8mm Film Transfer to DVD or HD Digital mp4 (Flash Drive)


hd-film-scan-universalFACT: Half of all 8mm movies made before 1960 are gone!

Don’t let this happen to your 8mm movies –
Let Us Transfer Your 8mm Films to HD mp4 or DVD Today!

Audio Video Workshop now offers full Frame-by-Frame High Definition Film Scanning. Every frame of your 8mm Home Movies is cleaned, repaired and Scanned in High Definition (1920x1080p). We can Enhance the color and exposure of your 8mm films or give it to you raw. Our film transfers are done in house with the New RetroScan Universal 2K Mach I Film Scanner. Every 8mm frame of your film is individually scanned directly with an 2K camera using a CMOS sensor and 2 million pixels! The enlarged gate on the scanners give us access to 100% of the film frame. Using a super bright and cool LED light source, we are able to provide rich vibrant colors with zero hot spot and no chance of burning your film. We can transfer your 8mm film to HD Digital mp4 (50mb/s) and put it on Flash Drive or Hard Drive. These files can be played anywhere (MAC, PC, Smart TV, etc..) They are the highest quality and are editable on just about any computer. We can also transfer your films to DVDs and Blurays.

Our Film Transfer Process

  • 1. Organize, Clean, Repair
    We clean the film, repair splices, and replace leader if needed.
  • 2. HD Frame-By-Frame Scan
    We scan each reel frame-by-frame in high definition using our RetroScan Universal Mach-1 Film Scanners.
  • 3. Adjust Frame Rate
    We assess the motion of each reel and adjust the frame rate to match the original.
  • 4. Edit / Enhance
    We digitally attach the reels in the same order they were labeled and scanned. With our Enhanced option, this is when we adjust the color, brightness / contrast, and saturation of each scene.
  • 5. High Definition Export
    We export for every two hours of film. For mp4 files, we use the H.264 Codec (1920 x 1080p 50 mb/s).
  • 6. Output
    For mp4 Files, you will receive your files on either a flash drive or hard drive. For DVDs, you will receive a disc per every two hours of film.

Learn More About Our HD Film Transfer Process

film transfer 8mm super 8 16mm
  • Standard HD Film Transfer

  • Starting at $19per reel
  • Film Cleaned & Repaired
    Films Cleaned, Repaired w New splices & Leader
  • Frame-by-Frame HD Film Scanning
    HD Film Scanning – Progressive (non-interlaced)
  • HD 1920 x 1080p 16x9 Wide Screen
    Enlarged Gate Full Frame Capture 16x9 Wide Screen
  • Bright LED Light Source
    Super bright and Cool LED Light Source – Enhanced Clarity – No Hot Spot
  • Output - HD mp4 File, Bluray or DVD
Most Popular
film transfer san francisco san jose
  • Enhanced HD Film Transfer

  • Starting at $24per reel
  • Film Cleaned & Repaired
    Films Cleaned, Repaired w New splices & Leader
  • Frame-by-Frame HD Film Scanning
    HD Film Scanning – Progressive (non-interlaced)
  • HD 1920 x 1080p 16x9 Wide Screen
    Enlarged Gate Full Frame Capture 16x9 Wide Screen
  • Bright LED Light Source
    Super bright and Cool LED Light Source – Enhanced Clarity – No Hot Spot
  • Output - HD mp4 File, Bluray or DVD
  • Color Correction (Scene by Scene)
    Scene by Scene Color Correction in Post Production
  • Brightness Improvement Scene by Scene
    Scene by Scene Brightness & Contrast Improvement in Post Production

Already placed your order? Click here to learn how to prep your media for transfer at AV Workshop (if possible)

Standard vs Enhanced Film Transfer

Step 1 - 8mm Film Transfer Pricing

Standard (per reel)

Enhanced (per reel)

3”

$19 $24
5” $76

$96

6”

$114 $144
7” $152

$192

Larger Reels are charged at .38 (standard) or .48 (enhanced) per foot

Step 2 - Output Options (what you get)

DVD master

$39 (up to 2hrs)
additional DVD copies

$10 each

HD

HD File mp4 (PC or MAC) $75 (up to 2hrs)

HD Bluray master

$75 (up to 2hrs)

additional Bluray copies

$25 each

sound

.25 per foot
titles

$7 each

Min. fee

$49

*Note: There is one output fee per order up to two hours. Therefore, if your total transfer is under two hours, you will be charged only one output fee. If your total transfer exceeds two hours, there will be an additional output fee per every extra two hours. Two hours of film is equal to about 1600 ft.

