Cine film identifier
What cine film format is this?
Two quick visual checks — the width of the film and where the sprocket holes sit — are enough to tell Standard 8, Super 8, 9.5mm and 16mm apart. Answer the two questions below and we'll name your format.
Step 1cine film
Pick the closest match
What you'll need before you start
A light source
A window, a desk lamp, or a phone torch — anything that lets you see the film clearly when held up.
Something for scale
A credit card or a 5p coin makes width-comparisons much easier than guessing by eye.
Clean dry hands
Cine film is fragile; handle by the edges only and don't touch the picture surface where you can avoid it.
The four cine-film formats at a glance
| Format | Width | Era | How to tell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 8 (Regular 8 / 8mm) | 8mm | 1932 – mid-1970s | Large sprocket holes near the edge, one per frame, no sound stripe. |
| Super 8 | 8mm | 1965 – late 1990s | Smaller sprocket holes positioned slightly inward. Often a rust-red sound stripe along one edge. |
| 9.5mm Pathé | 9.5mm | 1922 – 1960s | Sprocket holes run down the centre of the film, between frames — unique to this format. |
| 16mm | 16mm | 1923 – present (mostly pro / educational by the 1970s) | Sturdier, wider stock — twice the width of 8mm. Sprocket holes on one or both edges. |
Ready to digitise your cine film?
We handle all four formats — Standard 8, Super 8, 9.5mm and 16mm — on broadcast-grade scanners with AI restoration included.
Get a cine-film quote