In the film world, there are two types of 8mm film: standard and Super 8. Each gets its name from its width, but there are other differences, including sound capability, the shape of sprocket holes, frame size, and more. Knowing the difference between the two is important for anyone who has home movies made on one of these types of films. It will also help you to know which type of film you have if Alex Trebek starts asking you questions about your early home movies during your next game of Jeopardy.
Both formats of 8mm film are eight millimeters wide, but the difference between the two is that standard 8mm has rectangular perforations while Super 8 has round ones. While this may not seem like a big difference, it is one of the first things to check when determining which type of film you have.
The other major difference between the two types is that standard 8mm comes in little cassette tape-like cartridges and can be run through a regular movie projector, while Super 8 is more complex, requires a special projector, and has an oxide stripe that allows the film to record sound.
The good news is that both types of 8mm can be transferred to digital or DVD for viewing, so no matter which format you have, there are ways to enjoy your family memories. And if you ever need to convert 8mm to inches, it’s easy: just use this conversion chart.