What is the current status of re-perforated D/R 8mm film?

[Nicholas Kovats]

What is the current state of reperforated Regular 8mm film? There was a UK gentleman re-perforating double perf 16mm into Double/Regular 8 stock. Does this service still exist? Did he ever re-perf single perf stock?

I am presently compiling current global 8mm film stock resources and I have an interest in shooting, i.e.

1. Kodak Vision 3 200T
2. Kodak Vision 2/3 (?) 50D.
3. Kodak Vision 3 500T
3. Current reversal stocks.

In fact what is the best color reversal stock available? Are there any B/W reversal stocks still distributed? What is the current status of the local supply chain here in Canada? ..if any?

My intention is to conduct registration/exposure/contrast/digital extraction tests for my forthcoming 8mm Cinemascope (Span 8 )rig. This modification might also be considered 16mm Techniscope based on a Bolex H16 Rex 4 body with H8 film transport.

I intend to extract the Cinemascope (1:2.4) frame from a custom 16mm transfer bay here in Toronto. But I am also making queries to Germany. The final aspect ratio may end up wider dependent on the final viewfinder masking and/or pitch modification.

Thanks!

[Will2]

John Schwind of course is the man to answer this because the current status of Regular 8mm in the U.S. is John.

I believe he purchases directly from Kodak already perforated to Regular 8mm on large reels then spools it down to 25' (and 100') reels for us. Of course he has to buy in large orders for Kodak to do this special perforation run and I think there is less and less demand unfortunately.

The best reversal stock available now in my opinion is Ektachrome 100D. It is vibrant without being completely inaccurate. Fuji has some good alternatives but I believe E100D has the advantage.

From what you are describing however I would try to get some negative stocks re-perforated for your application. Depending on what you're actually shooting I would think 50D or 200T would give you the smallest grain.

Please keep us up-to-date on your progress. I also have a friend that may be interested in helping you transfer that footage on a Spirit. It sounds interesting.

[aj]

What is the current state of reperforated Regular 8mm film? There was a UK gentleman re-perforating double perf 16mm into Double/Regular 8 stock. Does this service still exist? Did he ever re-perf single perf stock?


Thanks!

mr Nowill's address is floating around somewhere on a thread of this forum. It is not too old and apparently he got a new machine. So that must have been purchased with future in mind.

[Nicholas Kovats]

Thanks, gentleman. I found Mr. Edward Norwill's email regarding an older posting that I had previously initiated.... edwardnowill@talktalk.net.

And yes, I will definitely keep you posted. More 8mm questions forthcoming.....

[Nicholas Kovats]

My Bolex tech just updated me with the current frame dimension, i.e. 10.52mm x 3.75mm (2.80:1) with associated viewfinder masking still to be determined....potentially with the classic Cinemascope aspect ratio 1:2.4.

More to come...

PS: Technically this may be considered 16mm Techniscope.

[Nicholas Kovats]

To clarify and to extend credit where it is due...this long term Cinemascope project is nearing technical completion under the highly recommended Bolex craftsmanship of Jean-Louis Seguin.

[nickrapak]

Mr. Nowill can currently only reperforate 2R 16mm film. He can also perforate unperforated film to 8mm specs. He is currently working on a machine to take 35mm perforated rolls and convert them into one length of 2x8mm, and one of 1x8mm. His next project after that is to build an unperforated 35mm slitter, which will give you two 2x8mm lengths.

[woods01]

You are in luck, Toronto is the only place in Canada (perhaps North America) where you can walk into a shop and buy Double 8mm film in a store, shoot it and then drop it off at the lab all in the same day:

http://lift.ca/equipment/store

[camera8mm]

Whatever happened to paulcotto and his ds8 perforating machine????

[ECNtoo]

Where did he get his die made?

[wahiba]

Mr. Nowill can currently only reperforate 2R 16mm film. He can also perforate unperforated film to 8mm specs. He is currently working on a machine to take 35mm perforated rolls and convert them into one length of 2x8mm, and one of 1x8mm. His next project after that is to build an unperforated 35mm slitter, which will give you two 2x8mm lengths.

I have been wondering if this had be done. It obviously can as the punching and splitting is not hi-tec but certainly needs toolmaking skills to make.

Best design would be to split sprocketed 35mm film to 16mm (for DR 8mm or 16mm) and single super 8 for Super8 and Single8 cartridges. If I am not mistaken the sprocket spacing for super 8 is the same as for regular 8.

I assume any re-perforating machine is of the rotary type. Fiddly but fairly straight forward.

Bulk 35mm is available from Ilford and others.

Using unperforated film is obviously better but I suspect the quantities for film that would be needed would make it financially un-viable whereas with 35mm sprocketed film the user could supply the film for processing as I believe is currently possible with 16mm film.

Ilford no seem to longer offer 16mm film but I wonder if they still have the kit. It was also once possible to get Ilford film in regular 8 100' reels. It was in the 1970s when I did it once. Even have the processed film somewhere.

[richard p. t.]

The pitch of super 8 is in fact different from that of standard 8. The sprocket holes are smaller, and thus the picture is wider. But it is also taller, meaning the sprockets are further apart in S8. Perforating machines actually work by stamping a very small amount of film with a punch, then advancing, inching through the film in an intermittent motion.
cheers,
richard

[mr8mm]

The regular 8mm films currently available are 7285 color reversal 100D, 7265 B/W reversal, 7266 Tri-X B/W reversal. KAHL Film also has color reversal ASA 50 UT18 and a B/W ASA 200 reversal. he may have some other stocks available. Check his website <www.kahlfilm.de>

The KODAK films are not reperforated but made by Kodak per order on 400ft spools. KAHL has slitting and perforating equipment from the old east german ORWO company.

John S.

[Patrick]

The regular 8mm films currently available are 7285 color reversal 100D, 7265 B/W reversal, 7266 Tri-X B/W reversal. KAHL Film also has color reversal ASA 50 UT18 and a B/W ASA 200 reversal. he may have some other stocks available. Check his website <www.kahlfilm.de>

John S.

That's quite decent - the number of stocks available. I'm intrigued by the UT18 50asa film. Have many forum members used it? How does the grain and sharpness compare to 100D? Also, does anyone supply Fuji reversal film stocks in regular 8mm?

[eskinazi]

Edward Nowill Film perforation services.Please note a change of email address [spelled out in long hand to avoid robotic spam harvesting] edwardnowill AT btinternet DOT com There is no spacing in my email address. A website with pictures will follow on within 2 months I hope. New machines have been built/acquired but much work remains to be done.