Standard 8, Super 8 and 16mm Film Conversion FAQ

How do you transfer films?

All our film transfers are undertaken with our frame by frame process, which we’ve been developing over more than 10 years.
Films are first checked for damage and repaired if necessary, then cleaned scanned frame by frame. One the outputted file is complete, this is then transferred to a high end, commercial grade, purpose built edit suite.
An experienced technician then watches through the film, removing blank sections, applying colour, density and contrast correction and enhancing the footage quality to its best possible state.
Once we are happy with the outputted video stream, the footage is outputted and encoded to your requested output medium (DVD, BD or file) with necessary extras applied (disc menus, extras etc).
Your final product is custom printed with on the disc face and case showing whatever details you specify.

Can I check what’s on my film prior to transfer?

We offer a range of projectors for hire so you can view your footage before committing to their transfer.

Where are your offices and can I see your operation?

We welcome the your visit and would be proud to show you our streamlined process. We have three offices Australia wide, you can see locations here

How do I get my films to you?

You can send your post by registered post, courier or of course by personally dropping them in to one of our offices.

What will it cost for my transfers?

Our standard rates for film transfer is 35c for SD and 55c for HD. We provide file backup for $15 / 20 minutes of footage. We will provide an indicative quote (subject to film length) prior to commencement of work.

How do I pay?

We will invoice you on completion of your job for the exact amount of work carried out. Our equipment measures the film length and this is what we charge you for. We accept cash, cheque, EFT or credit card.

How do I know I can trust you to take care of my films?

We’ve been in business for over 15 years and deal with some of Australia’s largest business. We are trusted by Government departments all over the country and can provide references backing our reputation. We are proud and passionate about our business culture and values, are committed to our sustainability policy and provide a guarantee on all work we undertake. Your irreplaceable memories are valuable and we respect this.

Do you outsource any of your work?

We do all our film conversion in house.

Do you process undeveloped film?

We do not, however can recommend Richard at Nanolab for quality film processing.

How can I tell how may feet are on my reels?

For a useful resource, visit our guide to reel size.

What film formats to you handle?

We concert Regular or standard 8, Super 8 and 16mm film formats.

How do you tell the difference between Super 8 and Standar8 8 film?

The sprocket holes on Super 8 are smaller than those of Standard 8.

How long will you take to complete my order?

A smaller film transfer or a few hundred feet should usually be completed in less than a week. For conversions of several thousand feet, we usually take no more than 2-3 weeks. That said, if our backlog is particularly large, this time may be longer.

How will you return my completed job?

Many of our clients prefer to collect their completed jobs in person however we can send your job by registered post or courier.

Can the finished job be watched by relatives or friends overseas?

Our transfers are outputted as region free PAL. This means the discs can be played in any country, however you may want to consider converting PAL to NTSC for countries such as Japan and the USA. For a complete listing of countries and their relevant format see our region listing. We provide a standards conversion service at very competitive rates.