Convert 8mm Film to Digital
Your old film footage has a lot of precious personal memories contained within it, which is why taking care of that footage should be your number one priority. In order to preserve your memories for all posterity, we suggest that you convert your 8mm film to digital through our film digitization services at ARS Video.
Film wears out easily over time, making it a now-outdated format for storing footage. As the film corrodes, memories you and your loved ones hold dear could be lost forever. ARS Video will convert 8mm Film to digital files and DVD/Blu-Ray formats to ensure your memories are preserved for years to come. The files are High Definition 1920×1080 MP4 files, all delivered on one USB Flash Drive that works on your TV (all TVs have USB ports) and computer. Simply navigate to the film you want to watch and press enter. The files can also be uploaded to the cloud and you can make copies for the family. We will also keep a backup on site in case you need another Flash Drive with your media in the future.
What is 8mm Film?
Similar to Super 8 film, 8mm film is one of the most common types of film there is and is exactly 8 millimeters wide. Originally designed back in the 1930s as a smaller, cheaper, and more portable option to the most popular film type of the decade (16mm), 8mm quickly made a name for itself as a more affordable film for the industry to produce and for consumers to use to record their home movies.
8mm film is similar to16mm film – however, the film needs to be manually removed from the camera and flipped over for a second pass-through since it’s so much smaller. Once exposed, the film is sent out for processing, where it is split down the middle and attached into a 50-foot, 3-inch diameter reel that runs for approximately 3 minutes when played on a projector. Oftentimes, people with 8mm film will combine the small reels onto 200, 300, and 400-foot reels before enjoying their 8mm movies at home. To convert 8mm film to digital allows for much easier playback and viewing, as well as sharing. More on this below!
The playing duration of an 8mm film reel is also about twice that of a 16mm reel of the same size, and since the 8mm reel is smaller than previous formats, it is more compact and capable of holding considerably more video.
This video features digitized audio from the original Super 8 reel
Why Convert 8mm Film to Digital Video or DVD Format?
There are four main reasons to consider for why you should convert your 8mm film to digital files or DVD format.
- 8mm film is delicate and must be stored correctly to prevent damage.
In order to prevent the film from degrading quickly, old film formats such as the 8mm must be stored away from anywhere they might be exposed to water, heat, and humidity. Such exposure can irreversibly ruin the film and your memories. When you convert 8mm film to digital, your media is much safer and much less susceptible to damage and harm.
- When you convert 8mm film to digital, it helps to save space.
Film reels aren’t massive as single entities, yet just a few will quickly take up more space than you might have available. They can also be heavy, depending on how much 8mm film you’re storing.
Converting all those precious home 8mm films to a high-quality digital format will protect them and instantly create a lot more room in your home, office, attic, or studio.
- Converted 8mm video makes unique gifts for family, friends, and loved ones.
Digitized films that haven’t been viewed for quite some time—if at all—make for excellent gifts for significant events such as birthdays, family reunions, weddings and anniversaries.
With ARS Video’s 8mm film transfer services, you’ll be able to playback footage of loved ones on any special occasion that you see fit.
- Converted 8mm digital film is easy to access and to play on modern technology tools.
Once you convert 8mm to digital, your files reside in a small USB flash drive you can carry with you anywhere. The flash drive plugs into modern televisions and computers for easy viewing. You can also then upload your digital 8mm films to platforms such as YouTube and Google Docs, and then share the files on social media platforms like Facebook with relatives and friends literally all around the world. This simply is not possible with traditional 8mm films, at all!
Digital Conversion Services at ARS Video
While it might seem simple, converting film to a digital file or DVD format is a very delicate and complex process. With only one hard copy of your footage in existence, it’s important that the process is performed correctly to avoid any film being irreversibly lost.
If you do not know exactly how to digitize that footage, you could ruin it in the process. Damaging your priceless memories is not something you want to have happen to your old video footage. Instead, rely on professionals who understand how to do this process correctly the first time.
At ARS Video, our team has a tremendous amount of experience when it comes to converting old video and film footage to a digital video format. We are a family-owned and operated business, so we understand the importance of preserving your cherished memories.
Before you go with our professional services, you can either bring your old film reels to us or ship them directly to the store. If you decide to ship your film, you can download and fill out a packing slip from our website. Once we receive your items, we will email or call you with an approximate cost.
Finally, our professionals will work with professional equipment to transform analog film into digital files that you will receive on a hard drive. When we are done working on your order, we will let you know. You are certainly welcome to pick up the thumb drive in person, or we can take payment over the phone during checkout and ship the materials back to you.
At ARS Video, we understand that there is always something nostalgic and magical that comes with original video footage, which is why we use a process that keeps your original footage intact. After we convert your 8mm film to digital, we will also return the original film reels to you for posterity.
Please give us a call today to learn more about our 8mm film digitization process!