| Video has several characteristics that
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| | device. Reading each frame one at a time
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| determine how good it is. One of the most
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| | ensures that all the details are captured
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| important characteristics is the number
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| | from the film. A frame by frame process
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| of lines of resolution. The resolution
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| | will result in video that is 30-50%
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| determines how detailed and sharp the
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| | better than a similarly configured
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| video is. If you've ever watched a
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| | real-time process.
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| standard definition video channel on an
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| | Be aware, some companies claiming a frame
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| HDTV and then switched to the HD version,
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| | by frame transfer are doing a real-time
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| you notice that the HD version is much
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| | transfer and then are extracting each
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| sharper and detailed. The reason is that
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| | film frame after the real time capture.
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| standard definition video has 480
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| | Because the capture process is real-time,
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| horizontal lines while HD has 1080 lines.
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| | it will still produce video that is
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| In a similar way, your old 8mm movie
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| | 30-50% worse than the current film's
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| films have a maximum resolution. The
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| | quality just like any other real-time
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| maximum resolution for an 8mm film
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| | process. These companies are trying to
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| transfer is limited by the film grain
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| | capitalize on the "Frame by Frame" slogan
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| size and the size of the frame. Research
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| | and price without giving you frame by
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| has shown that 8mm film has the
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| | frame quality.
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| equivalent of 700 lines of horizontal
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| | So, at this point you've learned that
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| resolution. So, a standard definition 8mm
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| | film transfers can capture at standard
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| film transfer will only be able to
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| | definition (480 lines) or high definition
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| capture 480 out of the 700 lines of
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| | (1080 lines). You've also learned that a
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| resolution on your film. A high
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| | frame by frame transfer can be 30-50%
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| definition 8mm film transfer will be able
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| | better quality than a real-time transfer.
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| to capture all 700 lines of resolution on
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| | So, looking at it this way, there are now
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| your 8mm film since it is a 1080 line
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| | four 8mm film transfer process
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| video format.
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| | combinations. In order from least to best
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| In addition to resolution, the type of
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| | quality we have:
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| film transfer is equally important to the
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| | 1) Real-Time Standard Definition (least
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| final video quality you receive from your
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| | quality)
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| 8mm film transfer.
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| | 2) Real-Time High Definition
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| There are a few basic types of 8mm film
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| | 3) Frame by Frame Standard Definition
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| transfer processes. More than 98% of the
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| | 4) Frame by Frame High Definition (best
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| companies out there today use a real-time
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| | quality)
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| transfer. That is, they capture the film
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| | You'll find all four processes being used
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| at the same speed that the film normally
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| | today and you'll see the price reflect
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| runs at. So, if a 3 inch reel runs in 3.5
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| | that. Real-time standard definition
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| minutes, the capture takes just 3.5
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| | processes go for 10 to 15 cents/ft,
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| minutes. There are several ways to
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| | real-time high definition for 16-21 cents
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| perform a real-time 8mm film transfer.
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| | ft, frame by frame standard definition 21
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| Some shoot the film on a screen and
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| | to 28 cents/ft and frame by frame high
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| record it with a camcorder. Some use
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| | definition for 40 to 60 cents/ft
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| mirrors and a camera. Some transfer the
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| | Besides these 4 different 8mm film
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| film to VHS first using equipment from
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| | transfer processes above, you'll notice
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| the 1980's and then transfer that to DVD.
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| | that a few companies have started to
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| Because of the transfer speed and nature
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| | offer restoration services. The reason is
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| of a real-time capture, the resulting
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| | that over 90% of the 8mm film today has
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| video frames are usually slightly blurry
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| | colors that have shifted, exposure that
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| and the colors are faded compared to the
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| | is now darker, is grainy and scratched.
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| film. In general, any type of real-time
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| | These are natural side affects of the
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| transfer will result in video that is
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| | aging process. In addition, there may
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| 30-50% worse than the film's current
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| | have been exposure or other types of
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| condition.
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| | issues that were originally recorded on
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| A second and much newer 8mm film transfer
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| | the film to begin with.
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| process is called frame by frame. A frame
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| | Companies will have a wide range of
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| by frame process means that each 8mm film
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| | abilities from no restoration at all, to
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| frame is captured like a separate digital
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| | a limited scene level color corrector, to
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| picture. Most frame by frame machines are
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| | full frame by frame restoration using
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| high-end $50,000+ machines that scan or
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| | dedicated film restoration machines.
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| project the image directly onto a CCD
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