8mm Forum: Digitising Film

This is topic Digitising Film in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=011209

Posted by Will Trenfield (Member # 5321) on January 12, 2017, 06:16 PM:

Hi. Some of us have digitised precious home movies using various methods. There seem to be various frame by frame machines offered in the US. Has anybody any experience of them?

Posted by Ty Reynolds (Member # 5117) on January 12, 2017, 08:08 PM:

I've tested the Wolverine and was very disappointed in the results. Way too much compression, resulting in artifacts and loss of detail. A de-noising program may smooth the artifacts out, though. Other drawbacks are the 30fps frame rate, which must be corrected in an editing program, and the 200-foot maximum reel capacity. Some users are satisfied with the image quality, given the relatively low price.

I use the Retro-8, made by MovieStuff, which produces excellent results from home movies. The one drawback for me is the inability of the sensor to recognize the sprocket holes if that edge of the film is clear, as in commercially-printed films, or light-flashed reversal film. The Retro-8 has been replaced by the RetroScan Universal, but you can still find it from time to time on ebay for around $2,000.

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on January 12, 2017, 08:51 PM:

I've seen spectacular results using MovieStuff equipment. Sometimes there are local shops that have them. Or you can send your footage to Roger Evans directly.

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2