How Old Is Your Film

These charts reproduce the date edge codes from Kodak and Dupont motion pic- ture film. To date your film, find the film’s edge code and select the matching code on the chart. Kodak repeated symbols every 20 years, so you will need additional data to pinpoint the date.  Fuji film uses a four-digit code; the first two numbers represent the year of manufacture.

Most 16mm and virtually all 8mm film used by amateur and independent filmmakers isacetate (or more properly cellulose acetate propionate or cellulose triacetate). Acetate is commonly called 'safety' film (as is polyester) because it does not have the combustible qualities that nitrate film has, and therefore was considered to be safe for use in homes. All 16mm and 8mm film produced in the United States (as well as all 35mm film produced in the U.S. after 1951) is safety film. 

Kodak Super 8 film typically does not have a date code on the edge of the actual film. This is in contrast to standard 8mm or 16mm film, where Kodak often included a date code on the edge to indicate the year and month of manufacture.

Super 8 film cartridges generally have a date code or batch number printed on the cartridge itself, rather than on the film stock. This code can often be used to determine the production date of the film cartridge. The absence of a date code on the film edge itself helps simplify the film manufacturing process and reflects the design of the Super 8 format, which was intended to be more user-friendly and accessible compared to its predecessors.