Super8 and 8mm Identification
How to recognise 8mm Cine Film
Cine Film | 8mm Cine | 9.5mm | 16mm | Polavision | Examples | ID | Process |
Super 8 and Standard 8mm cine film measure 8mm across the width.
If you have found some reels of home movie cine film, it will normally be Super 8mm, Standard 8mm, or than likely, a mixture of the two. In 1932 the Eastman Kodak company released the Cine Kodak Eight which used Regular 8mm film (also known as standard 8mm film). Regular 8mm film is similar to 16mm film except that it is only 8mm wide and only has sprocket holes on one side whereas silent 16mm film has sprocket holes on both sides.
Super 8mm film came later as a technical innovation. The sprocket holes were made narrower so the frame size of the film could be larger, thus increasing image quality and sharpness. Below are what the silent versions of these film sizes look like.
If there is sound on the film, then you will see a brown magnetic stripe running the length of the film on one or both sides.
Super 8 & Standard 8mm Reel Differences
Another easy identifiable difference between Super 8 and Standard 8mm film is the size of the central hole in the reels.
Unused or Undeveloped 8mm Film
If you have 8mm cine film that looks like the photo below, then you have an undeveloped 8mm cine cartridge. There is also a possibility that it is unused and fallen out of the box.
Please note: We do not process undeveloped cine cartridges. Popular brand names include Kodak (Ektachrome, Kodachrome), Fuji, Agfa and Ilford.
How to Order
If you cannot make it into our shop simply post your cine film to us - don't forget to include your instructions, address and telephone number. On receipt of your work we will call you, confirm your instructions, and take payment by credit card over the phone..