In an age where nearly every phone has the ability to capture video, it can be hard to appreciate the impact that 8mm film had on home movies. For the generation that grew
up with it, however, 8mm film was a gamechanger that allowed families to capture precious moments like never before, and for budding amateur filmmakers to make
movies in their backyard.
In 1923, Kodak released the most popular early film camera for the average consumer, the Cine Kodak. Using 16mm film,
the Cine Kodak was heavy and cumbersome, and required the operator to hand crank the camera at two revolutions per
second. More than that, it was also expensive, putting home movie making out of the reach of most average Americans.
Nearly a decade after it brought the 16mm Cine Kodak to the market, Kodak also introduced the first 8mm film camera. Unlike later models, these early 8mm cameras still used 16mm film, which would be run through the camera
twice. After the film was developed, it would be split down the middle and spliced together to create a 50-foot reel of 8mm film.
Despite being far more bulky and difficult to operate than modern cameras, Kodak’s 8mm cameras were considered a revolution at the time. From the time it was introduced in the 30s, these cameras became an increasingly common sight at weddings and on family vacations. It wasn’t until 1965, when Kodak released the Super 8mm camera, that the home movie making phenomenon exploded in the U.S.
The Super 8mm, often simply called “Super 8,� can rightly be called the first modern home movie camera. It was lightweight, made entirely of plastic, and (from
the 1973 model and beyond) could record sound; with previous home cameras, sound had to be recorded separately and synced
with the 8mm video in editing. Perhaps most importantly, Super 8 film came in an easy-to-use cassette. Finally, a film camera that anyone could use was made available to the masses.
The Super 8 may be best remembered as a tool for making home movies, but it also found widespread use outside
the world of amateur filmmakers. For scientists and anthropologists, the easily transportable and user-friendly Super 8 provided a chance to document the world’s cultures and natural wonders in a way that had never been possible before. Anyone who wanted to capture something on film could now do so easily and, just as importantly, inexpensively.
Despite the advent of more advanced home video cameras and digital video technology, 8mm film is still in use today. The distinct look of 8mm film can be seen in modern commercials, music videos, and movies. Meanwhile, a vibrant community of enthusiasts still exists around the Super 8 camera, over 50 years after its initial release.
Due to its popularity after its release, many families have a stockpile of vacations, weddings, and other special events captured on 8mm film. Today, those 8mm prints can be transferred to DVD in crisp digital quality, preserving their contents on new
technology for the next generation.
8mm to DVD specializes in transferring 8mm film, videotapes, photograph slideshows, and more to a modern digital format. To learn more about transferring your photographs and videos to DVD, visit www.8mmtodvd.com today.