DIY or pay a Pro for film transfer to digital format? That is the question and the answer is - no matter which method you choose it will end up costing you. You will pay with your time and an investment of material with the Do It Yourself method. Or you will pay with cash and the time it takes you to locate a Reliable Professional that you would trust with your life's keepsakes. After you make a thorough inspection of your film you will have a better understanding of what your next move may be - either DIY or box it up and send it to a Reputable Professional.
The Vinegar Syndrome has destroyed many a reel of 8 mm and will continue to do so. If your film has the odor of vinegar you might be too late, because it is on its way to self-destruction. Vinegar Syndrome can be identified by the Strong Vinegar Smell in the first stage then as the VS advances into the later stages the film feels sticky or it is curling, warping, shrinking and then becomes brittle and is worthless. I could do a whole article on the Vinegar Syndrome but there is already enough information out in Cyberville about it. The VS can be slowed down but not stopped it will eventually destroy your film. If any of your films are experiencing the Vinegar Syndrome you should separate it from the rest of your collection and contact a Professional immediately for quick transfer if it's still possible.
Color shift or color fading is a given with 8mm color film it can be slowed down but not reversed. Over the years the films three color dye layers will fade and all at different intervals. High Humidity and High Temperatures will help accelerate the process. Some Professionals as well as some edit programs can help correct the color shift with the right care and knowledge. If a few of your films show signs of color fading you might want to consider your choices fairly soon. If you choose the DIY method make sure you have an editing program that will let you make these changes and it will take you some time to get the scene(s) correct so hopefully you're a patient person if not seek out a Pro.
Shrinkage is another problem that you might encounter with your film collection; it may be caused from overly dry storage conditions or loss of moisture and solvents applied during manufacture. The sprocket holes (perforations) are placed at exact locations along the length of the film and when the film shrinks the precise spacing of the holes move. The sprocket teeth will start tearing at the ends of the holes trying to transport the film through the projector and can eventually ruin them beyond repair. Your film will never be able to fully recover from shrinkage.
Perforations or sprocket holes that are damaged from a projector that is not properly maintained or from incorrectly threading the film, but can sometimes be repaired with Perforation Repair Tape. One of the best methods to test for broken sprocket holes is to position your film reel on a couple of Craig Rewinders mounted on a board or similar device. Put on a clean cotton glove and place your index finger and thumb on the edges of the film and let it glide thru your gloved fingers checking for snags as you slowly turn the Rewinders throughout the film.
There are more problems than stated here that needs to be taken into consideration before you decide if you want to DIY or pay a Pro for film transfer to digital. I'll cover some more obstacles and solutions for the Do It Yourself Transfer Method in some upcoming articles.
I urge you to get even more helpful information and some views of how some of my transfers turned out on some 8mm film that was taken in 1956 at http://danstrobel.com/8mm_to_Digital.html.
Thank you for taking time to read my article
Daniel D. Strobel
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