need advice on converting old Super 8mm film to HDV, using Canon XH A1... at DVinfo.net

Herbert Bolander · November 15th, 2006, 07:05 PM

I've got a dozen old Super 8mm film reels which I shot around 1980. They are all from my trips to Florida back then. :) They are in color, but no audio.

I no longer have the 8mm projector to play them with. Is there somewhere that I can get a new or semi-new 8mm projector? All I see on Ebay are old 10 or 20+ years old projectors. :(

My new camcorder, Canon XH A1, is coming on Friday. If I'm gonna get off my rear end and save these old reels to video, I might as well do it in HDV.(eventually to Blu-ray discs) Is it as simple as getting a projector and use the A1 to shoot the image projected on the wall?

Any advice appreciated! :)

Richard Alvarez · November 15th, 2006, 09:17 PM

Herbert,

Do a search for "DIY telecine" or "Poor man's telecine" for tips on doing it yourself. Basically, it can be done, but you'll get a better image if you ship it out to someone who will do a frame to file transfer. Each frame is captured as a seperate video file that way. No flicker, sharper images... cleaner transfer.

To minimize flicker in a 'shoot the screen' situation, it will help if you have a variable speed projector.

Harold Schreiber · November 15th, 2006, 09:20 PM

Hi Herbert,

To bad you don't live closer to KC, I've got what you need. I used to do that regularly. Got the projector and small screen unit set up on a board.

Problem in recent years is finding the replacement bulbs, hard to find and $$$. Still got a couple of bulbs left.

You want to use a proper screen, or a unit like I've got, if you do it yourself.

Your best bet now is to get them done buy a Professional Duplicater with one of the newer transfer systems. Costs $$$, but will get you better results than the older Projectors can.

Harold

Herbert Bolander · November 15th, 2006, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Alvarez

you'll get a better image if you ship it out to someone who will do a frame to file transfer.

That sounds like a much better solution than a DIY project for myself.

Any recommendations on a film-to-video transfer company? Or should I wait a year or two before they can do a transfer to Blu-ray or HD-DVD video discs? :)

Thanks!

Richard Alvarez · November 15th, 2006, 10:37 PM

http://www.moviestuff.tv/ is a good place to start, but you can do a search for "Super 8 telecine" or "Super 8 transfer" and find a dozen or so companies on the web.

Here's a little paragraph from Movie Stuffs webpage...

The Academy Purchases Sniper Units!
Lot's of stuff going on. In May of 2004, I went out to Hollywood and installed three custom Sniper units for the Academy of Motion Pictures Film Archives. In July of 2006, I returned to the Academy to install the latest Sniper-Pro upgrades, which includes a newer, brighter LED source for extended range as well as new higher resolution machine vision lenses. The Academy is using these units to transfer archival old 16mm prints and 16mm,8mm and Super 8mm home movies belonging to illuminaries of the past such as Alfred Hitchcock and others. Snowden Becker, Public Access Coordinator for the Academy Film Archive, used the Snipers to create a reference library of DVDs for researchers to access instead of handling fragile originals

I'd say that's a pretty hefty endorsement for their transfer systems, so you can be assured you'll get a good transfer from them.

Hans Ledel · November 16th, 2006, 01:21 AM

Here is a good place to ask questions about Super8 transfer

http://www.filmshooting.com/scripts/...wforum.php?f=1

Cheers

Hans

Ken Hodson · November 16th, 2006, 02:16 PM

I did quite a few reels using my old DV cam and a proper screen. After two of my relatives shipped their films out for "pro" transfer with less then acceptable results(always too dark) I gave it a go myself. Results were great and look exactly like the projected film. I don't mind the little bit of flicker, as thats what I would get if I was watching the actual film. Far worth my time and effort. Archive to DVD which is more then ample for super 8.

November 15th, 2006, 07:05 PM	#1
Herbert Bolander Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 40	need advice on converting old Super 8mm film to HDV, using Canon XH A1... I've got a dozen old Super 8mm film reels which I shot around 1980. They are all from my trips to Florida back then. :) They are in color, but no audio. I no longer have the 8mm projector to play them with. Is there somewhere that I can get a new or semi-new 8mm projector? All I see on Ebay are old 10 or 20+ years old projectors. :( My new camcorder, Canon XH A1, is coming on Friday. If I'm gonna get off my rear end and save these old reels to video, I might as well do it in HDV.(eventually to Blu-ray discs) Is it as simple as getting a projector and use the A1 to shoot the image projected on the wall? Any advice appreciated! :)

November 16th, 2006, 01:21 AM	#6
Hans Ledel Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Stockholm Sweden Posts: 184	Here is a good place to ask questions about Super8 transfer http://www.filmshooting.com/scripts/...wforum.php?f=1 Cheers Hans __________________ Remember, that English is my second language.

November 16th, 2006, 02:16 PM	#7
Ken Hodson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 1,315	I did quite a few reels using my old DV cam and a proper screen. After two of my relatives shipped their films out for "pro" transfer with less then acceptable results(always too dark) I gave it a go myself. Results were great and look exactly like the projected film. I don't mind the little bit of flicker, as thats what I would get if I was watching the actual film. Far worth my time and effort. Archive to DVD which is more then ample for super 8. __________________ Damnit Jim, I'm a film maker not a sysytems tech.

November 15th, 2006, 09:17 PM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Herbert, Do a search for "DIY telecine" or "Poor man's telecine" for tips on doing it yourself. Basically, it can be done, but you'll get a better image if you ship it out to someone who will do a frame to file transfer. Each frame is captured as a seperate video file that way. No flicker, sharper images... cleaner transfer. To minimize flicker in a 'shoot the screen' situation, it will help if you have a variable speed projector.

November 15th, 2006, 09:20 PM	#3
Harold Schreiber Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Olathe, Kansas Posts: 309	Hi Herbert, To bad you don't live closer to KC, I've got what you need. I used to do that regularly. Got the projector and small screen unit set up on a board. Problem in recent years is finding the replacement bulbs, hard to find and $$$. Still got a couple of bulbs left. You want to use a proper screen, or a unit like I've got, if you do it yourself. Your best bet now is to get them done buy a Professional Duplicater with one of the newer transfer systems. Costs $$$, but will get you better results than the older Projectors can. Harold

November 15th, 2006, 10:37 PM	#5
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	http://www.moviestuff.tv/ is a good place to start, but you can do a search for "Super 8 telecine" or "Super 8 transfer" and find a dozen or so companies on the web. Here's a little paragraph from Movie Stuffs webpage... The Academy Purchases Sniper Units! Lot's of stuff going on. In May of 2004, I went out to Hollywood and installed three custom Sniper units for the Academy of Motion Pictures Film Archives. In July of 2006, I returned to the Academy to install the latest Sniper-Pro upgrades, which includes a newer, brighter LED source for extended range as well as new higher resolution machine vision lenses. The Academy is using these units to transfer archival old 16mm prints and 16mm,8mm and Super 8mm home movies belonging to illuminaries of the past such as Alfred Hitchcock and others. Snowden Becker, Public Access Coordinator for the Academy Film Archive, used the Snipers to create a reference library of DVDs for researchers to access instead of handling fragile originals I'd say that's a pretty hefty endorsement for their transfer systems, so you can be assured you'll get a good transfer from them.