Standard 8 mm film
Encyclopedia
Standard 8 mm film, also known as Regular 8 mm film, Double 8 mm film or simply as Standard-8 or Regular-8, is a film format originally developed by the Eastman Kodak
company and released onto the market in 1932.
format introduced a decade earlier.
Standard 8 mm film stock consisted of 16 mm film reperforated to have twice the usual number of perforations along its edges, though using the same size sprocket holes. This film was run through the camera, exposing one edge of the film only (the frame size of standard 8 mm film is 4.8 mm x 3.5 mm). The spool was then reversed and the film run through again, exposing the other edge. After processing the film was cut down the centre and spliced together to give one roll of 8mm wide film. The standard spool size for amateur use contained 25 ft of film, giving a total of 50 ft available for projection; at the usual filming speed of 16 frames per second this would give about four minutes of footage.
The format was an immediate success, but retained a number of inherent problems and quirks, mostly connected with the fact that the spool needed to be removed and reversed half way through filming. This procedure was tricky for the inexperienced user and needed to be carried out in subdued light to avoid fogging of the edges of the film. In addition, the central six feet of the finished film would include a characteristic burst of light corresponding to the reversal point (unless the film was again edited and spliced).
In the early 1960s, a new filming and projection standard of 18 frames per second was introduced, although many cameras and projectors included a multi-speed facility.
The standard 8 mm format was quickly displaced by the Super 8 mm film
format - which offered cartridge loading, a 50% larger frame size and electric-powered cameras - from the mid 1960s onwards. However, standard 8mm retained some advantages over Super 8: in particular, the latter's use of cartridges with an integral film pressure plate resulted in a less steady image than the earlier format , in which the pressure plate was part of the camera itself. More sophisticated standard 8 mm cameras permitted backwind of the film - not possible with a Super 8 cartridge - enabling simple double-exposure and dissolve effects to be made in-camera. Super 8's smaller sprocket holes, while allowing a larger frame size, were also inherently more liable to tear.
company Paillard-Bolex
SA introduced its first 8 mm camera in 1938 and its first 'pocket' 8 mm camera aimed squarely at the amateur market, the L-8, in 1942. Bolex cameras and projectors continued to occupy the high end of the market. In the US
, Bell and Howell introduced an 8 mm projector in 1934, and in 1935, the Filmo Straight Eight camera, using pre-prepared 8 mm wide film. Standard 8 mm equipment was also manufactured by Carl Zeiss, the Austria
n firm Eumig, Fuji
(as Fujica
), and Canon, amongst others.
colour reversal stock, with its distinctive colour rendition and fine grain
, was closely associated with the format. Kodachrome II, rated at 25 ASA, was introduced in the early 1960s. Kodak continued to produce standard 8 mm film directly up until the early 1990s, although its 16mm stocks are still reperforated and respooled by other companies. Other film stocks from different manufacturers, such as Agfa's Agfachrome, were also available.
Kodachrome's excellent archival qualities mean that old 8mm film can still appear remarkably fresh if stored in the correct conditions.
in East Germany) made cameras with special magazines that could be pre-loaded with 8 mm spools. They were simply pulled out and flipped in mid-roll, avoiding re-threading the film.
films, and other silent movies were available. The Walt Disney
Studio released excerpts from many of their animated feature films, as well as some shorts, in both Standard and Super 8, some even with magnetic sound. New releases of material were not stopped until the late 1970s in the US.
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
company and released onto the market in 1932.
History
The format, initially known as Cine Kodak Eight, was developed by Kodak to provide a cheaper and more portable alternative to the 16 mm film16 mm film
16 mm film refers to a popular, economical gauge of film used for motion pictures and non-theatrical film making. 16 mm refers to the width of the film...
format introduced a decade earlier.
Standard 8 mm film stock consisted of 16 mm film reperforated to have twice the usual number of perforations along its edges, though using the same size sprocket holes. This film was run through the camera, exposing one edge of the film only (the frame size of standard 8 mm film is 4.8 mm x 3.5 mm). The spool was then reversed and the film run through again, exposing the other edge. After processing the film was cut down the centre and spliced together to give one roll of 8mm wide film. The standard spool size for amateur use contained 25 ft of film, giving a total of 50 ft available for projection; at the usual filming speed of 16 frames per second this would give about four minutes of footage.
The format was an immediate success, but retained a number of inherent problems and quirks, mostly connected with the fact that the spool needed to be removed and reversed half way through filming. This procedure was tricky for the inexperienced user and needed to be carried out in subdued light to avoid fogging of the edges of the film. In addition, the central six feet of the finished film would include a characteristic burst of light corresponding to the reversal point (unless the film was again edited and spliced).
In the early 1960s, a new filming and projection standard of 18 frames per second was introduced, although many cameras and projectors included a multi-speed facility.
The standard 8 mm format was quickly displaced by the Super 8 mm film
Super 8 mm film
Super 8 mm film is a motion picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement of the older "Double" or "Regular" 8 mm home movie format....
format - which offered cartridge loading, a 50% larger frame size and electric-powered cameras - from the mid 1960s onwards. However, standard 8mm retained some advantages over Super 8: in particular, the latter's use of cartridges with an integral film pressure plate resulted in a less steady image than the earlier format , in which the pressure plate was part of the camera itself. More sophisticated standard 8 mm cameras permitted backwind of the film - not possible with a Super 8 cartridge - enabling simple double-exposure and dissolve effects to be made in-camera. Super 8's smaller sprocket holes, while allowing a larger frame size, were also inherently more liable to tear.
Manufacturers
The first camera produced was Kodak's own Cine Kodak Eight Model 20. Like many subsequent cameras, it was extremely simple and powered by clockwork. The SwissSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
company Paillard-Bolex
Bolex
Bolex is a Swiss company that manufactures motion picture cameras and lenses, the most notable products of which are in the 16 mm and Super 16 mm formats. The Bolex company was initially founded by Jacques Bogopolsky in 1927. Bolex is derived from his name. He had previously designed cameras for...
SA introduced its first 8 mm camera in 1938 and its first 'pocket' 8 mm camera aimed squarely at the amateur market, the L-8, in 1942. Bolex cameras and projectors continued to occupy the high end of the market. In the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Bell and Howell introduced an 8 mm projector in 1934, and in 1935, the Filmo Straight Eight camera, using pre-prepared 8 mm wide film. Standard 8 mm equipment was also manufactured by Carl Zeiss, the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n firm Eumig, Fuji
Fujifilm
is a multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of color photographic film, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment, color paper, photofinishing chemicals, medical imaging...
(as Fujica
Fujica
Fujica is the name given by Fujifilm of Japan to its line of still-photography and motion picture cameras.Here is a list of all the Fujica branded still photo cameras that were produced and their date of introduction...
), and Canon, amongst others.
Film stocks
The most commonly used film stocks were produced by Kodak. In particular, the 10 ASA KodachromeKodachrome
Kodachrome is the trademarked brand name of a type of color reversal film that was manufactured by Eastman Kodak from 1935 to 2009.-Background:...
colour reversal stock, with its distinctive colour rendition and fine grain
Film grain
Film grain or granularity is the random optical texture of processed photographic film due to the presence of small particles of a metallic silver, or dye clouds, developed from silver halide that have received enough photons. While film grain is a function of such particles it is not the same...
, was closely associated with the format. Kodachrome II, rated at 25 ASA, was introduced in the early 1960s. Kodak continued to produce standard 8 mm film directly up until the early 1990s, although its 16mm stocks are still reperforated and respooled by other companies. Other film stocks from different manufacturers, such as Agfa's Agfachrome, were also available.
Kodachrome's excellent archival qualities mean that old 8mm film can still appear remarkably fresh if stored in the correct conditions.
Standard 8mm variants
Various attempts were made to simplify use of standard 8mm film over the years, but none was especially successful. The Straight Eight format, using pre-prepared 8mm wide film, had some popularity in Europe, where Agfa manufactured their own stock. Kodak eventually introduced a magazine-loading system, but it was never as popular as spooled 8mm film and was discontinued by the early 1980s. Some manufacturers (e.g. PentaconPentacon
Pentacon is the company name of a once-important camera manufacturer in Dresden, Germany.The name Pentacon is derived from the brand Contax of Zeiss Ikon Kamerawerke in Dresden and Pentagon, as a Pentaprism for Single-Lens Reflex cameras was for the first time developed in Dresden...
in East Germany) made cameras with special magazines that could be pre-loaded with 8 mm spools. They were simply pulled out and flipped in mid-roll, avoiding re-threading the film.
Packaged movies
Although standard 8 mm was originally intended as a format for creating amateur films, condensed versions of popular cinema releases were available on the format up until the 1970s, for projection at home. These were generally edited to fit onto a 200 ft reel. Many Charlie ChaplinCharlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
films, and other silent movies were available. The Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
Studio released excerpts from many of their animated feature films, as well as some shorts, in both Standard and Super 8, some even with magnetic sound. New releases of material were not stopped until the late 1970s in the US.
External links
- Super 8 Wiki Detailed information on Super 8 equipment; includes some standard 8 mm equipment