5.0★ from 201 Google reviews
8mm Film
The most popular format used, 8mm film offers decent picture quality but no sound.
8mm Film to Digital Conversion Service
Standard 8mm film was introduced in 1932 as the first practical way for families to record special moments in their lives. There is a good chance that some of your family’s history is captured on 8mm film reels somewhere. Unfortunately, the equipment to watch this obsolete media on is rare and the film deteriorates over time, even when stored properly.
The sooner you take advantage of our 8mm film to digital service, the better off your priceless memories will be. Once digitized, your family history will be preserved for future generations and can be enjoyed as intended. Give us a call or place your order online to get started today.
8mm Film to Digital | Super8 Film to Digital | 16mm Film to Digital
Super 8 Film
A step up from 8mm film, Super8 film includes sound as well as improves picture quality.
16mm Film
For the household professional, 16mm film offers a boost in picture quality and can be made with or without sound.
Movie Film Conversion Prices 8mm, Super 8, 16mm Film Pricing
| QUANTITY (FEET) | Up to 5,000 | 5,001 - 10,000 | 10,001 - 20,000 | 20,001 - 50,000 | 50,000+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk Quantity Discount | 10% | 15% | 20% | CALL | |
| Standard Definition | $0.29 | $0.26 | $0.25 | $0.23 | CALL |
| High Definition | $0.34 | $0.31 | $0.28 | $0.25 | CALL |
| 2K Definition | $0.39 | $0.35 | $0.32 | $0.28 | CALL |
| 4K Definition (16mm Only) | $0.46 | $0.41 | $0.37 | $0.34 | CALL |
| ADDITIONAL MOVIE FILM TRANSFER OPTIONS | PRICE |
|---|---|
| Create Video DVD with Custom Menu, Chapters & Case | $15 per DVD |
| Additional DVD Copies | $7 per DVD |
| Create Blu-ray Disc with Custom Menu, Chapters & Case (HD & 2K only) | $45 per Disc |
| Additional Blu-ray Copies (HD & 2K only) | $19 per Disc |
| Sound Capture (Super 8 & 16mm Only) | $50 per 1,000 ft |
| Add Background Music (Classical, Jazz, Light Rock, etc.) | $25 per 1,000 ft |
| Custom On-Screen Titles | $5 per Title |
| Custom Video Editing Service | $55 per hour |
Every 8mm Film Conversion Includes:
- Inspection & Cleaning to Remove Dust, Mold and Contaminants
- Repair Old Splices, Remove Blank Film, Replace Leaders
- Custom Naming of Video Files by Label
- Link to View and Download Video Files Online
- Free Shipping for Orders Over $250
- Free Pickup for Orders over $500 (NYC Tri-State Area)
8mm Film to Digital Conversion Process
Our extensive preparation and post production processes ensure the highest quality transfer of your 8mm film to DVD or digital format. Our expert technicians inspect, clean and lubricate all 8mm film reels prior to transferring to digital. We also remove blank film & damaged perforations, repair splices, and replace leaders as necessary.
Our frame-by-frame 8mm film transfer process scans each individual frame as its own high-quality image using a progressive scan capture system. The scanned images are then made into a seamless motion picture using specialized video editing software. This method offers a superior, accurate, flicker-free viewing experience when transferring 8mm film to digital or DVD.
We consolidate multiple 3 to 4 inch reels (50 to 100 feet) onto larger 400’ take up reels to reduce interrupted segments and allow for better storage. All footage is organized and named according to your labels on the reels or cans. Converted 8mm film content is reviewed, edited, and formatted to MP4, MOV or AVI files for your enjoyment. For silent film we can add in background music in the genre of your choice.
Film Transfer Resolution Options
8mm film actually has a native resolution that is higher than Standard Definition. When converting film to digital, the resolution refers to the size of the video image as well as the amount of information being captured.
- SD8mm Film transferred in Standard Definition has a resolution of 720x480 and an aspect ratio of 4:3. Since 8mm film has a native aspect ratio of 16:9, capturing in SD loses part of the image on both sides. Standard Definition also does not capture as much detail as HD or 2K, which becomes especially evident when viewing on large screens.
- HD Converting 8mm film to digital in High Definition has a resolution of 1920x1080 and an aspect ratio of 16:9, ensuring that 100% of the image is captured and nothing is lost. Converting 8mm film in HD also captures 5 times the amount of pixels as SD, resulting in a clearer image that is perfect for viewing on widescreen television sets. HD has become the new standard for all things video.
- 2K Digitizing 8mm film in 2K captures amazing detail with a clearer and more colorful picture than SD or HD. Transferring film in 2K can be captured at a resolution of 2048x1535 (4:3 aspect ratio) or 2048x 1152 (16:9 aspect ratio). For professional quality 2K is the way to go.
