From: Lipton on filmmaking NY, NY: Fireside Books. 1979 p.144
Last Updated 00/01/12 1200PST
Super 8mm Cartridge Specifications and Film Notch Codes
by Martin W. Baumgarten © 1999
The following information explains the approximate details of the Super 8mm film cartridge notch code specifications. This covers all current films and some discontinued films. ANSI information and specs follows below. Information can be used to modify an existing cartridge notch to rate a given film at a higher effective ASA for those cameras that have auto-exposure and only use the notch codes to index their light meters (well over 90% of all Super 8mm movie cameras). To enlarge a given film speed index notch.....measure from the top and as the reference point, and then cut the lower section/segment longer to the correct measurement. The top position is identical on all cartridges as a starting point.
50 foot/15meter length Super 8mm Cartridges
There are FOUR notch codes in the Super 8mm cartridge. They are, top to bottom:
| Film Speed/ASA | Notch Size | Filter Notch | Notes/Film Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASA 16 | 2/32" (2mm) | - | None ever made this slow in Super 8mm |
| ASA 25 | 4/32" (4mm) | - | None ever made this slow in Super 8mm |
| ASA 40 | 9/32" (7mm) | Yes | KMA 464/594 (rated ASA 25 Daylight/40 Tungsten) |
| ASA 50 | 11/32" (9mm) | Yes | PXR 464(rated ASA 32 Daylight) (rated ASA 40 Tungsten/50 Daylight w/o Filter) |
| ASA 64 | 14/32" (11mm) | Yes | Scotch/3M 64 B&W |
| ASA 125 | 17/32" (13mm) | Yes | VNF 464 (rated ASA 80 Daylight) (rated ASA 125 Tungsten w/o filter [requires 85B filter]) |
| ASA 160 | 19/32" (15mm) | Yes | ELA 464/594(rated ASA 100 Daylight) (rated ASA 160 Tungsten w/o filter) |
| ASA 160 | 22/32" (17mm) | No | EG 464 (rated ASA 160 Daylight) (rated ASA 160 Tungsten [cartridge removes filter]) |
| ASA 200 | 22/32"(17mm) | No | TXR 464 (rated ASA 200 Daylight) (rated ASA 160 Tungsten w/o filter [cartridge removes filter]) |
| ASA 400 | 28/32" (22mm) | No | 4XR 464 (rated ASA 400 Daylight) (rated ASA 320 Tungsten w/o filter [cartridge removes filter]) |
| ASA 500[GAF film] | 28/32" (22mm) | No | GAFBW500 (rated ASA 400 Daylight) (rated ASA 400 Tungsten w/o filter [cartridge removes filter]) Note: This also applies to Anscochrome 500 Color Daylight High Speed Film |
| ASA 640 | 1" (24mm) | - | None ever made this fast in Super 8mm |
ASA Film Speed notches are the speeds that the cartridge will index 'most' Super 8mm cameras to. In some cases, such as PXR, TXR and 4XR, the manufacturer states that the film latitude will cover most exposure situations. For accurate exposures, exposure biasing should be done with manual control, or by setting actual film speed such as can be done on Beaulieu cine cameras. Later high end Super 8mm cameras will index most filmspeeds based on the ANSI scale of ASA25 to ASA500 (some even from ASA 10 to ASA 640!), even though certain film speed ratings were never manufactured.
NOTE: Ektachrome Film ASA 160 Type G has a longer notch to adjust metering to ASA 160 Daylight in those cameras which can read the longer notch. Other cameras default to ASA 160 automatically. Tri-X ASA 200 defaults to ASA 160 in most Super 8mm cameras which do not have the various stepping meter indexing detents. ASA 64 films default to ASA 50 in some cameras, and default to ASA 40 in most cameras. ASA 640 defaults to ASA 400 in most cameras or to ASA 250 in others. Cameras which were set up only for the Kodachrome ASA 25/40 & Ektachrome ASA 100/160 films....default higher speed films to ASA 160.
SPECIAL VNF 7240 NOTICE: Ektachrome VNF 7250 ASA 125 will default to ASA 160 in most Super 8mm cameras. Those higher end cameras having a stepping wedge to adjust the light meters, will index filmspeed to ASA 125, some to ASA 100 only. This default in many cameras will either underexpose the film by 1/5th of a stop, and overexpose the film by 1/5th of a stop. Kodak states that this falls into the film's exposure latitude and should still allow for acceptable exposures. VNF 7240 is originally a 16mm filmstock and no established notch code existed prior to Sept 1997 for this film. For more exacting standards, it is highly recommended to conduct exposure tests for various Super 8mm cameras and keep notes as to what exposure modifications are required (if any) for this filmtype in those cameras. *Also....VNF film is a Type B film technically requiring a slightly "cooler" Wratten 85B filter. Most Super 8mm cameras have a builtin Type A filter or Wratten 85(also known as Wratten 85A). For most filming situations...the 200°K color temperature difference is very minimal. This filmstock was intended for direct transfer for television broadcast...thus it tends to exhibit a magenta bias upon projection. This magenta bias gets worse if proper film use and storage and processing procedures aren't followed. Refer to Kodak's tech specs.
Kodak Super 8 Film Processes:
Processing Machine Notch Codes:
These were established to prevent the accidental mixing of filmstocks by the processing technicians. Some cartridges have no machine notch codes, of which the latest VNF 464 filmstock is one. Most automated and semi-automated processing of Super 8mm motion picture film utilizes the removal of the film from the cartridge by withdrawing it from the aperture gate using an aperture pressure plate depresser. This has in the past caused scratching either by inattentiveness on the part of the lab technician and/or cartridge exit burrs and surface abrasions. One notable effect noticed by many is the 'infamous' Kodak "blue line" caused by a deep emulsion scratch. Many other laboratories remove film by cracking open the cartridge and using conventional film lab splicing techniques.
