This listing is for the transfer of one roll of film super8 film to DVD.

Remarkable Quality
Super8 Film to DVD Transfer
I specialize in super8 format films and do a better job than other companies. I don't do any other movie film size. Only Super8.

Super8 films were popular form mid 1960s to 1980s. The use of Super8 film has also made a comeback with the film companies making film cartridge production.

Many people have a closet shelf or box or cabinet drawer devoted to old films and negatives and slides etc. Look in your drawer of old films and you will see family memories that are aging and fading with time. Many of these films are becoming red or blue or off-color with time. It is a popular topic on Youtube and in forums and even newscasts- discussing the importance of transferring your movie film memories to DVD for safekeeping.

No, you shouldn't throw out your films once they are transferred. You're stuck with the film drawer and your kids will have the same films and their kids ... and so on. What I can do is help you create a DVD which contains all of the 3 to five minutes of film for each small roll (generally 50feet rolls) and in having a backup copy of the films- you can more easily view these items. Also waiting and delaying to do the transfer means the colors are fading or discoloring more and more each year.

Having a DVD means any DVD player or PC can play the disc and you can then make copies for your loved ones to have and keep. With film - there was only one copy. With a DVD you can make inexpensive copies for everyone.

Ok, you know that transfering your films to DVD has many reasons.

What makes my transfer method better than all of the rest. There are alot of places that do film transfers. Hundreds. Why pick me?

Summary of Equipment I use
1. Kodak Videoplayer VP-1 broadcast quality super8 film telecine using a spot scanning transfer to component video out
2. Dual Layer DVD recorder with advanced MPEG-2 encoding
3. Real-time color correction processor

The heart of my transfer system is a rare Kodak flying spot scanner which was a rare expensive item from the mid 1970s. This machine is one of 50 ever made and one of which is in the Kodak museum for broadcast and commercial equipment. This is the same model which transfered all of the moon landings, Kennedy assasination (sad), flower children home movies, Vietnam war home movies (sad), riots and demonstrations (sad) and more that you remember from the Mid-70s being on live TV. At that time- the Kodak Videoplayer VP-1 was the ONLY way to transfer those films and the quality was super. Everything film-based on live TV was done on this model of transfer device. Kids shows featuring a cartoon segment or other short film also used this model in the 70s and 80s. The quality was always excellent and flicker free. You may have thought you were watching a tape looking back - actually you were watching a film being played through the Kodak VP-1 and broadcast over the airwaves to your aerial antenna. It is that good. You'll love the results.

I own  1 of the 50 ever made.

I paid a fortune for it, and it was worth every penny. Many other transfer websites and businesses use film projectors modified with mirrors, prisms, small cameras, and modified motor systems. While those & are somewhere between ok quality to poor quality, there is absolutely NO COMPARISON between a broadcast quality TV station equipment and the homebrew-type equipment or even commercial equipment available today. The Kodak Videoplayer VP-1 was always considered to be the best in the business and output equal to the Rank brand which also used a flying spot scanner. The value of these machines is as much as your house.

They don't make 'em like they used to.

I charge $3 per 50ft roll (3"approx roll) including shipping and handling. Quantity discount available. Historical films or other films requiring extra care or process of consideration may have additional fees. Discuss your needs with me by email.

Got a box? Make me an offer for the lot. I just might do it for your offer price. For example, I'm known for my "shoebox" film tranfer deal- Send me a shoebox full of super8 film reels, and I'll transfer them. I only do super8 as that is my specialty.

Actually many people send me 1 roll as a test. Then they want me to do more once they see the quality. Got questions? I'm flexible.

A
nd each film is meticulously transfered and color corrected to obtain the very best picture quality possible. Every inch of the film is transferred. No editing, no cropping, no pick and choose which inch of film from your family gets scrapped. You get everything. Also, many companies do cutting and splicing of your small film spools onto a larger film spool. All the while they are handling the film with bear hands. Something your grandpa would never do. Film is a very delicate thing. Your films are handled gingerly and with care. No cut and splicing here. You get your films back unmodified. Repairs only where absolutely necessary. The other services on-purpose cut and splice so your films take up as little time as possible- assembly-line style because they want to maximize their projector bulb life. Cutting and splicing grandpa's film to save a light bulb. I never do that. My machine uses no bulbs. I feed each real gingerly one-by-one. Then carefully rewind and put the lid back on for your safekeeping- you get everything back exactly as it was.

