WELCOME to a help page in LittleFilm.org
Bulletin: Note that since many new stocks have appeared and the chemistry for the old stocks has been changed or discontinued, we advise you use and process old stocks sooner than later.
The classic Super 8 Reversal Stocks
Negative film stocks for Super 8
Super 8 film is available directly from Kodak but may be cheapest when ordered as a student through your film tech room. (Kodak's order line in NYC is tel: 212-621-3400 or free in the US to 800-621-3456. They offer an excellent line up of some classic reversal stocks and improved reversal and negative stocks.
- the beautiful Plus-X black and white reversal
- the capable Tri-X black and white reversal
- the magnificent, fine grain, color reversal film Kodachrome 40, while discontinued by Kodak in Spring 2005, offered now as Cine
- the popular, new color film Ektachrome 64.
Kodak has a lot of information and history at Kodak movie film page. In 2001, Kodak introduced a new negative film stock for Super 8 filmmakers, Kodak's Vision 200T and since then has continued to extend and support negative stocks for Super 8 filmmakers.
Negative is different from the normal Super 8 reversal film. (Reversal is direct projection material, negative is not.) Negative is quite popular among music filmmakers in the U.K. where it has been available for some time. We hope the new offerings generate heat for movies and complements the dependable quality and historic look we count on in traditional Super 8 reversal filmstocks.
This word "reversal" sometimes confuses the beginning filmmaker. It refers to filmstock created for camera to processing to direct projection. When held in your hands you will notice the images look like slides (like positive transparencies, color or BW). Reversal tends to be somewhat contrasty as it was intended for direct projection, for the original to look fine on a screen in a darkened room.
Reversal film merits correct exposure to see just how well it performs. To see reversal film at its best, we recommend you put the important subject or tones in the middle of the exposure range and you will have the best results, especially in high contrast playback such as a video monitor. Reversal film suffers (or gets artsy, depending on your aesthetic) when over or underexposed. Push or pull processing further degrades the potential of a particular filmstock. Study each film's capabilities before you mess with exposure and processing. Note that the venerable Kodachrome renders shadow detail better than the higher rated Ektachrome, even in low light. Do a test of both color reversal stocks side by side and we are sure Kodachrome will surprise you. Kodachrome is also unparalleled for longevity among the color stocks which should be of interest to anyone filming grandchildren and historic events.
REGULAR 8mm a.k.a. STANDARD 8mm film
8mm is available on Double 8 daylight reels. This means 25 feet of film with 8mm perforations, 16mm wide. The reel is turned aver halfway through exposing it. The processing labs will return it to you slit lengthwise as 50 feet of 8mm on an 8mm reel.
In the USA, 8mm is sold by
JOHN SCHWIND tel: 707 678 2942.
John's site
MARTIN BAUMGARTEN, Plattsburg Photographic, 18 Elm St. Plattsburg, NY 12901 tel: 518 561 6312 Martin does processing of many special films by hand. He is also the author of many helpful technical articles about Super 8 and 8mm film all across the web. Contact him at Super8mm at aol dot com.
8mm filmmakers worldwide: If you are in other countries and know of sources of 8mm film, please add them as a note by clicking the "post" comments section at the bottom of this page. Thank you.
Super 8 REVERSAL FILM STOCKS
Plus-X Black and White reversal, PXR 464 Kodak CAT# 502-9087 (7276 ASA 40T/50D) Processed at many independent labs. See nav bar.
Tri-X Black and White reversal, TXR 464 Kodak CAT# 502-9046 (7278 ASA 160T/200D) Processed at many independent labs. See nav bar.
Ektachrome color reversal, Kodak CAT# 524-2987 (7240 ASA 125T / 80D) VNF-1 needs to be processed at independent labs.
SUPER 8 NEGATIVE
A departure from the historic look of 8mm reversal film, negative stock is used in 16mm and 35mm to compress contrast for going to release print or video display. We know of no labs making prints in Super 8 from Super 8 neg. In your hands, negative looks like the orange images that come back from the lab with your color snapshots. Negative is a more expensive way to work in Super 8 and does not replicte the historic look of reversal stocks than is assiciated with 8mm film. DPs like to intercut neg with its higher resolution cousin-stocks in 16mm and 35mm. Some prefer neg for its own aesthetic or the appearance of professionalismo.
Negative Vision 200T from KODAK in Super 8m/ See the Kodak Super 8 products in Kodak's website.
Pro8mm A complete line of NEGATIVE filmstocks for Super 8 filmmakers are created, processed and transferred by
Pro8mm [formerly known as Super8 Sound]
contact: Philip Vigeant, tel: 818-848-5522,
2805 West Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank CA 91505. Pro8mm website
LEADER
Please attach only proper new Kodak triacetate leader to acetate original for preservation. Any plastic leader from any source should never be used! Plastic leaders shrink!
Proper acetate leader, for 16mm, Regular 8mm, or Super 8mm is probably most reliable and best price when purchased directly from Eastman Kodak. The KODAK ORDER LINE is tel: 212-631-3400 or in the US, 800-621-3456.
