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Transfer of regular and standard 8 films with mirror effect
https://www.8mmforumworldwide.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2329
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Author:  Paul Knight [ Thu Nov 02, 2017 1:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Transfer of regular and standard 8 films with mirror effect

I recently had several cine films transferred to digital files by a company advertising on the internet. I was rather disconcerted when playing the files back to find that everything appeared as a mirror image. When I questioned this I received the following reply from the company.

"Film transfers are of high picture quality produced from 1950s 1960s gauge Film. What you are in fact seeing in respect of mirror effect to letters picked up in the original film recordings from your premium service 2 Transfers is the effect of Regular 8/ Standard 8 Colour Film reversal processing which was combination from the type of original film upon purchase & the chemical type of processing to develop the frame image back in the 1960s, out of interest this didn't happen with all Film 1970s introduction of Super 8 doesn't display this effect, it was only some Regular 8 & Standard 8 in differing manufacturer film types.

This effect doesn't show up on old 8mm Cine projectors as the design of the projection lens fitted with the 8mm film gate were designed to reverse the reversal process and any back to front letters therefore projecting via the light source the letters displayed in the correct form."

The transfer process was expensive and I'm generally pleased with the results considering the films were stored in a caravan for decades. It is just disconcerting to see our old house and any written signs etc "back to front". Could anyone advise whether the explanation I was given above is accurate, as I have been unable find anything on the internet to support this. Many thanks.

Author:  Chris Smith [ Thu Nov 02, 2017 6:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Transfer of regular and standard 8 films with mirror eff

Paul, first welcome to the Forum. As far as such a projector as they describe, no, I never heard of such a thing.?? Do you have a web address you would provide us for this company? It's possible they used a mirror box of some type to capture your images and reversed them. . "This effect doesn't show up on old 8mm Cine projectors as the design of the projection lens fitted with the 8mm film gate were designed to reverse the reversal process and any back to front letters therefore projecting via the light source the letters displayed in the correct form."

Author:  Mike Sands [ Thu Nov 02, 2017 7:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Transfer of regular and standard 8 films with mirror eff

I have used a mirror transfer box on 8mm and it worked fine. No reversal. I am thinking they might have recorded the film lens to lens. Projected the image into the capture device lens. It would be like standing behind your screen with the movie playing.

Author:  Paul Knight [ Thu Nov 02, 2017 8:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Transfer of regular and standard 8 films with mirror eff

Thanks both for your replies. The company I used is
http://www.cinefilmfactory.co.uk/
Unfortunately I didn't ask for the films to be returned and suspect they have been disposed of but will contact the company. Any suggestions you may have to take this forward would be appreciated. I now believe looking into this company they don't use the film transfer method I expected but the mirror box method you describe but incorrectly. I'm also not even sure the films were cleaned as advertised for the premium service 2 transfer option.

Author:  Robert Crewdson [ Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Transfer of regular and standard 8 films with mirror eff

Hello Paul; you should get your original films back; digital is not a safe way to store movies. I expect many of us have had discs that freeze, and if you can't fix it, then the disc is no good. Put your films on disc by all means, but keep the originals. I bought some device off the internet several years ago, I don't know what it's called, but the projector is aimed at a mirror at the side, and the image is shown at the front, like a small TV screen. I found with my video camera running at 30fps compared to 18 or 24 for film, I got flicker, but recently discovered that I don't get this effect if I use the video mode of my digital camera, or use a mobile phone. I have never seen any digitised footage that was reversed.

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