Super 8 film scanning/conversion - FREE at your local library (maybe)!

So, I did a thing today...

FB/Film Festival friend Skizz Cyzyk is responsible, posting over a week ago a photo of loads of 8mm/Super8mm film reels, and how he did it using a machine that he rented for 3 weeks (said machine positioned behind the Wall O' Reels) - a 8mm/Super8mm film digitizer! Checking out the company he rented from (BorrowLenses.com - $60 for 7 days... not bad!), then looking at other places, then going straight to the source: WOLVERINE, a company that makes image converters. 

More to the point; those Super 8 scanners - the MovieMaker Pro, which can handle up to 9" reels and its slightly-lesser priced brother, Wolverine 8mm and Super 8 converter, which can handle up to 5" reels - make quality film transfer affordable for the DIY artist and family archivist. Both devices do frame-by-frame capture, so it's not a quick process - my first time out, I was able to do 2 400' reels in 8.5 hours - and converts it to MP4 files in 1080p (for the Pro - the 8mm/Super 8 machine will output files in 720p). Basically, if you can thread a 8mm/Super 8 projector, this will be just as easy to operate.

 

Here's some screen grabs, so you can gauge the quality - the oldest film is from 1985; the most recent is from 1992:

 

That's pretty good. And when it's running smoothly, it's wonderful - you can leave it to run itself, if you like. Those who know better will stick around, because they know that things NEVER go as smoothly as initially advertised.

You can expect to do several passes; condition of the film, sprocket hole issues may not make this a 'one & done' type of experience. And regarding framing, if you need to make adjustments, you'll need to stop and start, which will create a new file. Same with adjustments of exposure and sharpness, though in those cases, you'll probably just do another pass. So you'll want - nay, NEED - to do some prep on the film (cleaning, checking splices) before doing a scan.

If you're wanting 2K or 4K quality, then you'll want to send it to a professional service. But if you just need it in blu-ray quality and have the time & obsession to oversee it yourself, THIS IS AMAZING!

The rental prices are pretty reasonable - $60 a week (I expect there's also a deposit involved) - and if you have access to a large amount of film to scan, it's worth the purchase price ($400 for Pro, $300 for the 8mm/S8 Converter) -- but you might check your local library first. A good many public libraries have updated their A/V equipment and spaces to use it; mini studio facilities for the Public to use... FREE!

I actually found it by accident; the Topeka library did not have equipment for film/negative scanning (as of yet - that may change in the near future), but the Lawrence library did have a scanner for negatives and that could capture 8mm/Super 8 in .jpgs... lot of work to assemble on the back end, but better than nothing. So while making inquiries, the clerk mentioned that they DID have the Wolverine for film scanning - Even Better! All that was needed - besides a library card - was to go online and reserve a session(s). 

Apparently, it's gotten continual use since it was acquired last summer, which is a good thing. Some libraries also have devices to convert VHS and audio cassettes to digital, available to the Public to use FREE OF CHARGE.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARY!!!