8mm Forum: How do you know the correct film speed?

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Topic: How do you know the correct film speed?

Barbara Strohl
Film Handler

Posts: 44
From: Hamilton, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2016

posted May 25, 2016 04:48 PM

Not all film was made at the same fps. I know my projectors have speed selections or speed tuning. Is there a way to know the correct speed other than "I guess that looks right"?

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Barb

I'm an amateur noob. Please be gentle.

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted May 25, 2016 05:11 PM

Generally Barbera, if it's home made movie film, it is likely to be shot at 18fps.

Again not always, but nearly always, if it is a commercially manufactured 8mm sound film, it should be projected at 24fps.

Some projectors are infinitely variable but typically would give you some indication somewhere of where these speeds are on a scale or within an instruction manual.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013

posted May 25, 2016 05:34 PM

Barbara, as Andrew said, the classical silent speed for super 8 is 18 fps, for standard/regular 8, it is 16 fps. Dual gauges usually don't take in account the difference between super 8 and the former 8 mm gauge and in general that is not noticeable on the screen. Things may change if for example (to give an idea) the standard/regular 8 camera ran at 15 or even 14 fps and the film is projected at 18 fps. What was not noticeable projected at 16 fps is not looking natural at 18 fps.

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Dominique

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted May 26, 2016 02:31 AM

Barbara
I think your comment is just right. Adjust the speed control until the action looks correct.
Sound films have to run at sound speed, i.e., 24 frames per second.

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Maurice

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Barbara Strohl
Film Handler

Posts: 44
From: Hamilton, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2016

posted May 26, 2016 09:32 AM

Thank you.

I have 8mm and Super8 but I haven't found any sound yet. We do have a sound projector in the pile, so I don't know if one will turn up.
What I have gone through so far are from the 1960's and 1970's. When trying to adjust the settings I feel like I am at the eye doctor's... "better or worse?". I never know. Sometimes nothing looks right or everything looks right.
I'll stick with the 16fps or 18fps.

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Barb

I'm an amateur noob. Please be gentle.

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