8mm Forum: Running time?

»	8mm Forum » 8mm Forum » Running time?

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Running time?

Michael O'Regan
Film God

Posts: 3085
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Oct 2007

posted March 22, 2010 02:12 PM

How much running time is on a 400ft reel of Super 8?

Forgive such a basic question, but after years of only collecting 16mm I'm starting into Super 8 as well.

| IP: Logged

Christian Bjorgen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 996
From: Kvinnherad, Norway
Registered: Oct 2009

posted March 22, 2010 02:44 PM

For a full reel it's about 16-20 minutes I think.

--------------------
Well who’s on first? Yeah. Go ahead and tell me. Who. The guy on first. Who. The guy playin’ first base. Who. The guy on first. Who is on first! What are you askin’ me for? I’m askin’ you!

| IP: Logged

Bill Phelps
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1482
From: USA
Registered: Jan 2009

posted March 22, 2010 02:45 PM

20 min at 24 FPS

50' at 18 FPS is 3 min 20 sec
50' at 24 FPS is 2 min 30 sec

Bill [Smile]

| IP: Logged

Michael O'Regan
Film God

Posts: 3085
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Oct 2007

posted March 22, 2010 02:51 PM

Well, y'know, I figured 20 mins but a lot of folk I've spoken to specify 18 mins - which is why I asked.

I know it's only a couple minutes but this can be important when working out whether or not a feature is complete.

| IP: Logged

Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2010 03:06 PM

Then of course there is the thickness...thing

-that polyester film is thinner than acetate, on the other hand sound stripe adds to the thickness of whatever stock you have, so a thicker film can fit less footage on the same reel than a thinner one, but short of measuring it with a vernier caliper and doing some math I forgot how to do three days after I graduated from college there is no way of being sure anyway!

I call it 20 minutes at 24, a little less than 30 at 18, and try not to worry too much about it!

--------------------
All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

| IP: Logged

Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2010 04:06 PM

Michael, most super 8mm full features are five 400' reels or more, it also depends on the film stock used and the original running time of the film.

--------------------
Joe Taffis

| IP: Logged

Christian Bjorgen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 996
From: Kvinnherad, Norway
Registered: Oct 2009

posted March 22, 2010 04:40 PM

For instance, my 4x400 print of "Tension at Table Rock" is 93 minutes, which would make it around 23 minutes pr. reel.

As far as I know, that's on acetace b/w stock.

--------------------
Well who’s on first? Yeah. Go ahead and tell me. Who. The guy on first. Who. The guy playin’ first base. Who. The guy on first. Who is on first! What are you askin’ me for? I’m askin’ you!

| IP: Logged

Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2010 05:03 PM

quote:
How much running time is on a 400ft reel of Super 8?

In a normal conditon, for Acetate stock, it can be 20 minutes and for Polyester stock it will be around 23 minutes.

However, we can a little bit put the film overfill so the acetate can go to 23 minutes and the polyester can be around 25 to 28 minutes (but you have to be really careful when re-spool the film back), but definetely will not be 35 minutes like claimed by someone here two or three month ago in this forum [Razz]

cheers,

--------------------
Winbert

| IP: Logged

Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2010 05:28 PM

See?:

It's Simple!

--------------------
All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

| IP: Logged

Michael O'Regan
Film God

Posts: 3085
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Oct 2007

posted March 22, 2010 05:54 PM

Ok, fellas. I got it.

| IP: Logged

Bill Phelps
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1482
From: USA
Registered: Jan 2009

posted March 22, 2010 06:06 PM

This is why I love the forum...when you ask a question every possible variation on the subject is covered. [Smile]

Bill

| IP: Logged

Michael O'Regan
Film God

Posts: 3085
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Oct 2007

posted March 23, 2010 03:53 AM

"This is why I love the forum...when you ask a question every possible variation on the subject is covered.

Bill "

Yes it certainly is.... [Big Grin]

| IP: Logged

Roy Neil
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 203
From: Menlo Park, CA
Registered: Sep 2007

posted March 23, 2010 05:05 AM

Kodak Film Footage Calculator

| IP: Logged

Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 23, 2010 06:41 AM

I know that all members here understand the terminology of film length and reel capacity.

But for non-registered members or newbies, I would like to let you know that some of members here are talking about 400 feet film length and some are stating about 400 feet reel capacity.

400 feet film length has definitely 20 minutes running time (at 24 fps) no matter it is acetate or polyester stock. It is shown at Kodak Calculator above.

400 feet reel capacity (7 inch reel) can be filled with polyester stock which is 20% - 30% thinner, so around 450-480 feet length of film can sit nicely in this 7 inch reel, thus more running time.

However please note that 400 feet reel capacity can be overfilled by both acetate and polyester stock so more running time is achieved from above.
.
It is simple huh .... [Big Grin]

cheers

--------------------
Winbert

| IP: Logged

Michael O'Regan
Film God

Posts: 3085
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Oct 2007

posted March 23, 2010 06:52 AM

OK fellas, a simple answer was sufficient. I can work it out from there.
PLEASE STOP.... [Big Grin]

| IP: Logged

David Pannell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1072
From: Horsham, West Sussex, UK
Registered: Nov 2004

posted March 23, 2010 07:23 AM

.......on the other hand.......

--------------------
Dave.

Valves and celluloid - a great combination!
Early technology rules OK!

| IP: Logged

Michael O'Regan
Film God

Posts: 3085
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Oct 2007

posted March 23, 2010 07:30 AM

OK, Dave....you're looking for trouble..... [Big Grin]

| IP: Logged

Wayne Tuell
Master Film Handler

Posts: 488
From: Minden, NV
Registered: Jul 2009

posted March 23, 2010 12:30 PM

Roy has the best fix for calculating footage/run time.

Don't always trust the markings on the reels. I have a GOLDBERG reel where the film is at the 200' mark, and on the other side it shows it running 8 minutes. WE ALL know that is wrong for 16mm....

--------------------
www.16mmDrive-InFilms.com

| IP: Logged

All times are Central

Printer-friendly view of this topic

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2