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Topic: old 8mm camera with film in it

Jim Schrader
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1628
From: Savage, MN, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 24, 2011 11:02 AM

I recently purchased a box of home movies plus an 8mm movie camera, upon inspecting the camera I noticed it had film in it, do you think this is still good? If so could it be processed? I know I’m out of luck if it’s Kodachrome. How does one know if it is Kodachrome? How can I tell if it’s done being shot? Thanks for any info.

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jim schrader
"Let's see “do I have that title already?"

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted June 24, 2011 11:33 AM

I've received a few cameras that still had film in them. One was a super 8 that I finished the roll off and had it developed. It came back very washed out and faded. Since you don't know what type of film it is how will the lab know how to process it? You also don't know how many times the film door has been opened on that camera. The film could have been exposed to too much light. If the curiosity is killing you and you are willing to risk the lab costs then send it in but I don't think the results will likely be very good.

When I get 8mm film in cameras like that I save the film for testing. I use it to test the film transport and I even have a roll that I marked off to test the speed. It's not a very accurate way to test speed but it can tell you if its close.

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Jim Schrader
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1628
From: Savage, MN, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 25, 2011 09:03 PM

the camera is a kodak escort 8 8mm the film can I found is marked kodak so im sure it might be kodachrome is there a marking that tells if the film is done? I'm not sure if it is new or not it was all ready to shot I think. On 8mm film new does it have the small holes at the beginning of is that and end thing?

I've received a few cameras that still had film in them. One was a super 8 that I finished the roll off and had it developed. It came back very washed out and faded. Since you don't know what type of film it is how will the lab know how to process it? You also don't know how many times the film door has been opened on that camera. The film could have been exposed to too much light. If the curiosity is killing you and you are willing to risk the lab costs then send it in but I don't think the results will likely be very good.

When I get 8mm film in cameras like that I save the film for testing. I use it to test the film transport and I even have a roll that I marked off to test the speed. It's not a very accurate way to test speed but it can tell you if its close.

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jim schrader
"Let's see “do I have that title already?"

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted June 26, 2011 11:56 AM

I can't remember which end of the film had the holes since the new film doesn't have that anymore. If it's Kodachrome your out of luck getting it processed anyway.

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Nathan DeHahn
Film Handler

Posts: 58
From: Racine, WI
Registered: Aug 2010

posted June 27, 2011 11:25 AM

If you seen dots make letters in KMA or K-II. That means kodachrome film. If not, you could see letters that identfies what film stock is. You can tell me, if you didnt see KMA or K-II letters.

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Kodachrome Kid

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Jim Schrader
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1628
From: Savage, MN, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 27, 2011 12:22 PM

I see KM then a bunch of numbers would this be the end or the beginning?

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jim schrader
"Let's see “do I have that title already?"

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Nathan DeHahn
Film Handler

Posts: 58
From: Racine, WI
Registered: Aug 2010

posted June 27, 2011 02:10 PM

KM means kodachrome. Its always on both ends on any film stocks before discountination of Regular 8mm film in stores. There is few different letters on kodachrome, KM, KMA, K-II, and K-I.

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Kodachrome Kid

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Jim Schrader
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1628
From: Savage, MN, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 27, 2011 03:19 PM

so there is no way of knowing if it has been used or not?

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jim schrader
"Let's see “do I have that title already?"

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Nathan DeHahn
Film Handler

Posts: 58
From: Racine, WI
Registered: Aug 2010

posted June 27, 2011 04:38 PM

If you found the reel at the take up spot. that means it is exposed half or fully. And if you see the meter of how much left of footage before you opened the camera. Which it is too late for that. You already opened the camera. I always check the meter before i open the camera.

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Kodachrome Kid

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Jim Schrader
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1628
From: Savage, MN, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 27, 2011 08:29 PM

Live and learn I guess the film was on the top spindle the full side which made me wonder if it was new at one time or in the middle of I was trying figure out how to open it when i did I noticced the meter doing something however it was all threaded ready to go.

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jim schrader
"Let's see “do I have that title already?"

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Nathan DeHahn
Film Handler

Posts: 58
From: Racine, WI
Registered: Aug 2010

posted June 28, 2011 08:01 AM

I guess maybe a long ago, someone loaded the camera but forgot it.

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Kodachrome Kid

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted June 28, 2011 09:27 AM

They probably bought a super 8 camera and forgot all about it.

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