See FAQ below for more pricing information.

8mm Film Reel Lengths and Times

Reel Diameter

Length (By foot)

Length (By time)

3”

50 feet 2-3 minutes
5” 200 feet

12-14 minutes

6”

300 feet 19-22 minutes
7” 400 feet

26-29 minutes

9″ 600 feet

42-48 minutes

10” 800 feet

56-62 minutes

11” 1000 feet

75-80 minutes

12” 1300 feet

100-105 minutes

13” 1600 feet

125-130 minutes

Already placed your order? Click here to learn how to prep your media for transfer at AV Workshop (if possible)

8mm HD Film Transfer Samples

AV Workshop Vs. Costco (Yes Video) Film Transfer

 

How Do We Compare to Southtree / Legacy Box

video-to-dvd
  • Film Transfer Resolution
  • Film Cleaning
  • Frame Rate
  • Data Rate (compression)
  • Films in Order
  • Color Correction Avail.
  • Brightness / Contrast Improvement Avail.
  • Sound Film
  • Film Transfer Method
  • Output Options
  • FREE Shipping
  • Media Lost
  • Average Yelp Review
video-to-dvd
  • HD 1920x1080p
  • YES
  • Exact – 16, 18, or 24fps (same as original)
  • 50 mb/sec MAX
  • YES - In order requested or by date
  • YES - Scene by Scene
  • YES - Scene by Scene
  • YES
  • HD RetroScan Universal With Upgraded 2K Lens (sprocketless / Frame by Frame)
  • HD 1080p mp4 (50mb/s), Bluray, DVD, HD Tiffs
  • YES (orders over $175)
  • 0
  • 5 Star
video-to-dvd
  • 640 x 480
  • NO
  • 17 fps
  • 3 mb/s
  • NO
  • NO
  • NO
  • NO
  • State of the Art???
  • low res 480 mp4 (3 mb/s), DVD
  • NO
  • Hundreds
  • 1 - 2 Stars

Click Here To Read More About How We Compare to Southtree / Legacybox / Kodak Digitizing Box

Review of AV Workshop’s 8mm Film Transfer Service

Need Help Organizing your 8mm Home Movies?

Let AV Workshop Create a Reference DVD so you can View and Organize your Family Films (Risk-Free) Today!

Many of our customers are overwhelmed by having their family’s 8mm  films transferred because they’re unsure what is on them and / or do not know the order of them. Customers always ask us about using, renting, or even buying a film viewer or projector to see their films before they have them transferred.

AV Workshop has an easier digital solution. We offer the unique option to view and organize your family’s precious memories with a Reference DVD where each 8mm reel is a unique chapter on the disc. To learn more about this process Click Here.

Our process continued:

Frame by frame 8mm film scanning means your transfers are 100% flicker free, crystal clear and razor sharp from edge to edge. Our HD equipment uses a sprocket less drive to assure no film damage to your priceless memories.

In addition to frame-by-frame film scanning, our Enhanced film transfer includes scene by scene color correction as well as brightness and contrast improvement. Since almost all 8mm film will shift in color over time, your film will benefit from the use of our sophisticated digital tools such as our digital vector scope. A technician will analyze your film (which is now digital) and balance the colors scene by scene. For example, if you had an indoor scene that ended where an outdoor scene began, we would color correct them independently. Moreover, we can enhance the clarity of your film by adjusting the brightness and contrast to improve exposure problems where the film may be too dark or too bright; as a result, your memories will look better than ever and be there for generations to come!

