Can you use double 8 in a 16mm kodak movie magazine

Tobychrome · Sep 14, 2014

Hi all, can you use standard 8 film in a 16mm kodak movie film cartridge?
Thanks

snapguy · Sep 15, 2014

doubtful

It looks doubtful. There is a plethora of 16mm film formats and perforation formats (size and distribution of sprocket holes.) Plus -- "Standard 8mm film uses 16mm film that is perforated twice as frequently and then split down the middle." Plus, I think it would be difficult to send a 16mm magazine to a lab and get them to treat it as if it was 8mm film. I assume it's pretty automated in the lab.

Theo Sulphate · Sep 15, 2014

Interesting!

So you have standard 8mm film ("double 8mm") you want to put in a magazine for use in a 16mm camera?

Although standard 8mm also has double the sprocket holes, that in itself wouldn't prohibit it from functioning in a 16mm camera (assuming you could get the film from the roll into a 16mm magazine). If the size or shape of the standard 8mm film sprocket holes are different than with 16mm, you're out of luck.

Conversely, you can't use 16mm film in a Regular (standard) 8mm camera because 16mm has half the sprocket holes.

Tobychrome · Sep 15, 2014

I think it should work because with double the sprocket holes only the ones needed will be used

AgX · Sep 15, 2014

It should work.
The outcome would be a both-edges perforated 16mm movie, with right frame size, but twice the number of perforations per edge.

Both-edges perforated ("double-perf") film is the classic 16mm format without sound-track and standard 1/1.3 aspect-ratio.

gorbas · Sep 15, 2014

Yes, you can do it.

ic-racer · Sep 15, 2014

gorbas said:
Yes, you can do it.

Should work in the camera, but on projection you will have a 50/50 chance of getting it threaded to the correct sprocket hole.

AgX · Sep 15, 2014

You should be able to control that with the frame adjustment at the projector.

Oxleyroad · Sep 17, 2014

It will work. I have done it. Processing no issues at all, it is just 16mm film. Projection is a problem. Yes there is a chance you are miss aligned by the extra set of holes but easily corrected.

The projection issues are if you have a two finger pull down claw on your projector the load force used to pull the film to the next frame has to be distributed over a smaller area of film before the double 8 holes area or the load only has half the film to resist the pulling. I found in my projector I was getting tears with repeated projection, I then moved to a three finger pull down claw and breaks were reduced but not eliminated.

If you want to use the film as you have it available, go for it, and then transfer to a digital film on first projection, you'll most likely not get any tears on the first projection.

Can you use double 8 in a 16mm kodak movie magazine

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