• 8mm film - Used primarily from 1932 to mid-1960's
• Super 8mm film - Used from April 1965 to the 1990's 
• 16mm film - Introduced for home use in 1923

Movies on processed 8mm or Super 8mm film are typically found on 50-foot reels, which are 3" in diameter.  Movies on processed 16mm film are typically found on 100-foot reels, which are 4" in diameter.  Previously consolidated 8mm or Super 8mm films are found on 4" reels (100 feet), 5" reels (200 feet), 6" reels (300 feet) and 7" reels (400 feet).  Previously consolidated 16mm films are typically found on 7" reels (400 feet) or larger, such as 8" reels (600 ft), 10" reels (800 feet) and 12" reels (1200 ft).

How do we do it?
To capture your precious 8mm film, we use the ScanStream Rapid Motion Picture Scanning System which provides TRUE frame-by-frame scanning in full 1080P high-definition.  This is the same equipment employed by the Academy of Motion Pictures Film Archives in Hollywood.  In addition, the robust capabilities of this equipment received high praise by PC Magazine. 

We capture only a full and accurate image of each and every frame of your film.  Our high definition capture of each frame provides you with the most resolution possible.  Those individual frame images are collected and turned into high-quality digital video files which are then used to create your DVD's or download to hard drive.  Since we are capturing frames and not video, there are no partial frames, which degrade the viewing quality. Also, there are no issues with shutter speed conflicts which cause "flicker".  If you have seen other transferred movie film, which appear to have a dominating light that constantly pulses on and off, then you know the value of a flicker-free transfer.

The first step in our conversion service is to carefully examine the film for any defects, such as torn sprocket holes, burns, or otherwise unusable footage. Any such sections of film are carefully repaired, or removed if necessary.

Next, all of your film is cleaned and conditioned by hand. This is one of the most important aspects of the conversion process. Dust, mildew, and other particles will cause significant reduction in image quality. We remove all contaminants in order to give you the cleanest, clearest picture possible.

Finally, your 50-foot rolls are consolidated on to 400-foot reels in order to more efficiently and effectively complete the conversion process. Your footage will be returned to you on these 400-foot reels (7" in diameter).

At Memory Keepers, we value your memories like they are our own. We ask you to consider the following items should you compare our service to others:

• Your movies never leave our care, custody and control. We do the work ourselves and do not ship your film off to a transfer house on the West Coast.  Your movies will be expertly transferred by a mature and extremely competent technician.
  
  
• The quality of the final product is dependent on the use of superior equipment and processes.  This is the single most important aspect of choosing a provider.  As described above, we digitally capture each frame of film using the best equipment.  8mm film offers the equivalent of 800 lines of resolution.  Since we can capture 1080 lines of resolution, we clearly are maximizing what your film has to offer.   
  
  
• Other film transfer providers use inferior services which can include filming a projected image off of a screen, using fixed-rate capture processes (which typically create video at a speed different from the speed the film was orignally shot at), using multiple reflection surfaces between the film and the capture device, using older analog VHS capture devices (and then transferring to DVD, which still only yields analog VHS quality), etc.   Even if another provider offers frame-by-frame digital capture, they are most likely using a 1 CCD or 3CCD camera which maxes out at 480 lines of resolution.  Our frames are 1920 x 1080, those providers can only offer you 720 x 480 frames.  In addition, many other providers do NOT clean and condition your film.

We know you will be very happy with the quality of our work.