Old 8mm film reels don't last forever. Acetate breaks down, color fades, and the projectors needed to play these films are getting harder to find every year. For Chicago families with reels sitting in closets, basements, and attics, converting 8mm film to digital is the way to preserve those memories before further degradation makes them unwatchable.
The good news is that the Chicago area has more options than ever for this kind of work. From locally owned specialists with professional equipment to broader video transfer services that handle film as part of a larger menu, the question becomes which one is right for your collection. Below are eight Chicago-area companies that handle 8mm digitization, ranked by a combination of equipment quality, customer reviews, transparency, and local accessibility.
1. Scan5
Located at 4001 N Ravenswood Ave in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood, Scan5 is a locally-owned digitizing company founded by Chicago native Dave Rosen, who has managed all sizes of digitizing projects since 2018. The company uses the Lasergraphics Archivist film scanner, the same equipment trusted by Hollywood studios and national archives, for frame-by-frame scanning at up to 5K resolution.
What sets Scan5 apart is its combination of professional equipment, transparent pricing, and an in-person Chicago office where customers can drop off reels and speak with the team directly. Free written quotes, climate-controlled storage of original items, and free cloud download with every project round out the experience. Scan5 has handled projects for the University of Chicago, DePaul, UIC, The Field Museum, and The Innocence Project, alongside thousands of family collections.
2. Chicago Film Archives
Chicago Film Archives is a nonprofit organization that digitizes 35mm, 16mm, 8mm, Super 8, and 9.5mm motion picture film. The organization uses three professional scanners: a Lasergraphics ScanStation, a Filmfabriek HDS+, and a Kinetta Archival Film Scanner. All three are sprocketless and equipped to handle damaged, warped, and shrunken film.
Pricing includes film inspection and minor repairs, with extensive repair work billed by the hour. Turnaround time is typically two to three weeks. Customer payments support the nonprofit's mission to preserve Midwest history, making this a strong choice for clients who want professional results with a community impact.
3. Intervideo Duplication Services
Located at 3533 South Archer Avenue in Chicago, Intervideo Duplication Services specializes in transferring videocassettes and film to DVD and digital formats. The company handles Regular 8mm, Super 8mm, and 16mm film, plus a long list of tape formats, including VHS, VHS-C, Hi8, Mini-DV, U-matic, and SVHS.
Intervideo offers consumer-quality MPEG-4 or professional-grade ProRes output and provides video restoration using professional ARCHANGEL technology. Customers can ship tapes and film for evaluation, then receive a quote before any work begins.
4. Chicago Scanning
Located at 848 W Eastman Street, Suite 102 in Chicago, Chicago Scanning has been operating for eight years and handles 8mm, Super 8, and 16mm film conversion. The company is sprocketless and captures every frame in full HD overscan for clean, vibrant digital files.
The film transfer process includes professional color correction, scratch removal, stabilization, and proper frame rate handling. Sound is transferred when available, including magnetic audio on Super 8 and optical audio on 16mm. Files are delivered in universal MP4 format with free cloud download included, and USB or DVD copies are available on request. Beyond film, Chicago Scanning also covers photo scanning, slide scanning, video tape transfers, and audio cassette digitization.
5. Chicago Transfer Services
Based in Schaumburg, Illinois, at 10 N Martingale Road, Chicago Transfer Services covers 8mm and 16mm film to DVD, plus videotape transfers, photo and slide digitizing, broadcast media digitizing, and retro audio digitizing. All transfers to DVD are included at no extra charge, with additional DVDs available for $9.99 each.
The company also provides USB drives in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities, plus the option to download files directly via Dropbox. With Saturday appointments available and 50 satellite offices to serve clients throughout the region, accessibility is one of their strongest features.
6. Digital Saviors Chicago
Operating out of Elk Grove Village at 1100 East Nerge Road, Digital Saviors Chicago handles 8mm and Super 8 film reels, plus a broad range of videotapes, audio tapes, photos, slides, and even content from old smart devices and answering machines. Films are transferred to DVD, flash drive, or downloadable video files.
The company also handles foreign-format conversions, including PAL to NTSC and NTSC to PAL, which is useful for clients with international tapes mixed into their collections.
7. Memory Keepers
Based in Aurora, Illinois, Memory Keepers has been digitizing media for more than two decades. The company has helped over 30,000 customers preserve 8mm film reels, VHS tapes, 35mm slides, negatives, cassette recordings, and other formats. All work is handled on-site at their facility, with no outsourcing.
The company emphasizes personalized attention combined with industry-leading hardware and software. Films, tapes, and photos never leave the Aurora facility during processing, which provides strong quality control and security for clients concerned about handing over irreplaceable items.
8. The Digital Convert
Located at 8814 Niles Center Road in Skokie (previously based on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago), The Digital Convert has been digitizing media for Chicagoland customers since 2008. The company handles 8mm, Super 8, and 16mm film, plus videotape formats including VHS, VHS-C, Hi8, and MiniDV.
Output options for film projects include playable DVDs and digital files in either MP4 or ProRes MOV format at no additional cost beyond storage. The company also provides basic editing services, with customers supplying start and stop times after the initial transfer for trimming, splitting, or highlight reels.
Choosing the Right Service
For most Chicago families with irreplaceable home movies, the right service combines three things: professional-grade scanning equipment, transparent pricing, and local accessibility. Converting 8mm film to digital is a one-time investment in preserving memories that cannot be replaced, so the cheapest option is rarely the best one. Take time to compare equipment, read reviews, and choose a provider that handles your reels with the care they deserve.