Standard 8 Mm Film - Manufacturers

Manufacturers

The first camera produced was Kodak's own Cine Kodak Eight Model 20. Like many subsequent cameras, it was extremely simple and powered by clockwork. The Swiss company Paillard-Bolex SA introduced its first 8 mm camera in 1938 and its first 'pocket' 8 mm camera aimed squarely at the amateur market, the L-8, in 1942. Bolex cameras and projectors continued to occupy the high end of the market. In the US, Bell and Howell introduced an 8 mm projector in 1934, and in 1935, the Filmo Straight Eight camera, using pre-prepared 8 mm wide film. Standard 8 mm equipment was also manufactured by Carl Zeiss, the Austrian firm Eumig, Fuji (as Fujica), and Canon, amongst others.

Eastman Kodak officially discontinued manufacture of the film in 1992. However, private marketed film by a "major U.S. manufacturer" (of which only one company could possibly qualify) has continued at least twelve years into the 21st century sofar. John Schwind, of International Film, is the only current supplier for this "major US company" in the entire world! There are many cameras still in use by film students, hobbyists, and other amateurs worldwide. In the Summer of 2003, John Schwind and Karl Borowski had the distinction of convincing Karen K. Dumont, an employee of this "major manufacturer" to produce the last new variant of type K-14 film stock ever coated, dubbed "Cine Chrome 40A." This was the first new introduction of a type K-14 stock since 1988, a 40-speed, tungsten-balanced film to offset the discontinuation of "Cine Chrome 25," another K-14 product. This film was kept in production until 2006, coinciding with the discontinuation of Kodachrome 40A in that same year.

Foma R-100 film also continues to be produced by the European manufacturer Foma. Due to aging punch dies, this film does NOT have an advantage over Super 8 film in terms of image steadiness, unfortunately.