Many people in the mid- to late-20th century used 8mm film to recorded home movies and other moments. Unfortunately, 8mm film can erode over time, taking treasured images with it. Preserve your 8mm films by converting them to DVD. Offering a longer shelf life than 8mm film, DVDs are also more durable and easier to store. By transferring to DVD, you can simply slide your film into a DVD player instead of setting up a film projector. There are a few ways to switch 8mm film to DVD, including several methods you can do yourself.
Do-It-Yourself
You can transfer 8mm film to DVD yourself for free using the reverse-kinescope method if you have access to a film projector and digital camcorder. Start by pointing a digital camcorder at a film projection screen (an empty white wall or well-stretched white sheet will also do). Then, set up the film projector close to the screen. Remove any dust and debris from the 8mm film with a negative dust brush before loading into the projector. Set your camcorder's lens to middle-focal length, and then adjust the lens to shoot above the projector so that projected image fills the viewfinder. For the clearest results, project an image about 8 to 12 inches in width. To reduce flicker from the film projector, align your projector's variable motor speed control with the camcorder's shutter speed.
The reverse-kinescope method is an easy, inexpensive way to convert film. But, because the camcorder is off center from the projector, your image will also be off center. To shoot video head-on, point your projector at a rear screen projection unit, which will reverse the image and project it so you can center your camcorder directly on the image. This device also produces smaller and brighter images.
Once the contents of the 8mm film have been captured with a camcorder, connect your camcorder to your computer through a FireWire or USB 2.0 port. Then, upload the film into a video editing software program. With this program, you may edit the contents of the film, add an audio track, cut the film into chapters and add a menu. Once you're finished editing, burn the video onto a DVD.
Professional Film-to-DVD Conversion
Perhaps the easiest way to convert 8mm to DVD is to enlist the help of professionals. There are many film conversion companies from which to choose, including many online companies that allow you to ship film in exchange for a recorded DVD. However, this process can get expensive, depending on how much film you need transferred, what film conversion methods are used and how much touch-up is done. For best results, look for companies that transfer film frame by frame with film scanning hardware such as a telecine.
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