equipment used to convert 35mm, 16mm,8mm film?

[Barmack]

Im curius what equipment is used to convert these huge films with probably a very long amount of tape. how do they make it to dvd's??
Would it be cheaper to buy equipment or to go to a professional.
I personally would like to learn for myself, and if I'm doing something serious have it done by a professional.

[Barry_Green]

Google "telecine"; that's how film gets transferred to videotape.

[Barmack]

Thx. there like over 50K! man even 900k!

[Barry_Green]

Yep.

For a cheaper do-it-yourself solution that doesn't run anywhere near realtime, look into the WorkPrinter from www.moviestuff.tv (http://www.moviestuff.tv).

[Barmack]

quality wise. is it good? when converting from 35mm film to a hdv format? or would those high end hdv cameras have better dvd quality.

[alexberman]

When you get the film developed, the lab will provide you either a film workprint where you edited it by hand, or a digital workprint that you can ask for in a number of digital formats such as MiniDV, DVCproHD, etc... The lab will take care of the film to digital conversion process for you. Since you have to have a lab develop your film anyways, there would be no point in investing in your own equipment for the conversion process.

[dory_breaux]

Um, well, a real telecine machine is supposed to cost that much. Lots of technology in those things.

[Mattykins]

Professionally it costs a ton of money. You need to get the film processed first. That will give you the negative print. Which you get to keep.

Then you need to run it through the telecine process in which the color is timed, sound synced, corrections made. This is an additional cost. They provide you the transfer on the medium of your choice. Mind you it is typically film to tape. Not film to HDD. But that is possible to do.

You would want to send it out and have professionals deal with the film. Since 35mm film is expensive as is. The transfer and processing even more so.

[konton]

I gotta ask, why do you need all those formats transferred? In what quality, and what will the final output be?