Super 8mm films were manufactured by:
Film Path:
The Super 8mm film supply rests on the label side of the cartridge, on a slip sheet wound emulsion inward, and feeds emulsion outward with the base-side riding around a small film roller, then thru a film channel bringing it over the film pressure plate, then downward reversing direction thru another film channel, around a round molded film guide hump and onto the ratcheted take-up core winding emulsion inward as it was on the supply side. The core ratchet prevents film uncoiling, maintains even tension, and allows for a tight takeup to prevent cartridge jamming. The original design didn't allow for film to reverse its direction for backwinding, although this has been developed by some manufacturers for lap dissolve and super-imposition effects. Recommended backwind by the slack technique (core does not wind film causing film to bunch up in lower film guide and take up side track) is 100 frames. Maximum backwind possible before incurring severe film damage is 300 frames. Cartridge design varies slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer...but follows the basic design layout as developed by Eastman Kodak. Some companies used slip sheets for the supply side...others did not. Some used a small center ring to maintain tension on the wound film on the supply side, including Kodak....in earlier designs.
The Cartridge Components: Injection molded plastic unless otherwise indicated
Addenum:
The 200ft/60m Super 8mm Cartridge is not covered above, although the notch codes are identical. Internal construction is remotely similar although there is a double film track plastic sprocket, two film plates (supply and takeup[ratched]) with an internal metal spring to maintain ease of film take up and feed compensating for the shifting and changing weight of the film from the supply side to the take up side.....and vice-versa to film backwinding. Backwinding is possible for the entire length of the 200ft/60m cartridge owing to a completely different design.
ANSI information can be found here.....however for Do-It-Yourself cartridge notching to change the exposure index (E.I.) of a given film for various reasons....refer to measurements above given....they are much easier to use.
This is a brief overview of the Super 8mm film cartridge, not intended to be all inclusive and is for informational purposes only.
Specifications for Super 8mm Motion Picture Films
by Martin W. Baumgarten © 2001
Super 8mm motion picture film was introduced in late 1964, with official worldwide release in 1965. The new film is 8mm's wide and intended for use in 50ft (15m) lengths in the plastic Super 8mm film cartridge (originally called the Kodapak Cartridge). The cartridge is a co-axel design, with a rotating single directional ratcheted takeup core; moving the film supply from a stationary molded hub allowing the supply film to rotate on a thin plastic Slip Sheet. The film is wound on this slip sheet firmly but with an approximately 2mm-3mm slack around the stationay hub, allowing 50ft of complete standard triacetate film based stock to clear the plastic supply side rim surround by 2mm-3mm clearance.
The film is wound emulsion inward, and the film travels around a small rotating roller where it reverses itself to emulsion outward (or upward) just prior to exiting the upper part of the Super 8mm cartridge to the filmgate aperture. From the filmgate and passing over the plastic film Pressure Plate (sprung with a copper flat spring) the film moves to the lower part of the Super 8mm cartridge where once it reaches the rear, it reverses upon itself around a stationary hard smooth plastic film snubber to wind up on the takeup core emulsion inward, traveling onto the core in a clockwise rotation.
The SILENT Super 8mm film cartridges use a single-arm ratchet which travels over Three distinct Ratchet points on the Takeup Core Shaft. This Ratchet does NOT allow reverse direction, unless it is forced and then it will yield to allow film removal from the Film Gate Aperture [per Eastman Kodak's original design for film retrieval for processing of Super 8mm cartridge films]. [Currently still in production].
The SOUND 50ft Super 8mm film cartridge uses an internally ratcheted film Takeup Core, which is designed to easily reverse direction to allow Lap Dissolves in Super 8mm sound cameras, as well as easy film retrieval for machine processing. [Discontinued as of 1997].
The SOUND 200ft Super 8mm cartridge is unique in that it employs an internally sprung co-axel takeup reels, interlinked to allow film takeup, and also reverse direction for full film rewind for lap dissolve & superimpositions, as well as film retrieval from the filmgate aperture stage for machine processing. [Discontinued as of 1996].
All dimensions are in inches since the film was invented/designed in the U.S.A. by Eastman Kodak Company. Film specifications based on looking at the film from the base side, with the sprocket hole perforation to the right:
From: Lipton on filmmaking NY, NY: Fireside Books. 1979 p.144
Super 8mm Film Gauge Width = .314 inches
Super 8mm Camera Frame Width = .224
Frame Pitch = .1667 inches
Perforation Length = .045 inches
Perforation Width = .036 inches
Spacing from Outside Edge of Main Track to opposite film edge = .312 inches
Spacing from Inside Edge of Main Track to opposite film edge = .285 inches
Main (Track #1) Magnetic Stripe Spacing = .029 inches
Main Track Magnetic Stripe Tape Width = [.80mm]
Balance (Track #2) Magnetic Stripe Spacing = .020 inches
Balance Track Magnetic Stripe Tape Width [.45mm]
Maximum Projectable Film Image Area: (Film as seen from inside projector when looking towards the direction of the lens)
Super 8mm Projection Frame Width = .209 inches
Super 8mm Projection Frame Height = .158 inches Maximum
Distance from Bottom Edge of Perforation to Bottom Edge of Projection Frameline = .056 inches
Width of Space from Perforation Side Edge of Projection Frameline to Actual Edge of Super 8mm Film = .065 inches
Martin W. Baumgarten
See Martin's WWW site at: Plattsburgh Photographic Services