Format nomenclature basics

[monobath]

When reading threads in this and other fora, I'm sometimes confused about the 8mm format or film type nomenclature that is used.

I know that there is Super 8mm, Single 8mm, and Regular 8mm film (also called Double 8?). I know about the image area difference between Super 8 and regular 8, but I don't know where single 8 fits in.

There are a number of abbreviations in common use that, for me at least, are either ambiguous or simply undefined. For example, does the abbreviation S8 refer to Super 8 or Single 8? Is DS8 and D8 the same thing, and is that what is also called Regular 8mm?

Any help clearing up my confusion would be greatly appreciated, but don't expect a meatball sub, OK?

[Nigel]

O.K.--Here we go.

Super8 is a Kodak trademark. It is the little square 50' cartridges that we all know and love/hate.

Single8 is a Fuji Trademark that uses the same perfs as Super8 but a different cartridge configuration. It looked like the letter B and held I think 30 or 40 odd feet. I never owned one. You can treat Single8 the same as Super8 after it is shot and processed. It uses the same projectors--Same editors.

DS8 is Double Super8. It is 16mm wide with S8 perfs. You could also call it
Double Single8 if you wanted. After being shot it will be split to be run through a Super8/Single8 projector or editor.

Regular8 is 16mm Film that has twice the amount of sprocket holes. And was split after development. It was often sold in short lengths 25 or 50 feet. It was also sold in 100 foot lengths that was used in some Bolex cameras. These same cameras were also converted to shoot Double Super8.

I hope that helps. Good Luck

[Actor]

<ul type="square">[*]Super 8mm: 8mm film packaged in a cartridge with feed and take up reels mounted coaxially. The image on the film is 0.224 inch wide by 0.166 inch high. 72 frames per foot.[*]Single 8mm: competing 8mm format developed by Fuji, uses a reel to reel cassette in the camera. When processed it is identical to super 8 except that the substrate is different. It is reportedly thinner and not as durable as Kodak's super 8.[*]Regular 8mm: 16mm film on 25 or 100 ft reels. It is essentially 16mm film with twice as many perforations as regular 16mm film, i.e., 80 frames per foot instead of 40. The film is run through the camera twice. During the first pass half the film is exposed. The feed and take-up reels are then swapped and the film is run through the camera a second time, exposing the other half. After processing the film is slit down the middle and the two pieces are spliced together. Thus a 25 foot reel in the camera yields a 50 ft reel for projection. A 100 ft camera reel yields 200 ft for projection. The image is 0.192 inch wide by 0.145 inch high.[*]Double 8: Same as regular 8.[*]Double super 8: Same idea as regular 8 except that super 8 perforations are used. When processed, slit and spliced the result is super 8 film for projection.[*]S8 = Super 8.[*]DS8 = Double super 8.[*]D8 probably means double 8.[*]R8 = Regular 8.[/list]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 27, 2003 02:13 AM: Message edited by: Actor ]</font>

[unni]

A difference between Kodak and Fuji filmbas is that Kodak have acetat-bas and Fuji polyester-bas.This brings that at splice of acetatfilm you can use both cement splice and tape splice, but at polyester film only tape splice.
And if you want to bring a magnet sound track on the film it is only possible on acetatfilm.

[mcarter4121]

100 feet of Regular 8mm plays the same time as 400 feet of 16mm film. Regular 8mm is split in half, doubling it to 200 feet and there are twice the pictures, 80 per foot instead of 40 per foot, thus doubling play time.
So, if you have a H8 camera, you are learning how to use a H16 camera as they are much the same (Bolex).

[monobath]

OK, your explanations help tremendously, and that is exactly the sort of response I was hoping for. Thank you all very much.