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16mm film was the professional standard for documentaries, news footage, educational films, and institutional movies for decades. Scan5 digitizes your 16mm reels at up to 5K resolution using the same Lasergraphics™ scanner trusted by Hollywood studios and national archives.
16mm film has a significantly larger frame than Super 8 or 8mm — and it rewards high-resolution scanning with extraordinary detail. At Scan5, we use the Lasergraphics™ film scanner at resolutions up to 5K, capturing every detail of your 16mm footage with the precision used to archive Hollywood feature films.
We handle both silent and optical sound 16mm film. Our technicians assess each reel, address any damage or deterioration, and optimize scan settings for the best possible result from your specific film.
Introduced by Kodak in 1923, 16mm film became the professional workhorse of documentary, educational, and broadcast filmmaking for the 20th century. News footage, government films, school documentaries, corporate productions, and independent features were all shot on 16mm. It was also used for many home movie productions by serious amateur filmmakers.
Because of its professional heritage, 16mm collections often contain historically significant footage. Libraries, schools, businesses, and families may hold reels that document unique moments in history. We handle all 16mm variants including silent, optical sound, Reversal, and Negative film stocks.
16mm holds significantly more detail than smaller film gauges. We offer scanning options that make the most of every frame.
A high-quality option that captures excellent detail from 16mm film. Suitable for streaming, sharing, and standard display on HD and 4K televisions.
Our recommended resolution for 16mm. Captures the full detail of the 16mm frame for a stunning digital master suitable for large-screen display and archiving.
Maximum resolution with professional DPX or ProRes output. For institutions, filmmakers, and archivists demanding the absolute highest fidelity from their 16mm originals.
16mm reels can suffer from splices, shrinkage, mold, and vinegar syndrome — especially reels stored for decades. We address these issues carefully before scanning.
We repair broken splices, treat shrunken or warped film, address mold, and clean the film surface to minimize damage artifacts before scanning.
Color correction, scratch reduction, grain management, and custom editing services — including trimming, combining reels, and delivering broadcast-ready files.
Once your 16mm reels are digitized, choose how you'd like to store and access your high-resolution files.
We've digitized 16mm collections for families, documentary filmmakers, universities, libraries, and historical organizations across the Chicago area.
Serious amateur filmmakers and families who shot on 16mm deserve professional-grade transfers. We deliver the quality your film's heritage demands.
Libraries, universities, museums, and historical societies trust us to digitize their 16mm collections with the care that historically significant footage deserves.
We understand how personal your memories are, and we treat them with the utmost care. Your photos, tapes, and videos are always secure with us, and we never share them with third parties. Your physical items are kept safe in our climate controlled inventory room at our office building with 24/7 monitoring.
We scan all 16mm film types including silent film, optical sound, reversal film, and negative film. We handle both single-perf and double-perf film. Contact us if you have an unusual format.
We recommend 4K for most 16mm transfers — it captures the full detail of the 16mm frame and produces a stunning digital master. 5K is available for archival and post-production use where maximum resolution is required.
Yes. We transfer optical sound, where the audio is encoded as a light-modulated stripe on the film edge. We do not currently support magnetic sound tracks. If you're unsure which type of sound your film has, bring it in and we'll take a look.
Yes, in many cases. We repair broken splices, treat shrunken film, clean mold and debris, and assess vinegar syndrome. We'll let you know if a reel is beyond salvage before charging for the transfer — and we never charge full price for footage that cannot be reasonably viewed.
Drop off at our Chicago studio (4001 N Ravenswood Ave Suite 502-B), schedule a courier pickup, or ship your reels with a prepaid UPS label. We recommend shipping reels in their original metal or plastic cans with adequate padding.
Most projects are completed in 1–3 weeks depending on the number of reels and their condition. Rush service may be available for urgent institutional needs — contact us to discuss.
Yes. We work with universities, libraries, museums, historical societies, and businesses to digitize large 16mm archives. We can provide tailored digital preservation plans with competitive volume pricing. Contact us to discuss your collection.
Give your 16mm reels the professional treatment they deserve. Let Scan5 create stunning digital transfers at up to 5K resolution.
