Please note that this service is only available for films processed here at nano lab. Our telecine department runs at full capacity just dealing with nano processed films such that unfortunately we cannot accept telecine-only work.
Scanning (transfer to digital video) is an additional cost to the cost of developing. On our online form there are three options - HD transfer, 4K transfer or 2.5k. The super 8 image is naturally a 4:3 image. Our HD and 4K scans show this 4:3 super 8 image in a 16:9 video using a widened gate. On the left hand side you see the perforation and on the right hand side you see the sound track area of the super 8 film. The HD pixel ratio is 1920 x 1080, while the 4K scan is 3840 x 2160. Our 2.5K option is a 4:3 video option at 2560 x 1960 pixels. It shows the perforation on the left and the soundtrack on the right as well as the film frame lines top and bottom. For more info, take a look at the illustration for scanning format options on our processing form. But, if you don't know which format you want, then most likely the HD option is just what you need. The main reason you would want a 4K scan is when you are incorporating your footage on a 4K timeline with other 4K video material. The 2.5K scan also works well on a 4K timeline.
'Scanning', 'Telecine' and 'Transfer' all refer to the conversion of film images to video images. Film images are actual little pictures that you can hold up to the light and see, whereas video images are structured electronic signals. Modern video is digital video which can be edited, stored and viewed using a computer. Digital video can also be viewed using a television or various types of video projector.
Yes. The film has to go through processing to put the pictures on it before it can be scanned.
All Super 8 and 8mm scanning costs $35 for HD, $55 for 2.5K and $75 for 4K per 50' cassette (or roll) including GST. This is just the price for scanning, you also need to pay for processing, see our What is the process? page for details.
This service costs $35 per 50' roll. Our usual HD output format is .mov files in PRO RES codec. One 50' roll yields approximately 2 to 3 GB of data in this format. Our preferred method for delivering the data is now to upload it to our google drive. You will receive a link by email to the file or folder. If you click on the file image you will immediately see a preview version of the film. This is a highly compressed file that google drive formats. But if you click download you will then be downloading the full pro res file. Given the size of the files, it is not possible for us to provide ongoing storage of your films! The data will need to be taken down within about a week. So please download the file or files as soon as possible so as not get caught out. If you can't download it promptly, do let us know.
High Definition is natively a 16:9 aspect ratio format - ie., it is natively in widescreen. Super 8, however, is natively a 4:3 aspect ratio format (a squarer shape) . As such, on transfer to 16:9 HD the 4:3 super 8 image has the areas next to the image visible in the frame. This includes the film sprocket hole. If you don't want this in your image you should be able to blank out the sides of the image in your editing software.
This service costs $75 per 50' roll. As with HD, our usual format is .mov files in PRO RES codec. One 50' roll yields approximately 8 to 10 GB of data. We are still able to upload this amount of data, so no need for a drive. You will receive a link by email to the file or folder. If you click on the file image you will immediately see a preview version of the film. This is a highly compressed file that google drive formats. But if you click download you will then be downloading the full pro res file. Given the size of the files, it is not possible for us to provide ongoing storage of your films! The data will need to be taken down within about a week. So please download the file or files as soon as possible so as not to get caught out. If you can't download it promptly, do let us know.
Our 4K files are 16:9 aspect ratio. With our 4K transfer setup, you will see the entire super 8 frame including sprocket hole and right hand edge of the film. If you don't want this, you can always crop this yourself in your editing program.
This service costs $55 per roll. Again, the video format is a .mov file in Pro Res codec. One 50' roll yields 4 to 5 GB of data. Unlike the HD and 4K options, this is a 4:3 format video. The image area is a 'full scan' such that you see the perforation area, the soundtrack area, the top and bottom frame lines and a small part of the neighbouring frames above and below.
With our transfer, it is still a good idea to tell us at what speed you shot your super 8 film. This won't imply the addition of duplicate frames by us as happens with an SD transfer. Instead, if you shot at 18 fps in your super 8 camera, then the file you receive is coded as an 18 frames per second HD file. If you then put this into an HD time line that is running at 25 fps for example, then when you export the finished project from your computer, the 18 fps super 8 footage will have additional frames added then. If you don't tell us the camera speed, we will assume a speed of 18 fps. If this is wrong, you can change this on your computer.
Our turnaround time for processing, transfer and upload for colour neg these days is around ten days. We also have a 'next batch' service if you are in a specific hurry. Next batch means you film is processed in the first batch after it arrives at the lab, and is scanned and uploaded ahead of less urgent rolls - it still generally takes 2-3 days.
When you fill in our online order form you will automatically receive an invoice by email. Note that the form cannot be used to generate an invoice for scanning of already processed films (that is, scanning without paying for processing). The invoice has our bank details on it. Please note, if you are an international customer, you may need to ask for a paypal invoice.
If you request return post, your films are returned on plastic spools with white acetate leader on head (2') and tail (1'). Unless you state otherwise, we will use 50', 200' or 400' spools at our discretion.
If you are filming images for immediate consumption and will have no further interest in the film later on, you can choose not to receive your films back in the mail. They will be kept for a while and for a fee it will generally be possible to have them extracted from storage if you lose your data. Films left at the lab will eventually be used for testing and other purposes that will result in their destruction.
If you are recording precious memories or doing creative work you really should opt to have the film posted back to you. It will last much longer than your digital copy, and will be able to be scanned to future digital formats. Posting usually occurs 2-4 weeks after scanning so that we still have the film here in case an issue occurs that requires the film to be re-scanned.
Note: we can't be held responsible for items lost in the mail.