Everything You Need to Know about Super 8 MM Film
Developed by Kodak as the heir to standard 8mm film, Super 8 is second only to 35mm as the most-used film format of all time.
Other People Are Reading
-
History
-
Kodak first introduced Super 8 film in 1965, and it enjoyed a long run as the most popular format for home movies. It held that distinction until VHS camcorders rose to popularity in the 1980s and '90s.
Film Size
-
Whereas standard 8mm film is actually 16mm wide and runs through a camera twice, Super 8 film is 8mm wide and runs through once. This, in addition to smaller sprocket holes, allows Super 8 to capture a larger image than standard 8.
-
Convenience
-
Super 8 film comes in a cartridge format for easy camera loading and unloading.
Cost
-
As of January 2010, it costs about $35 to buy a 50-foot roll of Super 8 film and get it developed.
Sound
-
Although there were several Super 8 cameras designed to capture sound as well as images, Super 8 sound film is no longer manufactured, rendering the technology obsolete. Most people today record the sound on a DAT (digital audo tape recorder), an MP3 recorder, or a microphone mounted on a boom pole.
-
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Les Chatfield
