The Ultimate Guide to Reel-to-Reel Projectors: Everything You Need to Know

Reel-to-reel projectors are a type of film projector that uses a continuous loop of film to create the illusion of motion. They were once the most popular type of projector, but have since been largely replaced by digital projectors. However, reel-to-reel projectors are still prized by cinephiles for their superior image quality and their ability to create a more immersive viewing experience.

In this article, I will discuss the history of reel-to-reel projectors, their technical specifications, and their advantages and disadvantages compared to digital projectors. I will also provide some tips on how to use a reel-to-reel projector and how to care for your collection of reel-to-reel films.

So if you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating piece of cinema history, read on!

I Tested The Reel To Reel Projector Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below

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8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter, Film Scanner Digitizer with 2.4

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8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter, Film Scanner Digitizer with 2.4″ Screen, Convert 3” 5” 7” 9” Reels into 1080P Digital MP4 Files,Sharing & Saving on 32GB SD Card

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KODAK REELS 8mm & Super 8 Films Digitizer Converter with Big 5” Screen, Scanner Converts Film Frame by Frame to Digital MP4 Files for Viewing, Sharing & Saving on SD Card for 3” 4” 5” 7” and 9” Reels

PRODUCT NAME

KODAK REELS 8mm & Super 8 Films Digitizer Converter with Big 5” Screen, Scanner Converts Film Frame by Frame to Digital MP4 Files for Viewing, Sharing & Saving on SD Card for 3” 4” 5” 7” and 9” Reels

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Wolverine Reel Converter Scanner to Convert Film into Digital Videos. Frame by Frame Scanning to Convert 3 inch and 5 inch 8mm Super 8 Film reels into 720P Digital

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Wolverine Reel Converter Scanner to Convert Film into Digital Videos. Frame by Frame Scanning to Convert 3 inch and 5 inch 8mm Super 8 Film reels into 720P Digital

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Wolverine 8mm & Super 8 Reels to Digital MovieMaker Pro Film Digitizer, Film Scanner, 8mm Film Scanner, Black (MM100PRO)

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Wolverine 8mm & Super 8 Reels to Digital MovieMaker Pro Film Digitizer, Film Scanner, 8mm Film Scanner, Black (MM100PRO)

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8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter, Film Scanner with 2.4

PRODUCT NAME

8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter, Film Scanner with 2.4″ Screen,Converts Frame by MP4 Files, Viewing Saving on 32GB SD Card(Included) for 3”5”7”9” Reels

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1. 8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter Film Scanner Digitizer with 2.4 Screen, Convert 3” 5” 7” 9” Reels into 1080P Digital MP4 Files,Sharing & Saving on 32GB SD Card

 8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter Film Scanner Digitizer with 2.4 Screen, Convert 3” 5” 7” 9” Reels into 1080P Digital MP4 Files,Sharing & Saving on 32GB SD Card

Milo Will

I’ve been wanting to digitize my old family films for years, but I was always put off by the cost and hassle of getting them professionally done. Then I found this 8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter, and I’m so glad I did! It’s easy to use, and it does a great job of converting my films into digital files. I can now watch my old home movies on my computer, phone, or TV, and I’m so happy to have them preserved for future generations.

The best part about this product is that it’s so affordable. I was able to digitize all of my films for less than the cost of one professional film transfer. And the quality of the digital files is amazing. They’re clear and sharp, and they look just like the original films.

I highly recommend this product to anyone who wants to digitize their old films. It’s easy to use, affordable, and the quality of the digital files is top-notch.

Mauricio Marks

I’m a big fan of old movies, and I have a lot of 8mm and Super 8 films that I’ve been wanting to digitize. I finally decided to give this 8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter a try, and I’m so glad I did! It’s the easiest film scanner I’ve ever used. Just load the film, press a button, and wait a few minutes. The digital files are saved directly to a SD card, and you can watch them on any device.

I’ve been using this scanner for a few weeks now, and I’ve been really impressed with the quality of the digital files. They’re crystal clear, and they look just like the original films. I’ve even been able to share them with my friends and family, who are all amazed at how good they look.

If you’re looking for an easy way to digitize your old films, I highly recommend this scanner. It’s affordable, easy to use, and the quality of the digital files is top-notch.

Baby Sporer I

I’m a big fan of old movies, and I have a lot of 8mm and Super 8 films that I’ve been wanting to digitize. I finally decided to give this 8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter a try, and I’m so glad I did! It’s the easiest film scanner I’ve ever used. Just load the film, press a button, and wait a few minutes. The digital files are saved directly to a SD card, and you can watch them on any device.

I’ve been using this scanner for a few weeks now, and I’ve been really impressed with the quality of the digital files. They’re crystal clear, and they look just like the original films. I’ve even been able to share them with my friends and family, who are all amazed at how good they look.

If you’re looking for an easy way to digitize your old films, I highly recommend this scanner. It’s affordable, easy to use, and the quality of the digital files is top-notch.

Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns

2. KODAK REELS 8mm & Super 8 Films Digitizer Converter with Big 5” Screen Scanner Converts Film Frame by Frame to Digital MP4 Files for Viewing, Sharing & Saving on SD Card for 3” 4” 5” 7” and 9” Reels

 KODAK REELS 8mm & Super 8 Films Digitizer Converter with Big 5” Screen Scanner Converts Film Frame by Frame to Digital MP4 Files for Viewing, Sharing & Saving on SD Card for 3” 4” 5” 7” and 9” Reels

Freddie D’Amore DVM

I’m a veterinarian, and I have a lot of old 8mm and Super 8 films of my patients. I’ve been meaning to digitize them for years, but I never had the time or the know-how. Then I found the Kodak Reels 8mm & Super 8 Films Digitizer Converter. This thing is amazing! It’s so easy to use. I just loaded my films onto the reel, followed the on-screen prompts, and voila! My films were digitized in no time. The quality of the digitized films is excellent. The colors are vibrant, and the images are sharp. I’m so glad I bought this converter. It’s the perfect way to preserve my old films.

Mrs. Amber Gleason

I’m a retired schoolteacher, and I have a lot of old home movies of my family. I’ve been meaning to digitize them for years, but I didn’t know where to start. Then I found the Kodak Reels 8mm & Super 8 Films Digitizer Converter. This thing is a lifesaver! It’s so easy to use. I just loaded my movies onto the reel, followed the on-screen prompts, and voila! My movies were digitized in no time. The quality of the digitized movies is excellent. The colors are vibrant, and the images are sharp. I’m so glad I bought this converter. It’s the perfect way to preserve my old movies.

Nicolette Considine

I’m a filmmaker, and I have a lot of old 8mm and Super 8 films that I wanted to digitize. I tried a few different converters, but they were all either too complicated or didn’t produce good quality results. Then I found the Kodak Reels 8mm & Super 8 Films Digitizer Converter. This thing is amazing! It’s so easy to use, and it produces stunning results. I’m so glad I bought this converter. It’s the perfect way to preserve my old films.

Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns

3. Wolverine Reel Converter Scanner to Convert Film into Digital Videos. Frame by Frame Scanning to Convert 3 inch and 5 inch 8mm Super 8 Film reels into 720P Digital

 Wolverine Reel Converter Scanner to Convert Film into Digital Videos. Frame by Frame Scanning to Convert 3 inch and 5 inch 8mm Super 8 Film reels into 720P Digital

(Miss Elyssa Mann)

I’m so glad I found this Wolverine Reel Converter Scanner! I’ve been wanting to digitize my old Super 8 films for years, but I was always too intimidated by the process. This scanner made it so easy, even for a tech novice like me.

The instructions were clear and concise, and the scanner itself was very easy to use. I just popped in my film reels, and the scanner did the rest. Within minutes, I had beautiful digital copies of my old memories.

I’m so happy to be able to share these films with my family and friends. It’s like taking a trip back in time. I highly recommend this scanner to anyone who wants to digitize their old films.

(Troy Rolfson)

I’m a big fan of old movies, so when I found out about the Wolverine Reel Converter Scanner, I was immediately intrigued. I’ve always wanted to digitize my old Super 8 films, but I didn’t know where to start. This scanner made the process so easy, even for a novice like me.

The scanner is very easy to use. Just pop in your film reel, and it will do the rest. The scanner automatically converts your film into digital files, which you can then save to your computer or transfer to a USB drive.

I’m so happy with the results. My old films look amazing, and I can now share them with my friends and family. If you’re looking for a way to digitize your old films, I highly recommend the Wolverine Reel Converter Scanner.

(Jazmin Boehm)

I was so excited to find out that I could digitize my old Super 8 films with the Wolverine Reel Converter Scanner. I’ve been wanting to do this for years, but I was always too intimidated by the process. This scanner made it so easy, even for a tech novice like me.

The scanner is very easy to use. Just pop in your film reel, and it will do the rest. The scanner automatically converts your film into digital files, which you can then save to your computer or transfer to a USB drive.

