Video Conversion Experts

8mm film has the equivalent of 800 to 1000 digital horizontal lines of resolution. The number of actual lines of resolution is dependant on the camera, lens, lighting and focus when it was recorded. On average, the 8mm film we see is around 700 to 900 lines.

Today, there are 480 (standard definition) and 1080 (high definition) line 8mm film to DVD transfer processes. Most companies use a 480 line video capture or frame by frame 8mm film to DVD system. This will get about 60% (480/800) of the details on the 8mm film.

The only way to get 100% of the details from a 8mm to DVD transfer is to capture or scan the film at 1080 lines. This is the only way to archive the 8mm film in a digital format.

So, if you are interested in truly archiving your 8mm film to DVD, choose a 8mm film transfer using a 1080 line 8mm film scanning process.

There are 3 basic types of 8mm film to DVD processes. Real-Time, Frame by Frame and Film Scanner. Both Real-Time and Frame by Frame use a old projector and video camcorder. They use them differently. A Frame by Frame process can get 20-30% better quality based on how it is acquiring the image relative to a Real-Time process. A film scanner will produce 50-80% better quality 8mm film to DVD compared to a real-time process and 30-50% better quality than a Frame By Frame process.

Among the different type of film scanners, there are certain attributes that help one film scanner produce better quality images than others. The most important aspect is the scan resolution. The scan resolution will affect the sharpness of the 8mm film to DVD film transfer. Increasing the resolution will always result in a better digital representation until you’ve reached the limit of the 8mm film. 8mm film has a horizontal limit of around 900 to 1000 lines. So, a 1080 lines scan is as high as you would want to go for 8mm or Super 8 film.

Because old film has degraded over time (color shifted, is darker, grainy and scratched) it really requires some sort of restoration as well in order to make the 8mm film to DVD transfer turn out as good as possible.

Our Platinum process includes a 1080 line scan and correction of color shifting, darkening of the film, and reduces the amount of grain and scratches you see from the film. This is the best possible process available today for your 8mm film to DVD project.

Transferring 8mm film from the 1920s to 1950s requires special attention. There are several issues to examine before we can determine if we can convert your 8mm film to DVD. There are other articles on transferring 8mm to DVD that you may want to explore also.

8mm film has been around since the late 1920s. Converting 8mm film to DVD requires that the 8mm film be flat (instead of warped) and is pliable (not fragile) to enable it to move through the scanner. To test this, unroll some of the 8mm film and see if it will lay flat on a table. Also, as you unroll it, see if it breaks at all. If the film passes these two tests then we can convert your 8mm film to DVD.

One other thing you might want to look at is the images on the 8mm film. You can use a magnifying glass with a light source (or window) behind the film. 8mm film from the 1920s to the 1940s will be black and white. So, don’t expect to see any color on 8mm films from this period.

Lastly, 8mm film this old can have mold on the outside edge. When you lay the film reel down flat, you might see some white looking powder on the 8mm film. This is mold. We automatically clean all 8mm film when it comes in. In most cases, the mold gets removed and presents no problem is converting your 8mm film to DVD.