Draft. Facts are from the cited pages on the dates shown and need re-checking before launch. Items marked [TO VERIFY] are open questions; nothing has been filled in by guesswork.
A short checklist for choosing a film transfer company, whichever lab you pick.
- Identify your film. 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm need different equipment. Some labs don’t handle 9.5mm or 35mm. See film formats.
- Check for sound. Some home movies (Super 8 and especially 16mm) carry a magnetic or optical soundtrack. Not every service captures it. For example, Southtree’s published film spec says sound film is not digitized as standard (source, 2026).
- Ask how it’s scanned. Frame-by-frame scanners (e.g. Lasergraphics ScanStation, Blackmagic Cintel, MWA Flashscan, Filmfabriek HDS+, Kinetta) capture each frame individually. Ask which machine will be used for your film.
- Ask about resolution and files. Published outputs range from 640×480 MP4 to 4K and higher ProRes/DPX.
- Compare price per foot, not per reel. A 400-ft reel is eight times a 50-ft reel. See the cost guide.
- Ask where the work happens and how your originals are shipped, stored and returned.
- Damaged film (shrunken, brittle, vinegar syndrome) needs a specialist. See damaged film.
Download-friendly list: Questions to ask a lab.