Has anyone tested Retro-8 from MovieStuff yet?

[JeremyC]

I'll say it again, low cost, high quality, plug-and-play scanning in both 8s' or 16 mm is key to keeping and growing the use of film. Kodak, et al, should be very grateful for Retro 8, Kinograph, flash scan, cine digits, etc.

[Tommy]

Kodak dropped the ball on this one....back in the late 70's they did come out with a portable low cost flying spot super 8 scanner ( I believe it was about $2000.)..... if they simply improved and perfected this unit...it would of given great life to super 8 Film. The company was managed by people who did not understand the small format film market. I question if the CEO was even a camera buff.

[JeremyC]

A 'flying spot scanner' for @ $2,000!! Now that I would have to see, years ago I changed couple of the beam scanner thingys (long ago so I've forgotten their proper name) in Rank Mark 2s so engineering them down to that sort of price would've been quite an engineering feat.

The ironic thing is that CCD/CMOS imaging technology that has dealt such a blow to film looks like its going to provide the technological pathway to enable small format film to contend with small format video.

Let me think. If, say, 100 Retro 8 units get out there will we see, some months later, a corresponding bump in stock usage and so then a corresponding bump in Kodak and related sales (e.g. Agafa and chemicals)? Would it be possible to track this via asking Wittner, Pro 8, Gauge film, all the disperate outlets across Europe, US and further afield on what their sales are doing?

This is test my hypothesis that low cost scanning is a major pillar for keeping and expanding small format.

[Will2]

Let me think. If, say, 100 Retro 8 units get out there will we see, some months later, a corresponding bump in stock usage and so then a corresponding bump in Kodak and related sales (e.g. Agafa and chemicals)?

Roger would know but I bet a large percentage of his users are transferring old movies and not thinking about shooting new ones.

[MovieStuff]

Let me think. If, say, 100 Retro 8 units get out there will we see, some months later, a corresponding bump in stock usage and so then a corresponding bump in Kodak and related sales (e.g. Agafa and chemicals)?

Roger would know but I bet a large percentage of his users are transferring old movies and not thinking about shooting new ones.

That is exactly right. When we started working on the Retro design about 3 years ago, one of the things we had to decide is the customer base for this unit. To be clear, it was originally designed for the Academy of Motion Picture Film Archives, which has been using our equipment for over a decade. But we also knew that a few others would want it and the users would range from small mom and pop shops to people shooting new material so we had minimal features in the software; just basically "Scan" and "Play". The design we ended up with changed radically early in the year when the number of telecine shops ordering the unit blew us out the door. We're almost up to 200 orders now and we see those orders increasing exponentially as we get closer to the end of year holidays. Ultimately, the majority of people buying the unit are transfer businesses and individuals transferring old home movies and not people shooting new material. None the less, we tried to accommodate everyone's wish list as best as possible and the software continues to go through upgrades almost monthly. Obviously, there are higher end systems that can produce scans at a higher resolution and if people have the money for that then the path for them is clear. But I think the simplicity of this unit is appealing to a lot of people. I have no idea how many years our Retro units will last but I can't imagine anyone wearing one out in the lifetime that 8mm film transfers has left. They're very robust and built from scratch with practically no moving parts aside from the direct drive take up reel and rewind motors. Easy as pie.

[JeremyC]

Yes, good points, I completely forgot about the archive market (Doh!). But could that still bump up the origination of new material as scanning becomes familiar as plug and play through its widespread use for home archive material, but at a slower rate than I was perhaps envisaging?

[Tommy]

I hope Roger will make a sampler DVD available of Retro-8 scans. I think this would be an effective promotional tool. I know I would not consider a purchase unless I could see an actual DVD transfer on my flat panel. The Tobin system sampler DVDs have phenomenal quality....some of their 8mm transfers look just like 16mm .....all at around a few thousand dollars.

[Tscan]

I hope Roger will make a sampler DVD available of Retro-8 scans. I think this would be an effective promotional tool. I know I would not consider a purchase unless I could see an actual DVD transfer on my flat panel. The Tobin system sampler DVDs have phenomenal quality....some of their 8mm transfers look just like 16mm .....all at around a few thousand dollars.

I've burned a few Bluray discs to watch on the flat screen and they look totally awesome. It's the first time I've watched any super 8 on Bluray, but the best presentation of the format I have seen so far. Very sharp, and very clean of noise or artifact. Even if I apply Neat Video the end product is still really sharp. Anybody who wants to continue shooting S8 color negative or scan their previous reversal films will absolutely love having this machine on hand.
"If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up... it is so choice"- Ferris Bueller

[Tommy]

Tscan.... then send a dvd or blue ray dub to Roger so he can use as samplers.
Again, I would never consider purchase of this unit unless I could see a dvd on wide screen panel.

[Tscan]

Tscan.... then send a dvd or blue ray dub to Roger so he can use as samplers.
Again, I would never consider purchase of this unit unless I could see a dvd on wide screen panel.

I'm happy giving my honest opinion and recommendations as a Retro8 user, because that's all i am. What it is that's needed to convince you to buy something is none of my business.

[MovieStuff]

Tscan.... then send a dvd or blue ray dub to Roger so he can use as samplers.
Again, I would never consider purchase of this unit unless I could see a dvd on wide screen panel.

Hi,

You know you can always send some film in for a free test transfer. There's a form for that on the website. And, honestly, watching a DVD with its inherent compression is the last way to judge quality. Best to get a numbered image sequence on a USB drive that you can import into your NLE. Then it can build your video file in what ever codec is native to your edit program. Hope this helps.

Roger

[Tina]

I'd be happy to write a review once I receive the unit. Roger, my husband and I ordered back in June and have been told a couple times now that it will be shipping out. Can you please either return my husband Matthew's call or PM me here what the status is? I thought this might be a better way to reach you since you seem to be pretty active here. I understand that you are overwhelmed right now but please let us know when we can realistically expect the unit. Thanks.

[MovieStuff]

I'd be happy to write a review once I receive the unit. Roger, my husband and I ordered back in June and have been told a couple times now that it will be shipping out. Can you please either return my husband Matthew's call or PM me here what the status is? I thought this might be a better way to reach you since you seem to be pretty active here. I understand that you are overwhelmed right now but please let us know when we can realistically expect the unit. Thanks.

I guess there's quite a delay on posts coming through the forum from new members. I've already contacted your husband several days ago on the status of your order. If you need further information, please feel free to contact me directly off list. Thanks!

Roger

[prtprt]

I'd be happy to write a review once I receive the unit.

It will be interesting to read your review.

Charlie

[captainvideo6]

my experience with roger evans was very frustrating..first of all he sent me a defective machine that I had to wait for 70 days to arrive..then after a flurry of back and forth emails,(which I still have)I had to send the unit back at my cost so he could repair HIS mistakes.Before I was able to scan anyting. these issues were easy to miss and I posted my own topic on this if anyone is interested...hopefully he wont pull any strings to get my posts deleted
RD in fresno,calif