16mm Equipment

16mm film, about 2/3 inch wide, became an affordable choice for non-theatrical filmmaking, including industrial, educational, and television productions, as well as low-budget films. It was also a favorite for amateur filmmakers making home movies, alongside 8 mm and later Super 8 formats.

Introduced by Eastman Kodak in 1923, 16mm offered a cheaper alternative to 35mm film for amateurs. That same year, the Victor Animatograph Corporation started producing 16mm cameras and projectors. Kodak further popularized the format with its "Kodascope Library," offering films for rent or purchase.

One of the first to use acetate safety film, 16mm was a safer choice than the flammable nitrate base used in 35mm films.