Kodak Regular 8mm leader is Cat Number 163 5002. The 8mm leader comes in 50 foot reels in little yellow boxs boxes and its price is steady at $ 2.84 each. When searching the Internet, we find many vendors offer this product marked up to twice or three times the price, so we wish to applaud the folks at Kodak for continuing this service to the field.
Here's are the Kodak CAT (catalog) numbers to ease the ordering of leader:
- Regular 8mm white acetate leader in 50 foot box: 163 5002
- Super 8 white acetate leader, 1000 foot box: 882 7362
- 16mm white acetate leader, double perf, 1000 feet: 800 1901
- 16mm white acetate leader, single perf, 1000 feet: 821 0445
In 2007, Kodak made the requirement of a 7 roll, or 7000 foot, minimum order on 16mm leader.
To reinforce the need to use good acetate leader, we quote Russ Suniewick at Colorlab who wrote us in 2005: "PLEASE FOLLOW THE CARDINAL RULE OF PREPARING ANY SMALL GAUGE GOING TO A FACILITY FOR PRESERVATION...ABSOLUTELY NO PLASTIC LEADERS OR LEADERS MADE FROM ANYTHING OTHER THAN ACETATE. When you don't do this, we have to releader all rolls (and reslug all combined rolls) before we even begin evaluating the material through a sync block, let alone the telecine's idler roller or the sprocket drives of an optical printer. These products are never shrunk, directional stability always excellent, and one perf is always the same shape as (hello) the one next to it." - Russ at Colorlab (THANK YOU, RUSS! -ed.)
Top
SPLICES
The most affordable way to join together your films is to make cement splices if you are skilled that way. Use Kodak Film cement which is sold by the pint. Call Kodak's Order Line at 800-621-3456. A well made cement splice is also very durable. When we handle old family film spliced 60 or 70 years ago we often find cement splices which still hold.
Kodak also sells Presstapes which are tape splices. They are handy but not easy to make at first. Practice and plan to put them on both sides of the film. Presstapes are sold for Regular 8mm, Super 8mm or 16mm film gauges. Call KODAK ORDER LINE, 212-631-3400 or 800-621-3456 (Use a credit card to pay.) Call in the morning as the operators in New York City are very helpful and informed about small gauge film.
Here's the Kodak CAT (catalog) numbers to ease the ordering:
- Regular 8mm presstapes: 154-9914
- Super 8 presstapes: 147-5771
- 16mm presstapes: 154-9922
- Kodak Professional Film Cement for wet splices, 1 pint can: 195-6176
re: FILM CEMENT: Do not attempt cement splicing without instruction from an experienced person. If you have experience in making cement splices, then you probably have access to an appropriate hot splicer. Well-made tape splices hold a very long time but making them is quite fussy until you become very experienced at it. For instance, you have to be careful the film is properly positioned, scraped, scrapes are cleaned off, that extra cement is wiped off, and that the splice is dry before you go on and wind it up on other film.
Top
VIEWERS, SPLICERS and other hardware
KARL THOMAS, Tucson AZ **** best used gear at fair prices****
tel: 520 888 3992, postal mailing address= P.O. Box 50672, Tucson AZ 85703. See Karl's website: www.mediamaestro.net. He's strong in 35mm and 16mm gear but also stocks Regular 8mm and Super 8 viewers, splicers, rewinds, projectors and sometimes cameras.
REELS and CANS
B&H Photo Internet orders of 8mm Gepe reels and boxes, which fit 8mm, Super 8 and Single 8mm film. BHphoto.com
CALUMET Jeffrey Newman, Industrial Account Manager, 65 Bent St Cambridge MA 02141 voice 800.795.6315 x619 fax 617.349.0015 calumetphoto.com Jeff can order cases of 8mm Gepe reels and boxes, which fit 8mm, Super 8 and Single 8mm film.
Neumade Corporation materials (at quite reasonable prices) in 8mm and Super 8. Write 30-40 Pecks Lane, Newtown, CT 06470 Ph: 203 270-1100 or Fax: 203-270-7778. neumade.com
MPE: Motion Picture Enterprises, Tarrytown NY 212-245-0969 www.mpe.net
PRC Plastic Reel Corporation in New Jersey tel: 800-772-4748 or 201-933-5100 www.PRCofamerica.com
These listings are for filmmakers information only. This publication cannot guarantee services nor service providers on its lists. Feel free to add comments at bottom of page. -ed.
This page excerpted from "B&T's Little Film Notebook #22" ©2001 Info at NOSPAM LittleFilm dot ORG removing the word NOSPAM from the address.
Updated and revised by Treadway for this website 4/27/10 .©1999-2010.
Please visit our website for more information about 8mm and Super 8 filmmaking and preservation of 8mm films, artist's films, home movies, and for making films today. If you choose "subscribe" at the bottom of this page, you will receive notice of changes to it. LittleFilm.org