FREE Additional Benefits

  • Free film repair / Free splicing
  • Free film leader (if needed)
  • Free cleaning and lubrication

FAQ:

How does the pricing work?

The pricing is broken down into two parts. First, you select your reel size (see HD Film Transfer Pricing Chart above). Your film is charged by reel size, per reel. Therefore, if you have two 3" reels, it would be $19 per reel - so $38 total. Second, you select your output option. There is one output fee per order up to two hours (2 hours of film = ~1600 feet). For example, if the total length of your transfer is 1 1/2 hours (less than two hours), you will be charged only one output fee. If the total length of your film transfer comes out to 3 1/2 hours, there will be two output fees (each export is only up to two hours). If you select the HD mp4 option, the output fee will be $75 per export. If you select the DVD Master option, the output fee will be $39 per export (see Output Options Chart above).

In conclusion, your total is the reel charge (per reel & size) + output charge (per export).

How many feet of 8mm and/or 16mm film can fit on a DVD?

Super 8 and Regular 8 film runs at approx. 16-18 fps. Thus, approx. 1600’ equals 2 hours of video. As a result, we can fit approx. 1600′ of Regular 8 or Super 8 film on one DVD or Blu-ray – approx. 32 small 50′ reels. We can fit approx. 3000′ of 16mm onto one DVD or Blu-ray. (depending on the speed at which is was shot).

Am I charged for blank films? 

If a reel is black, we can identify that before we clean and prepare it for transfer. Thus, that reel will not be transferred and you will not be charged.

I do not know what’s on my films. Do you rent film projectors or film viewers?

No sorry we do not rent equipment nor do we recommend watching your films on projectors or views as they may burn or wear out the sprocket holes since most film is brittle now. However, if you know you want the film transferred but just don't know the order they go in. AV Workshop can prebuild a DVD where each film reel is its own unique chapter (reference DVD) for you to preview and take notes. Once you know the correct order, we will then rebuild the DVD, Bluray, etc... The extra cost for the reference DVD service is $100 for up to 2hrs of film. Please take a look at the page linked here for more details.

There are a lot of reels, can you show them to me so I know which ones I want to have transferred?

No sorry, we do not run anything through our HD film scanners that hasn’t been thoroughly cleaned, prepped, and lubricated. Most films need to have leaders re-spliced and other splices repaired. As a result, we perform a lot of hands-on physical work to your films to ensure they will look their best when transferred.

Do you transfer sound film?

Yes we do. If your Super 8 film has magnetic sound or your 16mm film has an optical track, we will transfer it with your film. Sound film is very rare and we take extra care that we get the best transfer of your sound film as possible. To transfer sound, we charge an extra .25 per foot. After your sound film is transferred, we make sure it is in sync with your film and we perform level optimization and noise reduction to it.

Do I get my 8mm/16mm films back when you are done converting them to digital?

Yes, your film will be cleaned, repaired, lubricated and given back to you with your DVD, Bluray or HD video file.

How do I use a Flash Drive to view my files?

We have a step by step guide here.

If you provide my drive, how many drives will I receive?

You will receive one single drive that all your media will fit on! We carry 16gb all the way through 2TB

How much space do I need on my flash drive or external hard drive for my films? 

1 hour of footage will be approximately 20 GB and 2 hours will be approximately 40 GB. Please be conscious of the amount of space you have on your hard drive.

If I ordered a JPEG or TIFF numbered image sequence, how much space do I need for my flash drive or external hard drive?

click here for details

AV Workshop is conveniently located on Woodside Rd. in Redwood City of the San Francisco Bay Area

We accept walk-ins as well as shipments. All online orders over $250 qualify for FREE round trip shipping! To learn more Click Here.

You can get an Estimate or Order online by clicking on any service page above.

Note: If you prefer to speak with someone in person, call us during store hours at 650-369-4366

New Store Hours:

Tue. thru Fri. 11am - 6pm

Sat. 10am - 1pm