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Welcome to Narrow Gauge Films

With nearly 30 years of experience in the filmmaking industry, the team at Narrow Gauge Films, is here to provide motion picture camera repair, camera parts, engineering and film restoration services.
We are the only "one stop shop" on the west coast for motion picture camera service and scanning.

Motion Picture Camera Repair

Service of Aaton, Arri, Moviecam, Cinema Products, Eclair and more.

Hard Parts

From video taps to power adaptors, we have dozens of in-house products to offer.

Film Restoration

High quality film scanning and digital restoration from 8mm, 16mm and 35mm formats.

Engineering

Developing one-off parts and components to fit owners needs including custom CNC and milling.

Work Samples.

Here are some samples of our scanning & restoration work, as well as some great short films showing the quality of our equipment.

Our Awesome Services.

Here are just some of the services we provide.

Camera Service

Aaton and Arri specialist
Arri SR, 416, 35BL and more
Aaton 16mm; LTR/XTR and A-Minima
Aaton 35mm; 35III and Penelope
Moviecam SL and Compact
Fully trained with factory tools

Ultra Assist™ Video assist

Flicker-Free video assist for
- Aaton XTR Prod and Xtera
- Aaton 35III
- Arri 35BL (with pre-installed optics)
- Arri SR (with pre-installed optics)
And many more models coming soon!

Hard Parts

We offer custom components
- Loop formers for Aaton and Eclair
- Magazine boots for Aaton LTR/XTR, 35III and Penelope
- Custom EYE cups for ALL Aaton, Eclair and later Beaulieu models
Custom A-Minima spools and rewind table coming soon!

Restoration

Using state of the art tools from Digital Vision, we can provide complete restoration of your original assets, no matter how damaged they are. Our custom warped film wet gate, provides stable scans. Digital Vision Phoenix carefully restores every frame like new. Stabilization, dirt/scratch removal and shrinking compensation are just a few key features.

Scanning

We offer full scanning services
- DCI 4k 8mm, Super 8mm and 16mm
- DCI 4k 35mm Pin Registered
- Wetgate for 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm
- Sound capture for Super 8 and 16mm
- DPX, DNXHR or Pro Res delivery
Minimal 200ft for scan

Engineering

- Advanced Autocad design work.

- Rapid FDM and SLA 3D prototyping.

- Reverse engineering with 3D scanner.

- Low volume manufacturing.

Our Amazing Team.

Running an film industry business takes a team effort. It takes a group of talented people to make everything come together and we have some of the best in the industry.

Tyler Purcell

Owner/Camera Technician and Restoration Expert

Tyler is a fully trained camera technician and restoration/post production expert. With over 20 years working in Hollywood, Tyler has a great deal of experience working on feature and short films as well.

Hayden Morrison

Lead Engineer and Scanning technician

Hayden is our lead product engineer and also our scanner technician. He works closely with Tyler to insure the finished product is perfect.

Pricing

Service

For all Service requests, please fill out the check-in sheet below and include it in the shipping box.
Click here for the Service Check-in Sheet

We charge $150/hour for basic labor, with a minimum of one hour.
We flat-rate magazine service at $150 per magazine, which includes any servicing labor AND scratch test.
We charge a $50 diagnosis fee, if service is not completed through us.
We have an extensive parts inventory for Aaton cameras as well. Please contact us for details using the info below.


Ultra Assist™ Video Tap

Our all-new to market Ultra Assist™ has taken us 2 years to design and develop as an all-metal design.
We use a brand new Sony EXMOR 6xx series imager, with extremely low noise floor and completely automatic operation
The assist comes in multiple flavors:
- Aaton XTR Prod $1749 (no LTR at this time)
- Aaton Xtra $2999
- Aaton 35III $2499
- Arri SR (customer supplied beam splitter) $2499
- Arri 35-3 (customer supplied beam splitter) $2499
- Arri 35BL (BL3 and BL4 beam splitter only) $2499
Other models are being explored, send us your camera and we can see if it'll work

Custom Hard Parts

We offer dozens of hard parts for various camera systems and can custom design anything you can dream.
Here are some of the parts we offer. If you're interested in them, please contact us for purchasing.
- Aaton LTR and XTR Prod battery box $499 each (V Mount OR AB mount)
- Aaton LTR, XTR, Xtera Magazine Boots $35 each
- Aaton 16mm and 35mm camera Loop Former $35 each
- Eclair ACL/NPR Loop former $35 each
- Aaton Penelope Magazine Boot $125 each
- Aaton, Eclair and Beaulieu eye cup $45 each
We also offer PL conversions for Aaton mount cameras

Scanning and Restoration

For all scanning and restoration work, please fill out the checkin form and include it in the box.
Click here for the Scanning and Restoration Check-in Sheet

One Light Scanning Only

For our standard 8mm and 16mm format scans, we use a Film Fabriek HDS + 4k scanner.
This scanner delivers exceptional dynamic range and color accuracy, as well as full DCI 4k resolution.
For 35mm scans, we use a 4k Scanity
We scan both negative and reversal films, but they must be already prepped with leader.
Unprepared films (under 100ft rolls) will have a $50 dollar fee for assembly onto scan roll; 500ft for 8mm and 1200ft for 16mm.

4k One-Light scan of 8mm formats starts at .48 cents per foot.

4k One-Light scan of 16mm formats starts at .38 cents per foot.

4k One-Light scan of 35mm starts at .38 cents per foot.

2 - 5 day turn around depending on format.

Each scan is checked for color accuracy and delivered on whatever codec and drive you wish.

Please contact us for specific pricing based on your project. We do offer bulk and package deals.

16mm Processing + Prep + Scanning Packages

For filmmakers shooting on film today and want a great deal, we offer this complete package for them.

Starting at $.62 cents per foot

We will process, prep, clean and scan your 16mm film, with clean color pass AND deliver on whatever format you wish!
This deal is ONLY for ECN color negative stocks and turn around is usually 48hrs depending on quantity
Please contact us directly for a quote
Pricing is for 400ft or more. Lower quantities can be discussed at a different rate.


Full Restoration Scan (great for old dirty home movies)

Our basic restoration scan starts by cleaning your film and then running it through our wet gate process, to help remove scratches.
Then, after we scan your film, we will do a color pass to insure each scene is at its optimal quality possible.
The final file is delivered in the resolution and format of your choice.
We scan both negative and reversal films, but they must be already prepped with leader.
Unprepared films (under 100ft rolls) will have a $50 dollar fee for assembly onto scan roll; 500ft for 8mm and 1200ft for 16mm.

Pricing starts at only $.60 cents per foot.

5 - 15 day turn around depending on format.

Please contact us for bulk rates and timeframes, as wet gate scans do take a while.

Damaged film and full restoration

For people with old/damaged 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm formats, either warped, severely faded, bad perforations, etc.
The price includes inspection, vitafilm chemical restoration, ultrasonic cleaning, custom wet gate scanning (including clamping gate), full Phoenix restoration & DaVinci Resolve color.
Please contact us for pricing if you have film that needs full restoration. We have samples above.


Special Services

Digital Dailies (per roll) $50
8mm and 16mm scan roll assembly $50
Super 8 magnetic audio $.10/ft
16mm optical audio $.10/ft
Hand cleaning of film (prep process)$75/hr
Frame by frame digital cleaning $125/hr
Automated ultrasonic cleaning $.06/ft
Scene by scene color grade $125/hr