8 reasons to convert 8mm film and 16mm film to digital |
Posted: November 1, 2018 |
Movie film was the most popular way to record videos in the first half of the last century, and for good reason. With the help of 8mm and 16mm film, almost anyone could record motion pictures – it was no longer restricted to the select few who had the means. But while it was a huge breakthrough at the time, further technological advancements have made both 8mm and 16mm film formats obsolete; today, most of them gather dust at storage units or archives. But while the format itself may have become outdated, the contents of the films are often just as valuable as before, if not more. That’s why it’s so important to preserve the contents of the movie film reels – even if kept in excellent conditions, they will inevitably deteriorate and become unusable sooner or later, so a more permanent solution is required. By converting your files into a digital format, you are not only protecting them from inevitable decay but also making the quality of the films better than ever before. If you’re still hesitant about whether or not you should convert your 8mm and 16mm film to a digital format, here are eight convincing reasons why it makes sense. Bring the Videos Back to Life Keeping your movie reel in mint condition can be a tough challenge – you need to ensure that the film is stored in a clean, dry and cool place, protected from environmental factors. And even if you store the film in a suitable location, you still need to clean it regularly – any dirt or dust that starts collecting on the roll is going to increase the rate of deterioration and worsen the quality of the film. But when digitizing your film, you don’t need to worry about taking care of it to maintain the best possible quality – you can leave the files on your hard drive or the cloud for years and still find them just as new when you decide to watch them again. Extend Their Lifespan Just because you decide to digitize your movie film reel, doesn’t mean you have to destroy the physical copy. It’s completely understandable to want to preserve the original viewing experience that can only be achieved using movie film. But if you only have the physical copy, watching it can become problematic – every time you play the film through a projector, you’re running the risk of causing irreversible damage. Luckily, when you digitize, you can always watch risk-free on your computer or through a digital projector, and save the original movie film for special occasions. Digital Formats Don’t Require Special Equipment One of the bigger hassles with watching movies on movie reels is their incompatibility with today’s viewing devices – since the files aren’t in a digital format, you can’t view them on any of the most popular devices that are used today. When you convert your 8mm film to DVD you can watch the movie on a computer, a DVD player, or another commonly available device. You Don’t Need as Much Storage Space We already talked about the hassle of taking care of your movie film reels in storage, but finding suitable storage space is a challenge in and of itself. Even if you find a suitable location or a space in your home, it will still be space that you’re not able to use for anything else and have to dedicate to this sole purpose. With digital files, everything can fit on your computer, on the cloud, or even on an external hard drive which takes up less space than a small book. Better Video Quality Converting your 8mm and 16mm films to a digital format can help you watch the contents in better quality than ever before. When videos are converted to a digital format, they are usually edited to correct and enhance the colors, as well as fine-tune the contrast and reduce grain noise, which results in a video that is much richer and more pleasant to watch. Digital Format is Easy to Share If you have a movie film collection, the only way to show them to others is to invite them over and show them the movies in person. But with digitized movie reels, you can share the movies over the internet in just a few seconds by sending a link or the file itself. You can also quickly burn the film into a DVD or even transfer it using a USB drive. The possibilities for sharing the contents are endless, so you, your family and your friends can enjoy the movies, no matter where you might be. You Can Edit Old Videos Editing movie film is virtually impossible if you don’t have specialized equipment. But with digital files, it’s easier than ever – many consumer-grade software solutions allow you to cut, edit, and enhance your movies in any way you like. You Won’t Lose Your Videos Finally, as we discussed at the beginning, movie reels cannot be preserved forever, and it’s only a matter of time before they become completely unusable. That’s why the only way to ensure that you and the future generations can enjoy the contents of the films is to convert them to a digital format. You can then back up the digitized files in multiple locations and be sure that even if something were to happen, you would still have a backup safely stored somewhere else. Use a Video Transfer Service for Professional Results If you’ve read through the article, it’s likely that you’re already convinced that the best way to go about preserving your 8mm film and 16mm film is to convert it into a digital format. But while the digitization process is very effective, it’s not easy to do if you don’t have the necessary experience and equipment. That’s why your best course of action is to hire a professional video transfer service provider that can provide you with consistent quality results and ensure that the conversion to a digital format does not damage the original rolls. Commercial-grade technology such as high-def film scanners allow to digitally scan the full contents of each frame of the film, and then experts use professional software to convert each frame into a digital movie while at the same time correcting colors, contrast, and reducing grain noise. When you leave the task to professionals, you can sit back and wait to receive the film in a USB drive or just download from a private link online. Today, it’s more affordable than ever to convert your movie films into a digital format, so it makes sense to digitize them before they suffer further damage and become harder or even impossible to restore. Author Bio: Brandon is the owner of Smooth Photo Scanning Services, headquartered in Lodi, NJ. Prior to that he owned and operated a small bakery. He is passionate about helping individuals protect, preserve and share their family history and takes pride in the many high quality yet affordable Slide Scanning Service which his company provides.
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