Film transfer questions? 8mm film mysteries? There are a number of facts you should know regarding film transfer. These aren’t specific to Super 8 or regular 8mm, but are true of 16mm and other formats as well.
Film preservation is necessary - film deteriorates over time. When it is seriously degrading, it smells awful and starts to shrink and crumble. This problem with film is often called Vinegar Syndrome.
Film should be stored wound on a reel. Film reels often come in 50′ or even 400′ sizes. Some reels are plastic, while the larger reels are often metal and come in metal film canisters. It is easier to archive many smaller reels on one larger reel after splicing the smaller reels together.
Film sometimes has a magnetic sound “stripe” which can be seen on one side along the edge. It has a brown or rust color. Film which has a sound stripe is called sound film.
Film has two sides: emulsion and base. The emulsion is the stuff that starts to deteriorate.
Film must be carefully handled and stored. It is equally important that the projector is well-maintained so that it doesn’t damage the film sprockets or scratch the emulsion.
Film was once the prevalent form of taking home movies. 8mm film and then Super8 film were the standards. Video tape then took over. The “look” of film holds a special place for many enthusiasts, but these days its very difficult to purchase film and even more difficult (and expensive!) to get it developed.
Some of the best 8mm and Super 8 film projectors you will ever find were made by GAF and Eumig. When purchasing a projector, make sure it is clean, well-maintained, and is a quality piece of equipment. It’s worth paying more money for a good unit than to buy the cheapest thing you can find on eBay.
Film images are composed of frames. The problem with many film transfer methods is that they don’t capture every single frame. One result of this is “flicker”.
