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Convert 8mm Cine Film to DVD

8mm film reels can hold magical moments from history, priceless family memories and historical artefacts not seen for decades.

Converting your 8mm film to DVD can be done in two simple steps and lets you preserve all the amazing memories you’ve got stored away on film to watch over and over on DVD.

See our 8mm cine to USB or 8mm cine to digital pages for more 8mm conversion options, and our Cine to DVD and Cine film to USB pages to see our other cine conversion types.

Clients we've worked with.

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How 8mm film to DVD Conversion Works.

Our 8mm to DVD process is simple, reliable, and trusted by thousands of happy customers

Send your media

After you order, we’ll email you to arrange a courier collection. If you’d rather send your 8mm film reels directly, we’ll also explain how to post them to us in North Yorkshire.

We digitise your media

We’ll let you know as soon as we receive your 8mm films. Our specialists will carefully begin work to preserve and digitise your memories.

Enjoy!

You’ll get an email when we’ve sent your digital conversions (and your original 8mm film reels) back to you. After that, it’s over to you to enjoy your old memories made new!

You’ll always know where your 8mm reels are, when we’re working on them, and when you can expect to get them back.

What type
of conversion
should you
order?

How to choose the right
conversion for your 8mm film.

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8mm Film to USB

Your cine film reel(s) transferred to memory stick. Plug in to your computer (or any other device with a USB port) and you can play, save, and copy your files.

What you get

All your reels on one stick

All your reels on one stick
What to order

You only need to order one stick to get all your conversions

You only need to order one stick to get all your conversions
Perfect for…

Watching on the computer or Smart TV.

Watching on the computer or Smart TV.
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8mm to DVD

Your cine film reels, converted to a DVD. You’ll be able to play it on any DVD player or other disc drive.

What you get

Your reels on at least one disc

Your reels on at least one disc
What to order

You only need to order one set to get all your conversions

You only need to order one set to get all your conversions
Perfect for…

Watching on the telly

Watching on the telly
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8mm Film to Digital

Your 8mm cine film converted to computer audio files, stored safely online. We’ll upload your files to the cloud and send you a private access link, so you can watch and download your videos instantly, from anywhere.

What you get

Your 8mm film conversions as computer audio files

Your 8mm film conversions as computer audio files
What to order

You only need to order one cloud backup link to get all your conversions

You only need to order one cloud backup link to get all your conversions
Perfect for…

Sharing with friends and family

Sharing with friends and family

What you can expect from us.

Your memories are irreplaceable - this is how we’ll take care of them

We digitise cine film using advanced technology - a high-end sprocketless scanner that captures each frame individually at high resolution, combining them into a digital video.

Since most cine films are silent, we add backing music to bring your memories to life. If your film has an optical or magnetic soundtrack, we'll preserve this during the transfer.

One of the benefits of cine film is its remarkable durability. While poor storage can lead to issues like mould (which is usually visible on inspection), the vast majority of cine films have stood the test of time exceptionally well. When digitised, these films typically produce stunning results that capture the unique beauty of the original footage.

Free blanks

Free blanks

You’ll never have to pay for sending blank 8mm cine film reels. If we find any blanks in your order, we’ll refund them ASAP.
Free return

Free return

Your originals are priceless. We’ll send them back to you free of charge along with your conversions.
Free repairs

Free repairs

Our technicians can fix most problems and will always try their best to repair any damaged media you send us.
Bulk discounts

Bulk discounts

More conversions, more savings! You can get up to 30% off, depending on how many 8mm cine film reels you’re converting.
Quality equipment

Quality equipment

The best conversions are made using the best equipment. What else would you expect us to use for your memories?
Real-time updates

Real-time updates

You’ll be updated via email when your order arrives and again when it is sent back to you. You can check on the status of your order at any time using our real-time order tracker.

What do Digital Converters
customers think?

Thousands of people have trusted us with their memories already.
This is what they made of the experience...

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Convert 8mm film
to DVD.

8mm cine film is a very old video format. That’s great, because it holds amazing moments from the past. That’s worrying, because it’s deteriorating and could be lost.

All sorts of footage is stored on 8mm film around the UK and we’re determined to preserve as much of it as we can.

Thanks to the incredible frame-by-frame scanning technology available, converting cine 8 to DVD produces incredibly clear results.

Our highly-trained technicians use the best, professional-grade equipment to carefully capture and preserve your 8mm film footage and transfer it to DVD for you to watch again and again.

