8mm to DVD, super 8 mm to DVD
and 16mm film to DVD

The purpose of this tutorial

Bruce Mayfield MBA, MSPsy, BSCS doing business as (d.b.a.) Film-to-DVD.com & Film-to-Video.com

The purpose of this tutorial is to ALARM YOU and then ARM YOU  -- with Dirty Little Secrets and the basics of film transfer. This is an 8mm film Buyers Guide about the critical issues surrounding  film transfer of 8mm film to DVD, Super 8 Movie Film to DVD, and 16mm Movie Film to DVD in detail.

Whether you use my film transfer service, or not, please read my 8mm Film to DVD Buyers Guide. After reading my tutorial, you will know how to safely preserve your 8mm, Super 8, and 16mm film -- and the memory of your family -- forever.

The truth is,  "film transfer mills" (as I call them) would simply rather you not know anything about regular 8mm, Super 8mm, and 16mm film transfers to DVD.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: We are not negative on DVD as a format. After all, one of my websites is named Film-to-DVD.com and we produce tens of thousands of DVDs every year.

We are negative on the dangerous idea that DVD (i.e., the MPEG2 format) is an acceptable archive for your 8mm, Super 8mm, or 16mm film.

You may go to  Dirty Little Secrets now; or read the tech note below -- if you have the time.

TECHNICAL (VERY BORING) NOTE ON SEMANTICS: Even though I do not specifically state the words "16mm film" when talking about film transfers to DVD -- talking instead about  Regular 8, and Super 8 film to video film transfers to DVD -- all the principles -- illustrated as 8mm film or Super 8 film -- apply to 16mm film, too. A large amount of our commercial work is 16mm film.

I use 8mm or Super 8 terms generically -- for example:

super 8mm to video,
super 8mm transfer,
8mm film to video,
super 8mm film transfer,
8mm to video,
8mm movie to video,
8mm telecine,
movie 8mm transfer,
8mm transfer,
Ektasound 8mm to DVD,
Ektachrome 8mm to DVD,
File to video, etc

ALL these phrases refer generically to some "film to video process" of converting film to digital video unless otherwise stated specifically.

Even though my terminology may be specific to a stated gauge of film -- Regular 8mm film, Super 8 film, or 16mm film -- you may expand any reference to any gauge of film into a generalized concept that can be applied to all small film formats.

Got all that? I warned you it was boring.

Let's have a look at the Dirty Little Secrets regarding Regular 8mm, Super 8mm, and 16mm film transfers to DVD