Sunday, Jul 09, 2006 at 16:25
There are two 8mm film formats. 'Standard 8mm' and the more common 'Super 8mm' You will need to identify what it is first. From memory Standard has perforations on either side of the film and Super8 is single perf.
The proper globes for your projector are readly available from Lamp Replacements in O'Connor,
Perth WA. Sylvania make a good range.
When projecting the image, remember that you could shoot Super 8 at a number of different frame rates. The usual ones are 18 fps or 24fps. This will have an impact on the speed of the end product so make sure it all looks 'real' first.
Another factor to take into consideration with transfers is aspect ratio of the frame size. You may end up with a 'letterboxed' image as the normal TV frame is 4:3, whereas film is 1.85:1. Some video camera's will record in 16:9 mode which is close. See what fits.
'Flicker' is a case of mucking around to get the best result. Unless you shot the footage with an expensive 'crystal sync' Super 8mm camera and then show it on a similar projector, frame rates are anyone's guess so trial and error is the only way. The video camera wil have a number of manual options - try them for the best result.
With a rear projected image, make sure you 'tent' the entire setup to avoid reflections and stray light. Set the video camera to 'manual' so the focus and exposure don't 'hunt'. This could be part of your problem I'd say.
MiniDV is the best low cost video camera option as it is digital already and of reasonable quality. See if you can borrow a 3CCD MiniDv camera for the job and you will start getting there. You can IE1394 or 'Firewire' transfer it direct to a PC.
Kodak are the Australian suppliers of Super8 film stock. They do (did?) Kodachrome reversal stock (which has to be developed in Texas), Ectachrome colour negative stock and Tri-X black and white negative from memory. The last two were still able to be developed in Australia by a company called 'Film Lab' of something like that in
Melbourne I think.
This is all complicated and the results are not guaranteed. To be honest, I'd either get it professionally transferred or get in touch with the following people / organisations for local advice....Someone will more than likely have a setup for just this thing.
a) the local Super8 Film festival
b) TAFE or University film schools
c) The local branch of the ACS (Australian Cinematographers Society) via their website
d) Panavision
e) Cameraquip
f) Lemac
g) Film Lab (
Melbourne?) I think they still process Tri-X negative Super 8mm
h) Atlab (Artarmon
Sydney)
i) Cinevex (Elsternwick
Melbourne)
j) A.F.T.R.S. (Aus film, television and radio school)
k) the local amateur video club.
AnswerID:
182564
Follow Up By: arthurking83 - Sunday, Jul 09, 2006 at 23:18
Sunday, Jul 09, 2006 at 23:18
As a courier (around Melb) I get to see what these guys do and use :)
Nice people too! ;)
Just do an ebay search for a telecine.....
Site Link
Chances are someone has done it too, and no longer requires the machine...
For less than half the amount these folks want......you get the machine, and then once done on sell it too...... may cost you about $50-100 in total???
FollowupID:
439038
Follow Up By: Kiwi Kia - Monday, Jul 10, 2006 at 07:02
Monday, Jul 10, 2006 at 07:02
Hi V8Diesel,
Reading your excelent sugestions above you may be the person to answer a question for me.
I have the dreaded mould on old 35 mm slides. Can you sugest a method of cleaning the film without damaging the emulsion?
Also if I can add a small item to the original thread. I am now using the modern replacement for the old video tape recorder - a video to hard disc drive recorder with an internal dvd burner. It plays dvd's, cd's and allows you to do great editing with cut and merge facilities, RF input, digital input from camera, pc or video. Output to pc, tv or dvd plus about 12 hours continous recording. If any one is contemplating conversion to dvd, re-editing or mastering etc. then after you have managed to convert onto a video camera or digital still camera then consider useing one of these new generation hard disc recorders as your link to your pc.
FollowupID:
439058
Follow Up By: V8Diesel - Monday, Jul 10, 2006 at 10:55
Monday, Jul 10, 2006 at 10:55
Re: the telecine machine, the vast majority were used for either 16mm, Super 16mm or 35mm film formats as these are considered 'broadcast quality' in Australia and Super 8mm was a lower resolution domestic product deemed unsuitable for going to air except for 'arty' stuff. The other thing is that projectable Super8 will be either 'reversal' or a 'print' so it can be viewed. My experience with telecine is that a negative is required, but my knowledge is only gleaned from the last decade or so in which Super 8 was considered obsolete. Either way, the old Rank-Cintel brand of machine could handle reversal stock but I do not know if it would handle the smaller Super8.
That e-bay link looks very promising. Keep in mind that US machines will be designed to run on 60Hz 110V AC, not our 240V 50Hz Ac so make enquiries about power supply. Also, the US video standard is NTSC whereas we use PAL. Neither problem is insurmountable.
Check out the internet using searches such as 'independant filmaker', 'film makers network' , 'cinematographers mailing list', 'super 8 transfers', 'telecine + super 8mm' etc.
KiwiKia, I'd contact the State Film Archives who would have a photo restoration unit that deals with exactly that kind of problem on a daily basis. Pro photo restorers would most likely be reluctant to hand out their trade secrets for free. Otherwise, a search of the internet should provide a wealth of information.
FollowupID:
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