Racheli Cooper, Chief Editor.
⏳ Do you want to skip the read and get right to my pick? The best 8mm film to digital conversion service for most people is iMemories.
Introduction to our Guide to the Best 8mm Film to Digital Conversion Service
Many of us who were born from the 1970s onwards are not at all familiar with the use of 8mm film cameras to shoot home movies as Betamax, VHS, VHS-C became the recording formats of choice during the decade and were predominantly in use right up to the early years of the 21st century.
But in these days of digital media and shooting movies with a mobile device, 8mm has long been obsolete. While many people still have reels and spools of 8mm footage at home, not everyone has a projector and screen with which to view it.
In which case, today’s rundown of the three best 8mm film to digital conversion services should give you ideas as to how to preserve those precious reels for posterity.
Our List of the Best 8mm Film to Digital Conversion Services
- iMemories – overall best 8mm film to digital conversion service (Our Editor's Pick!)
- ScanCafe – most customer-friendly option
- Legacybox – best in high-definition conversions
Comparison Table of the Best 8mm Video to Digital Services
| Feature | 🏆 iMemories (Editor's Pick!) | ScanCafe | Legacybox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Services Offered | Photo and video scanning and conversion | Photo and video scanning and conversion | Photo and video scanning and conversion |
| Price | Check Current Pricing | Check Current Pricing | Check Current Pricing |
| Turnaround Time | 2 – 3 weeks from date of approval | 3 – 4 weeks | 10 – 12 weeks |
| Shipping | Prepaid shipping kit provided | Prepaid shipping kit provided | Prepaid shipping kit provided |
| Customer User Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.6 out of 5 | 4.0 out of 5 |
| Online Access | Yes | No | Yes |
| Editing and Enhancements | Digital remastering | Full-frame scanning and color correction | Digital remastering |
1. iMemories (Editor's Choice!)
Overall Best Company to Transfer 8mm Film to DVD
Key Features
- Excellent digitization process to ensure optimal sound and visual quality;
- Output Formats
- Link access to cloud with app-based streaming;
- Secure thumb drive or external hard drive
Much like its digitization service for VHS tapes, iMemories offers a high-definition end-result when it comes to converting 8mm film to digital originals into more convenient digital files. Not only does it digitally remaster your footage back to its former glory, but you can also stream it through the service’s proprietary app for a modest annual fee.
Pricing
Click here to check current pricing details of this best 8mm to digital service.
Money-back guarantee
No cancellations are allowed. They also do not entertain refund or return requests on currently processed services.
Where to get service
To ensure that you’re getting the real deal, transact with the service through its official website.
2. ScanCafe
Best Customer-Friendly Option
Key Features
- Service options include standard file digitization as well as multimedia remastering;
- Output Formats
- Link access to cloud with unlimited download;
- Secured thumb drive; and
- Burning to standard DVD.
Full-frame scanning with color correction thrown in? Sounds like a good deal to us. The beauty of ScanCafe’s service is that nothing is lost in the digital conversion process and you get your footage in all of its original – if not digitally enhanced – glory.
We also love the fact that ScanCafe’s digitization technique also results in videos that are close to cinematic quality – definitely worth the money.
Pricing
Click here to check current pricing details of this best VHS to digital conversion service.
Money-back guarantee
This best 8mm to digital service allows refunds within 30 days, but this policy does not apply on completed works.
Where to get service
To ensure you get the best VHS to digital conversion service, contact ScanCafe only through their official website.
3. Legacybox
Best in High Definition Conversions
Key Features
- Submission Box
- Varying capacity from two to 40 analog materials for digital conversion;
- How-to guide;
- Security barcodes for safe submission; and
- Pre-printed shipping label
- Output Formats
- Link access to cloud with unlimited downloads and a 90-day secure backup;
- Secured thumb drive; and
- Burning to standard DVD.
Future-proof footage is the promise that Legacybox delivers to each customer with every conversion. Using high-definition digitization technology, each spool of film is carefully scanned, converted, and remastered to give customers a sense of being back where – and when – the original film was shot regardless of the passage of time.
But speaking of time, we do have to warn you that Legacybox also tends to take longer when it comes to conversion, though the end result is definitely worth it.
Pricing
Click here to check current pricing details of this high quality digitisation service.
