16mm and Super 8 Cost

Well as you probably know I'm trying hard to try get some film, 16mm or super 8 into this project (providing the budget allows) and i've been looking at some prices of getting some 16mm Ektachrome stock processed and transferred. Now for this we are looking at processing at Dwayne's in Kansas US who are offering $101 for processing of 400ft plus an extra $2 to prep it for transfer. The transfer would be done at Frame Discreet, also in the States who provide possibly some of the best transfers around. Prices are $80 for a best light transfer. Best light is usually average at Soho or iLab, but those are telecine, these are frame by frame transfers offering amazing quality, density, contrast and the best images. Now i will look into telecine at iLab and try get a qoute as it may be more finacially viable to go with the lesser quality, however im not sure they transfer Ektachrome stock.

Super 8 is also a possibility, but i think we will have to go with Frame Discreet for the transfers as we will need the best quality we can get from the smaller neg. Prices are $12 processing plus $2 telecine prep and $20 per 50ft. We would also have to buy the super 8 stock, but could get lucky and buy one with 'Processing Included' which could save some money.

Super 8 reversal would look beautiful, as too would 16mm reversal it all depends on the stylistic angle we hope to pursue as they are both very different formats. We also need to consider; even though both will mix with digital footage, how we want them to mix and where will we mix them!

Here are some transfer pictures from Frame Discreet:

The quality of the transfers is amazing, the top is a bog standard transfer, the bottom is a frame by frame transfer by Frame Discreet. The left looks like a re dubbed VHS!

As good as Ektachrome is Kodaks Vision 3 with a preview video below: