http://8mmtodvd.com/ | While other early amateur film formats existed, 8mm film was the real beginning of widespread home movie making. The Super 8mm camera in particular was incredibly popular, and is still used and celebrated by enthusiasts and filmmakers to this day.

2. In an age where nearly every phone has
the ability to capture video, it can be hard to
appreciate the impact that 8mm film had on
home movies. For the generation that grew
up with it, however, 8mm film was a game-
changer that allowed families to capture
precious moments like never before, and
for budding amateur filmmakers to make
movies in their backyard.

3. In 1923, Kodak released the
most popular early film camera
for the average consumer, the
Cine Kodak. Using 16mm film,
the Cine Kodak was heavy and
cumbersome, and required the
operator to hand crank the
camera at two revolutions per
second. More than that, it was
also expensive, putting home
movie making out of the reach
of most average Americans.

4. Nearly a decade after it brought the
16mm Cine Kodak to the market, Kodak
also introduced the first 8mm film
camera. Unlike later models, these early
8mm cameras still used 16mm film,
which would be run through the camera
twice. After the film was developed, it
would be split down the middle and
spliced together to create a 50-foot reel
of 8mm film.

5. Despite being far more bulky and difficult to operate than modern
cameras, Kodak’s 8mm cameras were considered a revolution at the
time. From the time it was introduced in the 30s, these cameras
became an increasingly common sight at weddings and
on family vacations. It wasn’t until 1965, when Kodak
released the Super 8mm camera, that the home movie
making phenomenon exploded in the U.S.

6. The Super 8mm, often simply
called “Super 8,” can rightly be
called the first modern home
movie camera. It was lightweight,
made entirely of plastic, and (from
the 1973 model and beyond) could
record sound; with previous home
cameras, sound had to be
recorded separately and synced
with the 8mm video in editing.
Perhaps most importantly, Super 8
film came in an easy-to-use
cassette. Finally, a film camera
that anyone could use was made
available to the masses.

7. The Super 8 may be best remembered
as a tool for making home movies, but
it also found widespread use outside
the world of amateur filmmakers. For
scientists and anthropologists, the
easily transportable and user-friendly
Super 8 provided a chance to
document the world’s cultures and
natural wonders in a way that had
never been possible before. Anyone
who wanted to capture something on
film could now do so easily and, just as
importantly, inexpensively.

8. Despite the advent of more advanced home video cameras
and digital video technology, 8mm film is still in use today.
The distinct look of 8mm film can be seen in modern
commercials, music videos, and movies. Meanwhile, a
vibrant community of enthusiasts still exists around the
Super 8 camera, over 50 years after its initial release.

9. Due to its popularity after its release, many
families have a stockpile of vacations,
weddings, and other special events captured
on 8mm film. Today, those 8mm prints can be
transferred to DVD in crisp
digital quality, preserving
their contents on new
technology for the next
generation.

10. 8mm to DVD specializes in transferring 8mm film, videotapes, photograph
slideshows, and more to a modern digital format. To learn more about transferring
your photographs and videos to DVD, visit www.8mmtodvd.com today.