5.0★ from 201 Google reviews
8mm Film
The most popular format used, 8mm film offers decent picture quality but no sound.
Convert 16mm Film to Digital
16mm film was introduced by Kodak in 1923 and became popular among professional filmmakers and home enthusiasts alike. If you still have old dusty 16mm film reels, chances are that you have no way of even seeing what’s on them. The bad news is that due to their chemical makeup, 16mm film degrades and deteriorates away over time.
The good news is that we convert 16mm film to digital or DVD using an advanced frame-by-frame process so that they can be enjoyed once again. Our professional 16mm film transfer service ensures that your old family footage is preserved and can be shared for generations to come. Contact us today or place your order online to get started.
8mm Film to Digital | Super8 Film to Digital | 16mm Film to Digital
Super8 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 16mm 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)
Convert 16mm Film to Digital Process
Our extensive preparation and post-production processes ensure the highest quality transfer of your 16mm film to DVD or digital format. All 16mm film reels are inspected, cleaned, and lubricated before transferring. We also remove blank film & damaged perforations, repair splices, and replace leaders as necessary.
Our experienced technicians use state-of-the-art, frame-by-frame equipment to transfer your 16mm film. Each individual frame is scanned as its own high-quality image using a progressive scan capture system. The scanned images are then transformed into a seamless motion picture using specialized video editing software. The frame-by-frame method offers a superior, accurate, flicker-free viewing experience when transferring 16mm film to DVD or digital.
All film footage is organized and named according to your labels on the reels or cans. In order to reduce interrupting segments and allow for better storage, we consolidate multiple small reels of 16mm film (50 to 100 feet) onto larger 400’ take-up reels. All film content is reviewed, optimized, and formatted to MP4 files. Upon request, we can also output to AVI, MOV, or Apple Prores.
We can also capture audio from 16mm film with magnetic or optical sound strips. Our film conversion techs will adjust and synchronize the audio for the best playback. If your film doesn’t have sound, it can remain silent or we could add royalty-free background music in the genre of your choice.
16mm to Digital Resolution Options
16mm film actually has a native resolution that is higher than Standard Definition. When converting 16mm film to digital, the resolution refers to the size of the video image as well as the amount of information being captured. We offer 3 resolution options to best suit your needs.
- SD16mm Film transferred in Standard Definition has a resolution of 720x480 and an aspect ratio of 4:3. Since 16mm 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 can become evident when viewing on large screens.
- HD Converting 16mm 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 16mm 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 16mm 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 2048x1152 (16:9 aspect ratio). For the absolute best quality, 2K is the way to go.
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What people are saying
about Smooth Photo Scanning Services...
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
- Can 16mm film be scanned in 4K?
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Yes. Smooth Photo Scanning offers 4K scanning for 16mm film only, at $0.46 per foot for orders up to 5,000 feet, dropping to $0.41, $0.37, and $0.34 per foot at higher volumes. 16mm carries enough image detail to benefit from the highest capture resolution.
- How much does 16mm film transfer cost?
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16mm film is priced per foot: $0.29 for SD, $0.34 for HD, $0.39 for 2K, and $0.46 for 4K 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.
- Can optical and magnetic soundtracks be captured from 16mm film?
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Yes. Audio is captured from 16mm film with magnetic or optical sound strips for $50 per 1,000 feet, then adjusted and synchronized for the best playback. Silent reels can remain silent or have royalty-free background music added for $25 per 1,000 feet.
- How does 16mm film compare with 8mm and Super 8?
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16mm film, introduced by Kodak in 1923, has a much larger frame than 8mm or Super 8, delivering noticeably sharper picture quality. It was used by professional filmmakers and home enthusiasts alike, and 16mm reels can be found with or without a soundtrack.
- Which file formats are available for 16mm film transfers?
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16mm transfers are delivered as MP4 files by default, with AVI, MOV, or Apple ProRes available on request for editing and post-production. Every order includes a link to view and download the files online, and DVD or Blu-ray copies can be added.
- Why should 16mm film be digitized now?
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16mm film deteriorates over time because of its chemical makeup, leading to fading, brittleness, and color loss, and most people no longer have a projector to view it. Digitizing preserves the footage and makes it playable on any modern device.
- Can 16mm 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. Small 50- to 100-foot reels are consolidated onto 400-foot reels and named according to your labels.