8mm and Super 8 Film Difference
8mm and Super 8 Film Difference – what are they? 8mm film, or as they call it standard 8mm film or Regular 8,” is a type of film that is commonly used in film cameras. The term 8 millimetres comes from its width, which is 8mm wide. Moreover, this type of camera has become popular, especially since the 1930s, and is widely regarded as one of the most popular sizes of film since then. It also helped that during the Great Depression, it was more practical to buy and use due to its comparatively cheaper price than its predecessor, 16mm film.
What is 8mm Film?
Super 8mm film is a type of film that is very similar to 8mm film, although there are a lot of differences that you can notice, especially when you have knowledge or expertise when it comes to films. It is also 8 millimetres wide.
8mm and Super 8 Film Difference – A Useful Guide & What is the Difference?
In comparison, one of the major differences between the 8mm film and the Super8mm film is the packaging. Typically, in 8mm film, the person operating the camera must stooped the film, which must be manually rolled up. When using this film, you have to put a little more effort into ensuring that it is taut and feeding into the camera correctly and perfectly.
Moreover, 8mm film is a more precise type of film, which is why the person who is using it must be knowledgeable and experienced to maximise the features of this particular film. And this is the exact reason why the Eastman Kodak was able to innovate and develop an alternative in moviemaking.
Meanwhile, the super 8mm film features an easy-to-use cartridge that fits right into compatible cameras. With this, this film is easier and faster to load compared to 8mm film, and it is made to be developed and transported conveniently. Additionally, since it has a feature that makes winding and loading easy, it can be played a lot faster on a projector.
If you are looking for a type of film that you can use every day without hassle, then Super 8 is for you, but if you are an aficionado or professional, then regular 8 or 8mm film should be considered.
8mm and super 8mm film difference
Aside from the way they are being used, the Super 8 and 8mm have differences in their appearance. The Super 8 film has a slightly larger frame size compared to the 8mm. The standard 8mm film has a frame size of around 4.5mm by 3.3mm, and the super 8mm has a frame size of about 5.8mm by 4.01mm.
What is the Physical Appearance of 8mm?
The 8mm film is built with large sprocket holes. The sprocket holes are the square holes in the film that help with the feeding of film into the projectors and cameras. They are usually visible at the edges of each frame. Moreover, the sprocket holes are usually seen on one side of the strip.
What Does Super 8mm Look Like?
Compared to 8mm film, the Super 8 has smaller sprocket holes. Aside from that, it usually has a thin, rust-coloured strip in the film in the middle of the edge in the film and image area.
Do You Still own an 8mm or Super 8 Film?
During the 1980s, the popularity of other streaming or filming devices like the VHS increased. The quality of 8mm and Super 8 film is what led to their decline. The continuous pursuit of innovation and the desire of the people in the industry to provide good quality images and videos led to the development of different equipment.
Moreover, digital video has notably gained a better quality of frames per second, or fps, which eventually became the format for home filmmakers and professional motion pictures.
So, if you own or want to experience the 8mm film, it will be very difficult for you since it is now hard to find an 8mm projector. The best thing that you can do is film transfer, which is the term that is used to digitise the film. Due to the new digital format of 8mm or Super 8 video, it is easier to store and play.
To conclude, even though they are relatively the same due to their having the same size of eight millimetres wide and that they are tools for making videos, 8mm film and Super 8 have similarities and differences, as well as pros and cons in terms of their usage and other features that the user considers. More importantly, both of these films made the industry more engaging and innovative, as well as elevating the experience of watching videos at home.
Want to know more about vintage video formats?
Here at Supaphoto we are happy to help and immortalise your memories through our digitisation services!
