Two kinds of 8mm, two different conversations
Mike Crivello's describes in-house technicians transferring old 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm film to DVDs for home playback. Separately, it says 8mm, Hi8mm and Mini DV tape can be converted to DVD. The shared 8mm label is easy to misunderstand: a reel of photographic film and an enclosed video cassette are different media. Keep them in separate groups when making your inventory.
Read the labels and photograph each container without opening the cassette or unwinding film. A quick list of formats, item counts and handwritten dates will make your enquiry more precise. For tapes with cracked cases, visible mold or a history of playback trouble, describe the condition before bringing them in. Ask whether assessment or repair is available; a transfer listing alone does not promise either.
The published reel prices belong to film
The media transfer page lists 8mm and Super 8mm film at $.12 per foot and 16mm film at $.30 per foot. It also lists 8mm/Super 8mm film splicing at $1.00 per splice, explicitly described as not a permanent splice. These are film charges, so they should not be used to estimate the cost of a VHS or camcorder tape order.
Before comparing estimates, ask for a total covering your actual collection, the delivery medium, any necessary handling and applicable tax. Do not guess reel length from the amount of material visible through a case. If a relative knows which reels contain the wedding or a particular holiday, record that information now. It can help you choose a smaller first batch without losing the context of the larger collection.
Decide how you want to watch before ordering
DVD is the stated destination for the listed film and camcorder tape transfers. The film transfer details also name .VOB as the file format and describe a transfer-only service. That wording makes the intended result worth discussing: transferring a recording does not, by itself, tell you whether scenes will be edited, individually named or prepared for a particular app.
If you want to watch on a television with a DVD player, say so. If your aim is laptop playback and private family sharing, ask whether a separate video file suitable for those uses is available, what format it would use and whether it costs extra. File delivery is a question to resolve before ordering, especially when the published offer centers on DVDs. Preserve the initial transfer files even if you later make smaller viewing copies.
Sound needs its own check on older reels
Mike Crivello's says it transfers sound only from Super 8mm film, with no sound transferred for 8mm or 16mm. Treat that as a limitation of the stated film service, rather than a reason to assume every reel in those formats was originally silent. Explain any sound expectations when discussing the order.
When the result arrives, sample the beginning, middle and end of each recording. Check that the picture plays, that expected audio is present and that the filenames match your inventory. Keep a note of unexpected gaps so you can distinguish a transfer question from an original recording problem. Store the returned originals safely and keep at least one digital backup separate from your everyday viewing device.
From a playable recording to a private family archive
Once conversion is complete and you have suitable digital files, Memrial provides a separate private family archive for photos and home videos. It does not convert physical tapes and is not part of Mike Crivello's service. The free plan includes 2.0 GB of shared archive storage with no card needed; that allowance covers the archive collectively.
Invite relatives to help identify people and places. Timeline accepts exact or approximate dates, so a recording remembered only by its approximate year can still be found on the timeline. Live Watch Parties synchronize an uploaded home video, with the host controlling play, pause and seek while relatives nearby or far away use voice and text chat. The free allowance is 3 hours per month with up to 6 participants.
For a family reunion, Event Memories offers a secure occasion contribution link. Contributors sign in but do not need archive membership, and their photos and videos go into the event album. Close the link after the gathering and the collected memories remain. That makes room for both newly taken pictures and older recordings that prompted the conversation.