Even though 8mm film isn't commonly used as a recording medium anymore, the memories it holds deserve to be preserved and enjoyed for many years to come.

Examples of our cine film conversions.

Nothing beats seeing old memories remade for today

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FAQs

Q. What are the basic steps for converting 8mm cine film to DVD?
Converting 8mm film to DVD involves several key steps. Initially, the 8mm film is inspected for any damage and cleaned to ensure the best quality transfer. Next, a film projector or transfer machine is used to play the film, while a digital camera or camcorder captures the footage. This captured footage is then transferred to a computer where video editing software is used for any necessary enhancements, such as colour correction or stabilising the image. Finally, the edited video is encoded in a DVD-compatible format and burned onto a DVD using DVD authoring software. We will also create a menu for the DVD for easier navigation.
Q. What equipment do I need to convert 8mm cine film to DVD?
The essential equipment for converting 8mm film to DVD includes a film projector or a specialised film transfer machine to play the 8mm film, a digital recording device like a camera or camcorder to capture the footage, a computer with sufficient processing power for video editing, video editing software for enhancements, DVD authoring software, and a DVD burner. A quality screen or surface for projecting the film is also crucial, and it's advisable to use a tripod for the camera to ensure stable footage.

While DIY conversion can be rewarding, it will not match the quality of professional services, particularly for films that require extensive restoration. In addition, the cost of starting the project is likely to be in the £100s or £1000s.
Q. How can I ensure high-quality transfer from 8mm film to DVD?
Ensuring a high-quality transfer from 8mm film to DVD starts with the careful handling and cleaning of the film. Use a projector or transfer machine that is in good condition and suitable for 8mm film. When capturing the footage, a high-definition camera set up correctly to match the frame rate and aspect ratio of the film can significantly improve the quality. During the editing process, take care to correct colour imbalances and enhance the clarity of the footage without over-processing it. Finally, use high-quality DVDs and a reliable DVD burner to ensure the longevity of the final product.

At Digital Converters, we are specialists at extracting the highest quality from old cine reels, so you can be confident that you will receive the best possible conversion from us.
Q. What are the best software options for editing 8mm cine film transfers before burning to DVD?
For editing 8mm film transfers, software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve is recommended. These programs offer a wide range of editing tools that can help in colour correction, audio enhancements, adding transitions, and stabilising footage. They also support a variety of video formats, which is essential for preparing the footage for DVD authoring. For the DVD authoring process, software like Adobe Encore or DVDStyler can be used to create professional-looking menus and burn the final content onto a DVD.
Q. Can you add custom menus and chapters to my 8mm cine film DVD?
Yes, we can add custom menus and chapters to your 8mm film DVD conversion. We will add interactive menus, organise your footage into chapters, and add titles or other navigational features. Custom menus and chapters enhance the viewing experience, making it easier to navigate through different sections of the film. This is particularly useful if you're converting multiple 8mm films onto a single DVD, which is quite common.
Q. What challenges are usually encountered when converting 8mm film to DVD?
People trying to convert 8mm film to DVD at home may come across challenges such as dealing with the physical condition of the film, e.g. brittleness, shrinkage, or damage; ensuring the film is properly aligned and focused during capture; dealing with flickering caused by frame rate mismatches; and handling colour degradation or shifts that occur over time. Additionally, syncing audio, if adding a soundtrack, and ensuring compatibility of the final DVD with various DVD players can be challenging.

For these reasons it is advisable to leave cine film conversion to the professionals!
Q. What file format should is ideal for the best quality on DVD?
For the best quality on DVD, the video file should be in MPEG-2 format, which is the standard format for DVDs. This format balances quality with file size, making it ideal for DVD playback. The resolution and bit rate should be set according to the DVD standards (typically 720x480 pixels for NTSC, 720x576 pixels for PAL) to ensure compatibility with DVD players.
Q. Can you add soundtracks or narrations to my 8mm cine film DVDs?
Yes, you can add soundtracks or narrations to your 8mm film DVDs during the editing process. This can be done using video editing software, where you can import audio files and synchronise them with the video. You can add background music, voice-over narrations, or even sound effects to enhance the viewing experience. It's important to ensure that the timing of the audio matches the video for a cohesive final product.

Please let us know if you have suitable audio that you'd like us to include in the digital version of your 8mm reels.