Several submini cameras use 8mm film, but the companies that spooled the film specifically for these cameras have long been out of business. Fortunately, 8mm film is still being made for movie cameras and you might be able to use it for your camera if you are willing to roll it yourself. First, you need to determine what type of 8mm film you need. There are several types of 8mm film (see the LIBRARY for definitions), for example super 8, and split 8 -- which is really film that is 16mm wide that gets split during the processing phase into 8mm film. There are different sprocket hole sizes on different types of 8mm film, so you need to know what sprocket size your camera uses. A lot of the currently available 8mm film also has audio strips on it which may or may not present a problem to you.
Here are some of the 8mm films that are still being made. These films come in various perforations and lengths. This is not meant to be a complete list:
Kodachrome 25 -- This is the wonderful color slide. It is balanced for daylight and only available in silent form. ISO 25. Available in
Kodachrome 40 -- color slide -- tungsten -- sound and silent
Ektachrome 160 -- color slide -- tungsten -- sound and silent
Plus X -- b&w slide -- daylight -- silent
Tri X -- b&w slide -- daylight -- silent
Double X -- b&w negative-- daylight -- silent
Plus X -- b&w negative -- daylight -- silent
If you can determine which type of film will work with your camera, you'll need to find a place that will sell it. Beleive me this won't be the corner drug store. They might have sold the stuff 20 years ago, but not today. Nowadays, you'll have a hard time finding what you want. Here are a few places that specialize in 8mm (and 16mm) films:
Prep Film Services Lab
21940 Cumberland
Northville, MI 48167
1-800-793-3456
Super 8 Sound
2805 W. Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91505
1-818-848-5522
Super 8 Sound
95 Harvey St.
Cambridge, MA 02140
1-617-876-5876
Solar Cine Products
4247 S. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60632
1-312-254-8310
Yale Labs
North Hollywood, CA
1-818-508-9253
Once you have the film exposed you'll need to get it processed. Most labs that process 8 mm film are set up only to develop long movie rolls. These places might help you out. If all else fails, build yourself a DARKROOM.
Rocky Mountain Film Labs
1-303- 364-6444
Diversified Lab Services
2128 S. Hanley St.
St. Louis, MO 63144
1-314-727-4522
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