Money-back guarantee
This best 8mm tape to digital service allows refunds within 30 days of an order's completion. Again, refunds are not allowed on completed works.
Where to get service
We recommend that you get this best company to transfer 8mm film to digital service through the official website to ensure quality service and output.
Points to Consider When Converting 8mm Film to Digital Service Formats
There are several reasons why you should convert your 8mm footage into a more contemporary format. These include:
- A Greater Number of Playback Options – Don’t have a projector anymore? Converting your files into more au courant .mov, .wav, and .mp4 allows you to play them on just about any device that has built-in programs / applications for viewing videos;
- Preservation and Archiving – The passage of time can wreak havoc on just about everything, but especially strips of acetate or even celluloid. 8mm films need careful handling and need to be clear of mold, dust, moisture, and heat. Converting footage into a digital format means you are able to preserve it better than keeping it in its original fragile state; and
- Shareability – Some services also offer a streaming service so you can stream and share converted videos to your social media accounts.
How Did We Choose the Best 8mm Film to Digital Conversion Services?
The main criteria we used in today’s rundown of the top three 8mm film to digital conversion services involves the following:
- Overall quality of output – Sure your files have been turned into digital files, but how’s the quality? The best of the best services send back files that are about as sharp and clear as the original footage was on the day it was shot – possibly even better;
- Secure submission – Our best bets were gauged based on how well they kept customers’ original materials safe during transport, conversion, and return without compromising quality or losing even a single item; and
- Value for money in terms of cost to convert 8mm film to digital conversion, service delivery and product quality.
How is Digital Conversion of 8mm Films Done?
In most cases, you can convert 8mm movies to digital files in four steps. These are:
- Inspection – Technicians or experts first go over 8mm films strip by strip to check on their condition and quality. Doing so gives them an idea as to what form of digitization to use;
- Digital Conversion – The film spool is converted frame by frame with the use of equipment specifically created to scan and digitize the footage a frame at a time. Digital conversion enables service providers to preserve the authenticity of the original footage;
- Restoration and Remastering – This process involves the use of software that helps clean up any patchy or muddled parts in the filmstrip, sharpen colors and lines, and improve the original sound quality; and
- File Delivery – The digitized files are saved onto your medium of choice or uploaded to the cloud, allowing you to access, download, share, and even stream precious memories with friends and family.
Conclusion to our Guide on the Best 8mm Film to Digital Conversion Services
Converting 8mm films into digital files is akin to scanning a precious medieval manuscript: you aren’t just doing it for the vanity or the glory of having done so, but you are preserving memories into a more accessible format to be appreciated by generations to come.
In this guide, IMemories has, yet again, gained the upper hand as the best 8mm film to digital conversion service.
Please note that, in the interest of getting legitimate services, we recommend that you reach out to the best company to transfer 8mm film to DVD services through their official websites. You may also get great discounts for multiple purchases. Beware of purchasing from marketplace sites claiming to be resellers so to avoid issues with refunds and returns in the future!
FAQ
Are there any concerns with regard to converting 8mm film?
Yes, and that tends to involve the age and overall condition of the media submitted for conversion. As we are talking about acetate or celluloid spools that are several decades old and stored in questionable conditions, technicians need to be especially careful because of their fragility and may encounter heat or mold damage in the process.
What formats are commonly used as conversion output?
While .wav and .mov files were the format of choice in previous years, most of the digitized files are sent back to customers in the .mp4 format.
If you've read all the way through this best 8mm to digital conversion service guide, we are grateful. We have reviewed all these products in detail, feel free to check them out;
Natalia Sommers is a Gadget Reviewer and Writer at Pixoneye.com, the leading destination for customer ratings and reviews of consumer products. With over 10 years of experience in tech journalism, Natalia is a seasoned writer and reviewer who is passionate about exploring new gadgets and emerging technologies. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she earned a degree in Physics and developed a deep understanding of science and technology.
As a Gadget Reviewer and Writer, Natalia is responsible for researching and testing the latest consumer products to provide readers with insightful and helpful reviews. She is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest trends in tech and is passionate about helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions. Natalia is also a DIY enthusiast and a proponent of mindful living. Join our community today and discover the best consumer products with Pixoneye.com.
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