8mm & Super 8 Film Transfer in Williamsburg
Old home movies on film reels, digitized in-house here in Williamsburg and delivered as video files you can actually watch — no projector required.
Film or tape? Here's how to tell.
It's film if it's an open reel — a strip of film wound around a plastic or metal reel, often 3 to 7 inches across. Hold the end up to a light and you'll see tiny individual pictures. It may be in a yellow Kodak box, a round can, or a plain cardboard box.
It's a tape if it's a closed plastic cassette, even a small one marked "8" or "Hi8." Those are camcorder tapes — see camcorder tape transfer.
8mm or Super 8?
You don't need to know — we'll check when it comes in, and the price is the same either way. If you're curious: regular 8mm dates back to the 1930s and has larger sprocket holes; Super 8 arrived in 1965 with smaller holes and a slightly bigger picture.
Priced by reel size
Measure straight across the reel, edge to edge. Not sure? Text us a photo with a ruler or a coin next to it.
| Reel size | Typical running time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 3-inch | about 3–4 min | $30 |
| 4-inch | about 6–8 min | $45 |
| 5-inch | about 13–16 min | $60 |
| 6-inch | about 20–25 min | $90 |
| 7-inch | about 26–33 min | $120 |
| Film order under $250 | Standard pricing |
|---|---|
| $250 and up | 5% off |
| $500 and up | 10% off |
| $1,000 and up | 15% off |
Running times are approximate and depend on how full the reel is and the speed it was filmed at. Discounts apply to transfer charges. Full price list.
Done in-house, here in Williamsburg
Your film isn't shipped off to another company. It's transferred here, and every reel comes back to you.
- Digital video files that play on any phone, computer or TV.
- A private download link, active for 30 days (extend 90 days for $15).
- Your original reels back at pickup.
- Optional USB drive (from $25) or playable DVD copies ($20 per disc).
Most home movie film is silent, so most transfers won't have sound. That's normal.
Brittle, curled or vinegar-smelling?
Old film can dry out, curl, or develop a vinegar smell as it breaks down. Tell us about it when you ask for a quote. We'll look at it before doing anything and tell you honestly what's realistic.
Store reels somewhere cool and dry in the meantime — not the attic or garage.
8mm film questions
Tell us what you have. We'll do the rest.
A few quick questions, no commitment. We'll send you a real quote written by a real person — usually the same day.
Prefer to talk? We answer the phone and texts. We're a small, local operation and we'd rather have a five-minute conversation than send you a form letter. Not sure what you have? Text a photo.
Phone & scheduling: Mon–Fri 9–5 · Sat 10–2
Drop-off by appointment · Williamsburg, VA
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