Hart House Film Board

Super-8 FAQ

SUPER 8 FILM STOCKS AND SERVICES

Compiled by Rick Palidwor, September 2007, last updated Feb 2010

WHERE TO BUY SUPER 8 FILM

The Hart House Film Board (7 Hart House Circle, 416-946-8180). We now sell Super 8 and 16mm film. They can be purchased during office hours. All prices are subject to change. Please call us for current pricing.

Ektrachrome Super 8 ($14 for members, $18 for non-members)

Tri-X B&W Super 8 ($14 for members, $18 for non-members)
Plus-X B&W Super 8 ($14 for members, $18 for non-members)
Vision 3 Colour Super 8 ($16 for members, $20 for non-members)

Vision 3 Colour 16mm ($40 for members, $45 for non-members)

LIFT, (171 E. Liberty St., Suite 301; 416-588-6444; M-F 10-6). Best prices, but call in advance, especially for large orders.

West Camera (514 Queen West, 416-504-9432). Reasonable prices.

Henry’s (119 Church. 416-868-0872). High prices.

Kodak (6 Monogram Place, Suite 200, Toronto, ON M9R 0A1, ph: 416-761-4646, orders: 1-800-621-film, fx: 416-760-4592; M-F 8:30-5). When calling Kodak make sure you have the catalogue number handy (included in the descriptions of film stocks, below). Film Studies students are eligible for a 20% discount with student verification from a film professor. Kodak will also deliver, for a fee.

The Black & White Film Factory (40 Cawthra Ave, 416.763.0750).

REVERSAL FILM STOCKS (Cost per cartridge ranges from about $15 to $22)

Black & White reversal stocks.

- Plus-X 7265 (EI 80/100) Catalogue No. 528-4450. Fine grain stock but you need a lot of light.

- Tri-X 7266 (EI 160/200). Catalogue No. 528-4468. Noticeably grainier than Plus-X, but your best option in low-light.

Colour reversal stocks.

- Ektachrome 64T 7280 (EI 64/40). Catalogue No. 529-2206.

NEGATIVE FILM STOCKS (Cost per cartridge ranges from about $15 to $22)

Colour negative stocks. Not commonly stocked by commercial outlets. Order from Kodak or through LIFT.

- Vision 2 200T 7217 (EI 200/125) Catalogue No. 528 8535.

- Vision 2 500T 7218 (EI 500/320) Catalogue No. 528 4476.

PROCESSING SUPER 8 FILM

B&W and Ektachrome Colour Reversal film can be processed at:

Exclusive Film & Video (101F Niagara, 598-2700; M-F 10-6). B&W processing costs about $13 per cartridge; Ektachrome about $15. They usually turn it around in 24-48 hours.

B&W Reversal and Negative Film can be processed at:

The Black & White Film Factory ( www.blackandwhitefilmfactory.com,40 Cawthra Ave., 416-763-0750). $15.00 per cartridge.

Colour Negative Film can be processed at:

Niagara Custom Lab (422 Dufferin St., Unit K, 416-504-3927) but, as this is a new service, check with them before shooting a lot of negative super 8. $20 per cartridge.

TRANSFERING FILM TO VIDEO

Reversal film can be transferred to video tape at:

LIFT has transfer facilities available to its members. This is the most economical option but transfers are restricted to 24 fps only and miniDV tape format only.

Exclusive Film & Video (101F Niagara, 598-2700). 24 fps and 18 (actually 20) fps, to most tape formats.

The Black & White Film Factory ( www.blackandwhitefilmfactory.com, 40 Cawthra Ave., 416-763-0750). 18fps, 24fps or any other speed to digital tape, DVD as video or computer file (.avi, QT), Hard Drive or Flash Drive. Transfer is done using Frame by Frame scanner. No minimum charge. $20.00 per 50′ (set-up and cleaning included).

Photoplays (www.photoplays.ca, 416-531-2209). 24 fps and 18 (actually 20) fps to hard drive, data DVD or DVD

Frame Discreet (www.justinlovell.com, 416-803-1101) 24 fps and true 18 fps. To miniDV, DVcam or hard-disk.

Negative Super 8 Film can be transferred to video tape at:

Photoplays (www.photoplays.ca, 416-531-2209). 24 fps and 18 (actually 20) fps to hard drive, data DVD or DVD.

Frame Discreet (www.justinlovell.com, 416-803-1101). 24 fps and true 18 fps to miniDV, DVcam or hard-disk.

Exclusive Film & Video (101F Niagara, 598-2700). 24 fps and 18 (actually 20) fps, to most tape formats.

