Chris, I've done quite a bit of this using just about exactly the setup you've described. I found that setting my camera to it's slowest shutter speed cancelled out almost all of the flickering. It also helps if you have a variable speed projector. You can adjust it just a tiny bit faster or slower to get rid of the last bit of flicker, and the audiance will never know the difference. For that matter, very few 8mm cameras and projectors ran at exactly 18fps anyway.

Here's some discussion of the subject that I bookmarked a while ago:

http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/filmtrans.html

Thanks for the help!

I suggest that you look at a service which I have found exemplary. Good prices, and MUCH more than just a copy of your film to tape.

They clean, lubricate, resplice and heaven only knows what else, and use major professional film to tape transfer equipment, the same kind used for hollywood movies, to transfer your tape WITHOUT extra grain and distortion that would arise from using a cheap transfer box or a standard projector/screen.

The work is fast, efficient, careful, and reasonable for what you get. They charge $85.00 per running hour, and can put it on DV or Mini-DV tape for your own editing if you wish. There are also fractional hour charges, since nobody has exactly an hour. Works out well.

The site has a nice question and answer section (FAQ) that discusses different film to tape or DVD possibilities/subjects in excellent, easy to understand detail. You understand and value the services after reading what is actually done.

The site is:

http://members.aol.com/filmtotape/index.htm

I have no connection to this service other than I liked what they did to my 31 year old VietNam footage. Fine job.

You WILL have flicker because the frame rate of film and video don't match. However, if you have to use the "video camera shooting the projection screen" method, then Donald Graft has a terrific flicker elimination filter for Virtual Dub.

www.virtualdub.org

http://shelob.mordor.net/dgraft/

John

Wcoxel is correct. The quality transfer of a $1,500,000.00 machine
that cleans, repairs,and color corrects on the fly (colors better than the
original) for $150.00 per hr.is tough to beat. I had 11,000 ft. of
16mm color film (scope) 30 yrs old transfered for $3800.00 and have never
looked back since.

James J. Kizak

JJKKIZAK is right, but for Super 8 it is only $85.00 a running hour. A bargain. AND, you don't have to store the junky $75.00 transfer box for the rest of your life.

The point in doing it myself is that I don't have the money to pay someone else to do it. Even if I did have the money, I hate giving it to someone else for something I can learn to do myself. Not only do I save money, but I add another skill to my list. This is just a freebie for my relatives. It's not like they are going to sue me if it's not perfect!

Thanks for the help, all!

Do consider, though, that for 1 hour or less, it is about the same price.

Any price is going to be more than free! ;)

go to archivedmedia.com and i've got a shot of an old car at the top. i captured that myself by just tweaking the shutter speed on my sony tvr-120 and using a transfer box. i know it would be a better example if it was an actual movie, but i just haven't gotten that far on the site.

see ya.

-craig