Just as memories fade with time, the priceless images stored on your 8mm film will soon be lost to age and improper storage. While it may require an investment, you can professionally transfer 8mm to a DVD, VHS, or computer hard drive. With good preparation and experienced technicians, you can even preserve your home videos in HD, so they’ll look as good on your flatscreen as they did on your grandparents’ living room wall. Read on to learn more about how to transfer 8mm into a digital format.

DIY

Many people choose to digitize their 8mm film at home by projecting onto a white wall and recording with a camcorder. But just like filming in a movie theater yields poor results, the projector camcorder system may leave you with choppy, low-resolution video. That’s because the shutter speed of your camera is different from the frame rate of the projector. Professional film converters scan each slide individually, perfectly preserving every image. The bootleg method may be cheaper, but it also won’t preserve the resolution. While it may seem counterintuitive, 8mm film has a resolution of about 1080 lines, almost four times higher than a standard definition television.

Scanning

To create a digital file that preserves your film at its full capacity, you’ll need to use a 2k scanner. Details matter and professional setups may even have a 4k resolution so none of your details go unnoticed. By capturing the film this way, colorists can monitor the brightness, contrast, and color profile to keep your images visually stunning for generations.

Have the Pros Help Transfer 8mm

Your film has probably already partially deteriorated due to natural aging. 8mm film shrinks over time and it may break if you try to project it. Professionals will clean, repair, and scan using sprocketless rollers to reduce the risk of damage. 8mm film only lasts 50 years under normal household conditions, so get yours digitized now before it’s too late. Contact Disc Hounds at 610-696-8668 to schedule a time to transfer your memories today.