The Black & White Film Factory ( www.blackandwhitefilmfactory.com, 40 Cawthra Ave., 416-763-0750). 18fps, 24fps or any other speed to digital tape, DVD as video or computer file (.avi, QT), Hard Drive or Flash Drive. Transfer is done using Frame by Frame scanner. No minimum charge. $20.00 per 50′ (set-up and cleaning included).

Transfer prices depend on a combination of factors: number of rolls (most facilities have a minimum charge), format being transferred to and turn-around time. Contact each facility for details.

SUPER 8 FILM CARTRIDGES

Super 8 film comes in 50 foot cartridges. Projected at 24 frames per second (fps) the running time is 150 seconds. At 18 fps the running time is 200 seconds. At 20 fps (common projection speed for 18 fps material when transferred to tape) the running time is 180 seconds.

ADDITIONAL SUPER 8 INFORMATION

Compiled by Rick Palidwor, September 2007

DISCONTINUED COLOUR REVERSAL STOCKS

Kodachrome 7270 (EI 40/25) Catalogue No. 501 9294.

Recently discontinued and a very popular stock, so it will be hard to find. Processing costs were sometimes included in the price of purchase (depending on when and where purchased). The cartridge will clearly state “Price includes processing by Kodak” if processing is included. If you have Kodachrome that included processing, bring it to any Shopper’s Drug Mart and they will send it to Kodak Switzerland at no cost. It takes about 2-4 weeks. However, Kodak plans to stop this processing service on August 1, 2006. If you have Kodachrome WITHOUT pre-paid processing or Kodachrome shot AFTER Kodak discontinues processing, you can send it to Dwayne’s Photo in the U.S. : www.k14movies.com. Cost: US$9/cartridge.

Ektachrome 7240 (EI 125/) Catalogue No. 524 2987.

This stock was discontinued some time ago but it’s still possible to find. It can be processed by Exclusive Film and Video but confirm this with the lab as time goes by.

OTHER FILM STOCKS

Kodak is not the only super 8 film manufacturer, but none of these other manufacturers are in Canada so you are dealing with shipping costs, which will raise the price considerably.

Kahl, a German company, sells a B&W Reversal (EI 200), two B&W negative stocks (EI 100 and EI 400) and one colour reversal stock (EI 50). They also sell three colour negative stocks (EI 320, 500, 800). Visit www.kahlfilm.de for more information.

Wittner Kinotechnik, a German company, sells a colour reversal Tungsten stock (EI 40) and a colour reversal Daylight stock (EI 100). Visit www.wittner-kinotechnik.de for more information.

Pro 8, a U.S. company, sells a wide variety of super 8 stocks, reversal and negative. In fact, they will take any film stock in existence and cut it down to super 8 on request. However, they have a terrible customer service record, are reported to sell “re-cans” of questionable quality and are very expensive. Use at your own risk. For more information visit: www.pro8mm.com

SOUND FILM

All of the stocks available today are “silent”. Sound film for super 8 is no longer manufactured. However, it is possible to find some floating around. Sound cartridges are bigger than silent cartridges and can only be used in sound-equipped cameras. It is also possible to add a sound-stripe to super 8 film after it has been processed. 

SUPER-DUPER 8

“Super-duper 8” is a widescreen version of super 8. The camera is modified to expose the edge of film normally reserved for the sound stripe (similar to super 16). The wider image needs to be “shrunk” in film to tape transfer, resulting in tighter grain and a sharper widescreen image. LIFT and Hart House (University of Toronto) have cameras converted to shoot super-duper 8. For camera conversions contact Mitch Perkins at 416-504-6488. Film stock and processing are the same as normal super 8.

Super-duper 8 transfers can be done by:

Photoplays (www.photoplays.ca, 416-531-2209). 24 fps and 18 (actually 20) fps to hard drive, data DVD or DVD.

Frame Discreet (www.justinlovell.com, 416-803-1101). 24 fps and true 18 fps to miniDV, DVcam or hard-disk.

The Black & White Film Factory ( www.blackandwhitefilmfactory.com).

SUPER 8 OPTICAL BLOW-UP

LIFT has facilities to enlarge super 8 to 16mm or 35mm film.

The Black & White Film Factory ( www.blackandwhitefilmfactory.com) has facilities to enlarge super 8 to 16mm or 35mm film.

SUPER 8 CAMERAS

Super 8 Cameras can be purchased at garage sales (if your lucky), on eBay (good deals but buyer beware), and the pawn shops at Queen St East and Church St area (again, buyer beware). Cameras which have been tested and come with a limited warranty are available from Rick Palidwor (rick_palidwor@sympatico.ca) and from selected camera shops (check the equipment at www.onsuper8.org for an up-to-date listing).

VIDEO TO SUPER 8 TRANSFER (KINESCOPE)

The Black & White Film Factory ( www.blackandwhitefilmfactory.com)