The preservation of your films get lost along-the-way with the other services. It's all about the DVD  rather than the film. My view is that we don't have to damage the film to make a DVD. My equipment is costly because it uses a sprocket-less design. Think of a bicycle crank peddle- ever get your pant leg caught in the chain? Film has sprocket holes and film does get caught sometimes on other equipment. My Kodak VP-1 uses zero sprockets and instead uses a capstan roller system. And it doesn't use a bulb - it uses a spot scanner. The difference in technology is amazing. TV stations paid the huge sums of money to get one of these models and now today there are only 4 working models left of the 50. I have one. The Kodak museum has one. The other two I'm not sure where they are.

My equipment is the best and cost me a fortune to acquire. The running costs are next to nothing-no bulbs to burn out.

I reserve the right to say NO to bad shape film which can damage my equipment. Cracked, brittle film which smells like vinegar or has an awful smell- I don't do that.

I ask that you test your film to make sure it is ready to go- by using a standard movie projector first to make sure it is somewhere between good to excellent condition physically. Color and contrast and brightness and color correction- that doesn't have to be perfect as my equipment can compensate for much of the aging.

I'm the best at what I do. If you want the very best results, choose my one-man-shop and my technical skills over the rest.

Yes, I can transfer films that the sprocket types have chewed up. I specialize in transferring the very best with the very best results. Many professional institutes, broadcasters, and museums request my services. Home movies- yes, I do that to.

No adult xxx films please. Only home movies. I run a family-friendly transfer service.

Got a larger quantity? Have questions?
Send an email drviragopete@att.net

Call me at
(847) 454-7858 Illinois (I have a pre-recorded phone system which delivers outbound messages 9am, 12Noon, 6PM, 8PM daily which uses the same phone line) Best time to reach me live and in person is in the in-between times. Let the phone ring for awhile as I'm usually in the middle of a project.

Let me know which film types you have- test the films before contacting me - use an ordinary projector. If you simply have no way of testing them - I can still help.

Full Color Full Sound
Yes I do Black & White too
Yes I do Polavison super8 cassettes too.

Sincerely,
Dr Virago Pete

My Kodak VP-1 is able to run with standard 50ft, 100ft, 200ft, 400ft reels (50ft reel shown above)

Also it can use Kodak A, B, C, D cassettes containing super8 film

The photos below show
1. Cartridge A 50ft
2. Cartridge D 400ft (also shown ins a standard 400ft reel for size comparison)

1973 Ad demonstrates the concept of the Kodak VP-1 Videoplayer scheduled to be ready the following year. The machine is suprisingly well built and decades ahead in technology. For example it is 100% solid state, uses belt drive and capstan drive. Very reliable design and includes squirrel cage blower for long life. Many current model video equipment models use a single motor to power many portions of the mechanism. This unit uses many motors inside, each handling a separate function such as loading, rewinding and more use separate motors- all heavy duty and built well. The ability to play many cartridges in addition to standard reel movies made it very versatile to TV stations.
The following photo illustrates how the Super8 cartridge was/still is inserted into a home movie camera.
The above picture is in everyday terms. As not all rulers are the same and some are actually not a foot long- some school rulers  are longer or shorter. So the number of holes you count may be off slightly. Most everyday folks have a school ruler so my count is based on that. If your count is off and you want to ask me if what you have really is super8 - no problem. I'm glad to help. Super8 was made for everyday folks to enjoy making their own movies. Many have significant historical content.


How to Figure the Number of Feet & Time
3" reel contains 50ft (approx 3-4 minutes in length)
5" reel contains 200ft (approx 12-15 minutes in length)
7" reel contains 400ft (approx 20-25minutes in length)



Prices start at $2.99 in qty
Phone or email for quote



The above demonstration video shows:

1. The dvd background screen is blue & every reel of film has its

     own icon

2. The first half shows an actual film transfer to DVD

3. The second half shows my equipment (Kodak VP-1 Telecine)


The Best


Please call to discuss your film quantity and condition.

I transfer most film and videotape types- just ask.


Sincerely,


Dr Virago Pete

Telephone (847) 454-7858


Email drviragopete@att.net