I hope this is in the right forum, I didn't see another more appropriate area to post this question in...

I have several old 8mm reels (3 in. or 50 ft) that my father-in-law shot as my wife grew up. I was hoping to get them transfered to a format that I could edit in Final Cut Express with an appropriate resolution and frame rate.

Does anyone out there know of a good place to send these off to for the transfer?

I've found a few places on-line, but I thought that maybe some one here may have used or uses a transfer service on a regular basis. My main concern is the quality of the transfer (of course). I pretty sure that the 8mm is shot at 18 fps and I know that I'll need 29.97 for my editing software, but if at all possible I'd like to avoid any flicker and get images as bright and clear as possible.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions...

Thanks,
Kevin

P.S. - I'd like to get the conversion back in time to edit it together for Christmas presents.

Kevin,

You can do a google search for yourself, locally. Look for 'Film to tape transfers' or such.

One thing. Are you certain the film is 8mm and NOT super 8mm? Some places can handle super 8, but not regular 8.

If you can't find someplace locally, take a look at \

http://www.moviestuff.tv/

In Houston, Texas. Though I don't know if they could have it back to you in time.

Dear Kevin,

3inch reels are 50ft each. How many reels do you have?
Moreover, 8mm could be anywhere from 18-24 frames. I do at least 200,000 feet of film a year through an optic lens onto an XL1s. I also do 8mm sound and 16MMsound. Go to my website and see a sample of piece of 8mm film we processed.

Richard,
Thanks for the tip. I have done that search and looked at MovieStuff.tv, but with the deadline of Christmas and not having had anything transfered before, I was trying to see if there was a company that anyone here could recommend. I don't really know if it was 8mm or Supper 8mm. Do you know how to tell? I have called a place here in town, they can do it for $8 a reel, but they can only provide VHS or straight DVD - not a format that can go easily into Final Cut.

Carlos,
I have 20 reels. I was guessing on the frame rate based on the action (from what I remember from seeing a reel last summer) and doing a little research online. There is no sound on any of the reels, so that won't be an issue. I have gone to your website and I liked the demo of the film transfer. I emailed the link to my wife for her to look. If you could send me a quote privately that would be great. If you could include one for just transfer and the video in files for Final Cut Express or on miniDV and one with a completed DVD with music and menus, that would be great.

Thanks again to both of you and to anyone else who would like to chime in...

Kevin

Kevin,

Call me at my store and we can inform you on what you have. Moreover, I will give you a price right away and put it on MiniDV for your editing.
I can have back to you way before Christmas if you send it to me right away.

You can get the number from my website.

Hope I can help with your film.