Answer: Double 8mm movie film is 16mm's wide and the perforations are identical in size to that of its 16mm counterpart....however, there are TWICE AS MANY PERFORATIONS! Since a Regular 8mm movie frame is half the width, it is also half the height of a 16mm film frame. Thus, there are double as many perforations, and this means, that you CANNOT use 16mm movie film in a Double 8mm camera. You have to purchase Double 8mm movie film, which is readily available from myself, John Schwind, (we're both here in the USA, but there are European dealers also) and some other sources.

To answer your second question.....when filming in Double 8mm (Regular 8mm) and using a spool loading camera (which over 75% ever made are), generally the first few feet and final few feet or less is used as loading leader. All film ever sold as well as the camera manufacturers, recommended highly that you load film in subdued light and never in bright or direct sunlight. Many enthusiasts over the years loaded their film in closets, darkrooms, and/or carried a small film changing bag in their camera bag. That way film images could be made right to the end of each side, without any light fogging. Really, to fully appreciate Double 8mm filmmaking.....this is the best way to go. The remaining 25% or so of cameras made used Double 8mm Film Magazines which are loadable in full light, but still contain only 25ft of movie film, thus you have to flip over the magazine to film down the remaining 25ft of film.

Some 16mm filmmakers are using Double 8mm movie cameras for artistic insertions into their films. They film with their camera upside down for either the first half or second half of the 25ft spool. Then leave it as 16mm film after processing and upon projection there are four frames of images on the screen. Two images on one side are moving in reverse (if the subject is in movement), and the other side the movement is forward. Depending on whether you film with the Side One or Side Two of the film with the camera upside down...as that will determine which images are moving in reverese upon projection. With some careful planning it is quite possible to really get some unique effects this way for a neat cutaway in a given 16mm film project.

So, to recap here....buy Double 8mm movie film to use in your Double 8mm film camera, NOT 16mm film as it won't advance properly and thus won't work. Contact me for prices and services and/or for my large resource listing of various film sources, labs and dealers.

Martin W. Baumgarten
See Martin's WWW site at: Plattsburgh Photographic Services

Return to the 8mm Metadirectory