8mm Forum: 600ft to 400ft

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Posted by Ethem Pekin (Member # 932) on December 09, 2007, 06:11 PM:

Dear 8mm Forum members,

I have recently bought a film from ebay.
It is 600ft reel but my Eumig 501 only takes 400ft.
Is there a way to transfer film from large reels to smaller ones?
What kind of equipment is most practical?

Could you share your opinions and experiences?

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 09, 2007, 07:42 PM:

If you are going to do this it means you need to find some natural pause in the film about halfway through, make a cut, splice a leader on the end and a tail on the beginning. Since you can't actually watch the whole thing this is kind of awkward.

I'm a big fan of 600 footers so it kind of hurts for me to even think about cutting one down to smaller reels. They are long enough that they can be a show all by themselves: actually longer than the typical television show once the commercials are excluded.

Maybe you need to use this as an excuse to get a second projector designed for larger reels. Having a second projector is not at all excessive: if for example you show a multiple reel feature, having alternating machines means it can flow just like it's meant to. It also means if your primary machine goes down you aren't out of business.

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on December 10, 2007, 07:13 AM:

I agree with Steve, try to buy another projector. Treat yourself this christmas. You wont regret it as it opens the door to a whole load of films and enjoyment. [Smile]

Graham S

Posted by Jim Schrader (Member # 9) on December 10, 2007, 10:54 AM:

Ethem if possible check the hub on the 600 reel 400's have a smaller hub if you can find a reel with a small hub you might be able to fit that on it otherwise this website sells 300ft reels you can break it in half and still be able to watch it.
HP Marketing Corp. out of New Jersey PO Box 715, Pine Brook, NJ 07057
Phone: 800-735-4373 Fax: 800-282-9010
otherwise gepe is locatedd in switzerland
here is a store that may be closer to you
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Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 10, 2007, 02:06 PM:

Another thing to check is the length of the film. If the film is only 24 or so minutes long, then, though it's on a 600ft reel, you may be able to put it on a VERY full 400ft reel and keep from dividing it in two.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 10, 2007, 02:59 PM:

Osi speaks the truth, but very full film reels are troublesome for the same reason very full bathtubs are: sooner or later it'll come sloshing over the side and there will be a mess!

-yet I guess if you are really careful this will get you by until temptation catches up and you buy that 600ft (or more) machine.

This is the ultimate fix: Graham was right, there are a lot of great films that simply aren't available on 400 foot reels.

Posted by Ethem Pekin (Member # 932) on December 10, 2007, 06:23 PM:

many thanks for the replies.
I will update my list from the Santa!
I will consider having a machine with sound in anycase so with that I should go for a 600 or even 800 size.
At the moment my primary interest is to collect amateur voyage films or short animations. But if I continue with movies I think this havine a better projector is the only solution.

But one more question. I also see super8 editors/viewers. Can these be useful to transfer films?

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 10, 2007, 07:32 PM:

In that case, doubly so!

About 5 years ago I only had silent films and equipment, and I had a great time of it, however the day I bought my first sound machine the hobby expanded spectacularly for me.

2002: 100% silent
2007: less than 10% silent. (and I've continued to buy and make silent films in the meantime, and haven't sold any either.)

The silent film is a wonderful medium, but it has its limits. Sound is what brought cinema into its golden age.

Editor/viewers are basically useful for editing and viewing. I've never heard of someone using one for transfer.

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