Sprocketless Transport System
Old film gets brittle. Standard claw-driven projectors tear perforations. Our scanners use gentle rubber rollers and tension control that never damage fragile antique film stocks.
SPROCKETLESS TRANSPORT · COLD LED CAPTURE
Scan your film with optical frame-by-frame precision.
Vintage 8mm, Super 8, 16mm film reels and 35mm slides deserve optical telecine capture, not harsh projector re-recording. We scan frame by discrete frame with sprocketless rubber transport, cold LED illumination, and gentle color timing.
Nationwide service. Includes prepaid tracked shipping, hardware processing, and secure cloud download.
VISUAL COMPARISON
See the optical difference.
Consumer capture equipment cuts corners by combining fields into jagged 30fps video or burning film with hot bulbs. We preserve full progressive fidelity with hardware line stabilization.
Unretouched playback comparison. Left: standard 30fps capture. Right: studio hardware TBC at 60fps.
WHY OUR CAPTURE MATTERS
Engineering care for analog media.
Every tape and reel is processed using commercial studio hardware with dedicated time-base and optical correction.
Cold LED Optical Illumination
Tungsten projector bulbs generate heat that can warp or ignite cellulose nitrate and acetate. We use strobe cold LED light sources that are completely safe for vintage emulsions.
True Frame-by-Frame Capture
Every single picture frame is photographed individually by a high-resolution optical sensor, eliminating shutter flicker and motion blurring entirely.
Color Grading & Dust Clean
Films are carefully cleaned with specialized anti-static fluid to remove surface grime, followed by digital scene-by-scene color correction.
TRANSPARENT PRICING
Estimate your collection.
Clear upfront pricing with no hidden intake fees. You are never billed for blank tapes or unplayable reels.
HARDWARE & CAPTURE STANDARDS
Technical Specifications
| Supported Formats | Standard 8mm, Super 8, 16mm reels, plus 35mm slides and negative strips |
|---|---|
| Scanning Mechanism | Frame-by-frame progressive telecine with digital optical alignment |
| Resolution Options | Native 1080p, 2K, and 4K digital master files delivered via cloud |
| Film Protection | Perforation-safe rubber capstan drive with cold LED lamp housing |
CLEAR ANSWERS
Frequently Asked Questions
How does film reel mail-in work?
Order an archival film mailer box below. Pack your 8mm, Super 8, or 16mm reels along with any slides or negative strips. When your box arrives at our lab, each reel is inspected for leader tape, splices, and brittle sections. We clean the film with anti-static solution, run it through our cold LED frame-by-frame scanner, and deliver high-resolution digital files. Your reels are carefully repacked and returned.
Will your equipment damage brittle old film?
No. Unlike conventional projectors that yank film by the sprocket holes with a metal claw, our telecine scanner uses a continuous sprocketless rubber roller drive. If a perforation is torn or missing, the scanner glides right past it without jamming or ripping your irreplaceable footage.
How is film scanning priced?
Film reels are priced by reel size: 50-foot reels (approx 3 inches across) are $15 each. 200-foot reels are $45 each, and 400-foot reels are $75 each. 35mm slides and negative frames are $1 each. Video and audio tapes can be included in the same mailer at $20 each.
What is the turnaround time for film reels?
Because each film frame is captured individually and color corrected, turnaround is typically 10 to 14 business days from lab intake. You receive regular status notifications throughout the process.
What file formats will I receive?
We deliver high-bitrate MP4 files ready for instant streaming, phone playback, and sharing, with ProRes 422 masters available upon request for professional video editors.
NATIONWIDE SHIPPING INTAKE
Order your mail-in shipping kit.
Tell us where to send your protective mailer box and prepaid shipping label.