The History of 8mm Film

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• 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 game-changer that allowed
  families to capture precious moments like never
  before, and for budding amateur filmmakers to
  make movies in their backyard.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• Despite being far more bulky and difficult to
  operate than modern cameras, Kodaks 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 wasnt until 1965,
when Kodak released the Super 8mm camera, that
the home movie making phenomenon exploded in the
U.S.
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• 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.

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• 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 worlds 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.
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• 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.