Though it’s no longer the most convenient form of video recording, 8mm film still holds a certain nostalgic charm. Whether you’re a film enthusiast or simply looking to preserve family memories, here’s everything you need to know about 8mm film and how to transform your vintage footage into a modern format.
WHAT IS 8MM FILM?
8mm film is more appropriately referred to as “Standard 8mm film“, which differentiates it from Super 8 film, another popular format.
This film is a video format that was first created by Kodak in the 1930s, designed as a more affordable and easier-to-use alternative to 16mm film, its predecessor. The “8mm” refers to the width of the film strip itself — just 8 millimeters across, making it one of the smaller film formats available. The standard playback speed of this film is 16 frames per second.
The common size of an amateur Standard 8mm film reel is 25 feet of 16mm film. However, the footage is only captured on one half of the film and then reversed and run again, to make it 8mm wide. 50 feet of film is viewable after capture, which equals about three to four minutes in playback length.
Super 8, introduced in the 1960s, improved on this with larger image areas and pre-threaded cartridges that made it easier to load and use. Kodak stopped widely selling Standard 8mm film in the 1990s, but it is still cherished by collectors and filmmakers who appreciate its vintage aesthetic and unique visual quality.
WHAT DOES 8MM FILM LOOK LIKE?
8mm film has a distinct appearance that makes it instantly recognizable, especially when compared to other film formats like Super 8.
It features a small frame size and large sprocket holes (the perforations along the edge of the film strip which are used to feed the film into a camera). The sprockets are also placed closer to the edges of each frame.
Super 8 film, meanwhile, has smaller sprocket holes, allowing for a larger image area on the same width of film that are placed in the center beside each frame.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 8MM FILM AND SUPER 8?
When you hold the film up to the light, you’ll notice that Standard 8mm has a compact, less refined look, whereas Super 8 has a cleaner, more polished appearance with larger image frames. Additionally, Super 8 film typically comes in a cartridge that’s easy to load into the camera, while Standard 8 often requires manual threading.
8mm film takes a little more fiddling to set up and requires more knowledge and experience to perfect. Super 8 film was designed as an improvement on the original, for even amateurs to use with ease. Typically, Standard 8mm film offers a more nostalgic, rough-around-the-edges vibe, while Super 8 delivers a slightly crisper and more professional-looking result.
DID 8MM FILM HAVE SOUND?
Some 8mm film contains a magnetic band that can hold audio but it is far more common for the reels to be silent. It was designed for home movies and amateur filmmaking, where sound wasn’t as critical.
Some people like to add a music overlay to their silent films during the process of transferring it to digital.
HOW MANY FEET IN 8MM FILM REEL?
One of the most common questions people ask when they unearth an 8mm film reel is how much footage is actually on there. The length of an 8mm film reel can vary depending on the specific type of reel and the film’s diameter.
A typical reel of Standard 8mm film often holds 50 feet of film. This length was common for amateur and home movie use.
Here’s a general rule of thumb you can follow:
| Reel Diameter | Feet Length | Time Length |
|---|---|---|
| 3″ reel | 50 feet | 2-3 minutes |
| 4″ reel | 100 feet | 5-6 minutes |
| 5″ reel | 200 feet | 12-14 minutes |
| 6″ reel | 300 feet | 19-22 minutes |
| 7″ reel | 400 feet | 26-29 minutes |
All you need is a ruler or measuring tape to measure your reel. Here’s our in-depth guide for measuring 16mm and 8mm film tapes.
HOW TO WATCH 8MM FILM
You can’t just plug your 8mm film into a VCR player or smart TV. You’ll need a projector to watch it. Here’s how.
- For Standard 8mm, you’ll need a Standard 8 projector.
- Carefully load the film reel onto the projector, and be sure to follow the projector’s instructions for threading the film through the gate and over the sprockets.
- Position the projector to project the film onto a screen or a white wall, then adjust the focus and framing to ensure the image is clear and properly aligned.
- Once everything is set up, turn on the projector. The film will move through the projector and be projected onto the screen.
HOW TO VIEW 8MM FILM WITHOUT A PROJECTOR
No projector? No worries. You still have a few options to see what’s on your film.
VINTAGE FILM EDITOR
Some vintage film editors come with a built-in viewing mechanism. You can thread the film through the editor and use a small viewing lens to watch the footage. It’s a hands-on method but lets you look at the film up close.
HIGH-POWERED MAGNIFIER
Use a high-powered magnifier or loupe to view individual frames of the 8mm film. While this is a useful way to examine details in each film cell, it doesn’t provide a continuous, moving image.
DIGITIZING
If you don’t have a projector or other tools, you can also have the film digitized. Many services specialize in converting 8mm film to digital formats, which allows you to watch the footage on a computer or digital device.
WHERE TO GET 8MM FILM CONVERTED TO DVD
EverPresent can take the stress out of 8mm film preservation, converting your old tapes to DVD or digital files. Our high-quality digitization services preserve the original film’s quality and give you a convenient way to view and share your footage.