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What people are saying
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What Our Customers Say
We had such a great experience with Smooth Photo Scanning, and I really can’t recommend them enough. We brought them a very old book with Sanskrit/Devanagari text, which turned out to be a much more complicated project than a standard book scan. Brandon took the time to go through the book, understand exactly what we were trying to accomplish, and talk through the different options with us. One… of the biggest challenges was the OCR. Devanagari wasn’t compatible with the typical OCR programs they normally work with, but instead of just telling us it couldn’t be done, Brandon independently researched different OCR programs and tested several options on our pages. He spent a lot of extra time trying to find something that might actually work for us which was so above and beyond of him. The scanning itself was incredible. The book was scanned completely non-destructively, with absolutely no damage to it, and the quality of the finished images is beautiful. We were honestly amazed at how clear and professional everything came out. The pricing was also very reasonable, especially considering the amount of time and care that went into the project. We were also on a bit of a time crunch because we were trying to get the material ready to begin working with our teacher, and everyone went above and beyond to accommodate our timeline. Everyone we interacted with was super understanding and helpful.. While we were there Brandon also took the time to show us some of the incredible archival work they’ve done, involving places like Madison Square Garden and historical works. It was extremely fascinating to see the level of care and expertise that goes into preserving these materials. We are so grateful to Brandon and the whole team. They were amazing to work with and this truly is a passion for all of them. The quality of the scans is amazing, and we couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out. If you have something valuable or irreplaceable that you need scanned, especially if it requires extra care, I would seriously recommend Smooth Photo Scanning. 11 out of 10!
- Apoorva YaddanapudiGoogle review
Great experience overall. I brought in my paintings to be scanned and they had everything done same day, which I really appreciated. The customer service was very friendly , professional, and made the process smooth. The quality came out exactly how I needed. Definitely a solid spot if you're an artist looking to get your work digitized . I will be back for sure .
- Tamar RobinsonGoogle review
I brought in 17 beta tapes from an old camcorder and within a week and a half they were put on a thumb drive! Excellent service, really nice people that work there! I highly recommend! It was so nice to be able to share these videos from almost 30 years ago with my grown children! They loved seeing themselves as little kids.
- Lesley RafesGoogle review
The old video tape that Brandon had digitized for me had presented a few difficulties on my end. I got back in touch with him with questions a couple of times, via email. He responded quickly every time and guided me to find a solution to the problem. He is a very responsible and professional businessman. I highly recommend Smooth Photo Scanning.
- Guillermo GallegosGoogle review
I had three very old family group photos colorized by Smooth Photo Services and the result was amazing, seemingly bringing those persons back to life with perfectly chosen colors, an excellent job. I wholeheartedly recommend them for your more important b&w photos.
- Lorenzo CamilloGoogle review
- How much does 8mm film to digital transfer cost?
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8mm film is priced per foot: $0.29 for Standard Definition, $0.34 for High Definition, and $0.39 for 2K on orders up to 5,000 feet. Discounts of 10%, 15%, and 20% apply above 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000 feet, and orders above 50,000 feet are quoted individually.
- How can I tell if my reels are regular 8mm or Super 8 film?
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Check the sprocket holes. Regular 8mm film has larger sprocket holes, while Super 8 has noticeably smaller ones that leave room for a larger image area. Reels from before 1965 are regular 8mm, since Super 8 was introduced that year. Smooth Photo Scanning transfers both.
- Does 8mm film have sound, and can music be added?
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Standard 8mm film does not carry sound. For silent 8mm reels, Smooth Photo Scanning can add royalty-free background music in the genre of your choice for $25 per 1,000 feet. Sound capture from audio strips is available for Super 8 and 16mm film.
- Which resolution is best for 8mm film transfer?
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HD at 1920 × 1080 is the best value for most families, keeping the full frame with five times the pixels of SD. 2K at 2048 × 1535 or 2048 × 1152 captures the most detail and color for professional use. SD has a resolution of 720 × 540.
- Why should old 8mm film be digitized soon?
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8mm film deteriorates over time even when stored properly, fading and becoming brittle, and working 8mm projectors are now rare. Digitizing the reels is the most reliable way to preserve the footage and view it on modern devices.
- Can 8mm film be transferred to DVD or Blu-ray?
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Yes. A DVD with a custom menu, chapters, and case costs $15, with copies at $9. Blu-ray discs cost $45 and are available for HD and 2K transfers. Every order also includes MP4 or MOV files and a link to view and download them online.
- What happens to small 50-foot 8mm reels during transfer?
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Multiple 3- to 4-inch reels holding 50 to 100 feet each are consolidated onto larger 400-foot take-up reels. This reduces interruptions during playback and makes storage easier, and all footage is organized and named according to the labels on your reels or cans.