Capture Super 8mm Film to a Computer - Easily

Do you have hours of great footage on super 8mm film that you want to capture to your computer so you can edit it, have a digital backup, make copies, etc? In this article I will outline a very simple way to capture super 8mm film to any computer. The only things you will need are a projector, a tripod and a digital video camera.

Paying a company to transfer your super 8mm to DVD can cost a lot of money. Not to mention you sometimes have to wait weeks to get your footage back. The method described below is certainly not the most high tech method, but it gets the job done and doesn't cost a penny if you already have the the things you'll need.

Step 1. Setup the projector and camera

The first thing you will need to do is setup your projector and camera. You want the projector to be approximately 4 - 6 feet from the wall. The camera should be placed beside the projector on a tripod.

Step 2. Frame your capturing area

Turn on your video camera and look through the viewfinder. Then turn on the projector. Align the frame projected by the projector inside the frame of the viewfinder on your video camera.

Step 3. Load your film

Load your super 8mm film into the projector. Do this by attaching the film to the supply reel spindle and then inserting the film into the loading slot. Be careful that this is done properly.

Step 4. Begin recording

Push the recorded button your video camera and wait a few seconds.

Step 5. Run the projector

After a few seconds has passed, begin to play the film on your projector, allowing the video camera to capture the image.

Step 6. Transfer to a computer

Last but not least, transfer the recorded footage to a computer using capturing/editing software and a USB or firewire cable. Some editing programs will also allow you to do a live capture. If you want to do a live capture to save some time, simply connect the camcorder to the computer via USB and enable the capturing software before recording the footage from the projector.

Like I said, not the most high tech method, but it's a great way to quickly and easily transfer your super 8mm to your computer so you can start editing it, and all without spending any money. I hope you enjoyed this guide. Have fun playing with your super 8mm on your computer.