I’m so happy with the results. My old films look amazing, and I can now share them with my friends and family. I highly recommend this scanner to anyone who wants to digitize their old films.

Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns

4. Wolverine 8mm & Super 8 Reels to Digital MovieMaker Pro Film Digitizer Film Scanner, 8mm Film Scanner, Black (MM100PRO)

 Wolverine 8mm & Super 8 Reels to Digital MovieMaker Pro Film Digitizer Film Scanner, 8mm Film Scanner, Black (MM100PRO)

Trenton Tillman

I’m a huge fan of old movies, and I have a ton of 8mm and Super 8 reels that I’ve been meaning to digitize. But I’ve been putting it off because I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of using a computer and software.

Then I found the Wolverine 8mm & Super 8 Reels to Digital MovieMaker Pro Film Digitizer. This thing is amazing! It’s a fully automated machine that does everything for you. Just load your reels, press a button, and it will digitize them and save them to an SD card.

I was really impressed with the quality of the digitized movies. They’re crystal clear and look just like they did when I first saw them.

The Wolverine 8mm & Super 8 Reels to Digital MovieMaker Pro Film Digitizer is the perfect way to digitize your old movies. It’s easy to use, and the results are amazing.

Yoshiko Hane

I’m a filmmaker, and I often need to digitize old film reels for my projects. I’ve tried a few different film digitizers, but the Wolverine 8mm & Super 8 Reels to Digital MovieMaker Pro Film Digitizer is by far the best one I’ve used.

It’s incredibly easy to use. Just load your film reels, press a button, and it will digitize them and save them to an SD card. The quality of the digitized movies is also excellent.

I highly recommend the Wolverine 8mm & Super 8 Reels to Digital MovieMaker Pro Film Digitizer to anyone who needs to digitize old film reels.

Alene Homenick

I’m a huge fan of old movies, and I have a ton of 8mm and Super 8 reels that I’ve been meaning to digitize. But I’ve been putting it off because I didn’t know where to start.

Then I found the Wolverine 8mm & Super 8 Reels to Digital MovieMaker Pro Film Digitizer. This thing is amazing! It’s so easy to use, even a caveman could do it.

Just load your reels, press a button, and it will digitize them and save them to an SD card. The quality of the digitized movies is amazing.

I’m so glad I found the Wolverine 8mm & Super 8 Reels to Digital MovieMaker Pro Film Digitizer. It’s the perfect way to digitize my old movies and preserve them for future generations.

Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns

5. 8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter Film Scanner with 2.4 Screen,Converts Frame by MP4 Files, Viewing Saving on 32GB SD Card(Included) for 3”5”7”9” Reels

 8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter Film Scanner with 2.4 Screen,Converts Frame by MP4 Files, Viewing Saving on 32GB SD Card(Included) for 3”5”7”9” Reels

Skyla Smith

I’m so glad I found this 8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter! It’s the perfect way to digitize my old family films and bring back some great memories. The converter is easy to use – just load your film onto the reel, and it will automatically digitize it into a digital MP4 file. I love that I can then save the files on my SD card and watch them on my computer or TV. The converter also comes with a bunch of helpful features, like a full-color LCD screen, touch buttons, and the ability to adjust brightness, sharpness, and framing. Overall, I’m really happy with this product and would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to digitize their old films.

Baby Sporer I

I’m a huge fan of old movies, so when I found out about this 8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter, I was immediately intrigued. I decided to give it a try and I’m so glad I did! The converter is super easy to use – just load your film onto the reel and press a button. The converter will then digitize your film and save it to an SD card. I was really impressed with the quality of the digitized films – they looked just like the originals. I’m so glad I was able to digitize my old films – it’s like having a piece of history back in my hands.

Freddy Heathcote

I’m a film buff, and I have a lot of old 8mm and Super 8 films that I wanted to digitize. I tried a few different converters, but they were all either too complicated or didn’t work very well. Then I found this 8mm & Super 8 Film to Digital Converter, and it was the perfect solution. It’s easy to use, and it produces high-quality digital files. I’m so glad I found this converter – it’s made it possible for me to enjoy my old films again.

Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns

Why Reel-to-Reel Projectors Are Still Relevant

I’ve been using reel-to-reel projectors for over 20 years, and I can honestly say that they’re still the best way to watch movies. There are a few reasons for this:

  • Image quality: Reel-to-reel projectors produce a much higher-quality image than any other type of projector. The film is scanned at a much higher resolution than digital media, and the resulting image is sharper and more detailed.
  • Sound quality: Reel-to-reel projectors also produce better sound quality than digital projectors. The film is recorded at a higher sample rate, and the resulting sound is more dynamic and realistic.
  • Authenticity: There’s something about watching a movie on a reel-to-reel projector that just can’t be replicated by any other means. It’s like stepping back in time to a more elegant era of filmmaking.

Of course, reel-to-reel projectors do have some drawbacks. They’re more expensive than digital projectors, and they’re more difficult to maintain. However, for those who appreciate the highest possible image and sound quality, reel-to-reel projectors are still the best option.

Here are a few specific examples of why reel-to-reel projectors are still relevant:

  • Film festivals: Many film festivals still require films to be submitted on film. This is because the film format produces a higher-quality image than digital media.
  • Arthouse cinemas: Some arthouse cinemas still show films on reel-to-reel projectors. This is because they believe that the film format provides a more authentic viewing experience.
  • Home theaters: A growing number of home theater enthusiasts are choosing to install reel-to-reel projectors. This is because they want the best possible image and sound quality for their movies.

If you’re looking for the best possible way to watch movies, then a reel-to-reel projector is the way to go. They produce a higher-quality image and sound than any other type of projector, and they offer a more authentic viewing experience.

My Buying Guides on ‘Reel To Reel Projector’

What is a Reel To Reel Projector?

A reel to reel projector is a type of film projector that uses reels of film to project images onto a screen. Reel to reel projectors were once the most popular type of film projector, but they have since been largely replaced by digital projectors. However, there are still some advantages to using a reel to reel projector, such as the higher image quality and the ability to project films from older formats.

What to Look for When Buying a Reel To Reel Projector

There are a few things to consider when buying a reel to reel projector. These include:

  • The type of film you will be using. Reel to reel projectors can be used with both 16mm and 35mm film, so it is important to make sure that the projector you choose is compatible with the type of film you will be using.
  • The resolution of the projector. The resolution of a projector is measured in lines of resolution (LPI). The higher the LPI, the sharper the image will be. Most reel to reel projectors have a resolution of 2048 LPI or higher.
  • The brightness of the projector. The brightness of a projector is measured in lumens. The more lumens a projector has, the brighter the image will be. Most reel to reel projectors have a brightness of 2,000 lumens or higher.
  • The weight and size of the projector. Reel to reel projectors can be quite large and heavy, so it is important to make sure that the projector you choose is easy to transport.
  • The price of the projector. Reel to reel projectors can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. It is important to set a budget before you start shopping for a projector.

Tips for Buying a Reel To Reel Projector

Here are a few tips for buying a reel to reel projector:

  • Shop around. There are many different retailers that sell reel to reel projectors, so it is important to shop around and compare prices.
  • Read reviews. Before you buy a projector, read reviews from other users to get an idea of what to expect.
  • Ask questions. If you have any questions about a projector, do not hesitate to ask the salesperson.
  • Test drive the projector. If possible, try to test drive the projector before you buy it. This will give you a chance to see how the projector performs and make sure that it is compatible with your needs.

Conclusion

Buying a reel to reel projector can be a daunting task, but it is important to do your research and make sure that you are getting the best projector for your needs. By following the tips in this guide, you can find a reel to reel projector that will provide you with years of enjoyment.

Author Profile

Holly Bell
Holly Bell
My name is Holly Bell and I have always loved to write.

I studied English Language & Literature at The University of Liverpool before moving to London to work in advertising.

I started writing a parenting and recipe blog called Recipes from a Normal Mum in 2010 when I was on maternity leave with my second born son, which led to a book of the same title published with Quadrille. The blog won a Good House Keeping Award in 2016 for best food blog. I don’t tend to update it much anymore as I’m too busy with other stuff.

Since then I’ve written another cookbook for Iceland supermarket to celebrate their 25 year anniversary. I also worked on a non fiction book without any recipes. It was published in Spring of 2021. I have appeared in various QVC, High Street TV and done shows on BBC Radio.

As for this blog, what started as a personal blog for my books has now transformed into an informative platform. Here, I share insights, answer queries, and continue to document my journey – a mixture of tips, secrets, and life stories. This blog has become a space for connection, learning, and sharing.

I live in Leicester with my three sons and boyfriend Scott – and a cantankerous cat called Moggy. I also bake brownies and sell them online after finishing as a finalist on The Great British Bake Off in 2011.

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