents/ft

Knowing these different film transfer types will allow you to compare apples to apples when talking with different companies. In addition, there are other film transfer articles which may help you understand it better. If the company doesn’t use thoe terms, have them describe how the film is captured. Most likely it will fall into one of the 3 categories above. Lastly, make sure you look for references or comments made by former film transfer customers which can tell you a lot about the customer service of the company.