The present and future of microfilm in data recording – SMA archiving equipment

The emergence of microfilm technology

The history of microfilm goes all the way back to 1839, when a pioneer named John Dancer invented microphotography. A few years later, the French optician René Dagron developed the idea further and worked out practical, commercial uses that made microfilm useful in practice. At the beginning of the 20th century the 35 mm microfilm camera appeared, which revolutionised newspaper archiving – this technique is still widely used today to preserve old press material.

From the 1950s onwards, microfilm served not only storage purposes but also functioned as an active information carrier. It became indispensable especially in libraries, since printed newspapers were difficult to organise, took up a lot of space and deteriorated over time. Microfilm offered a practical solution to all of these problems.

In John Dancer’s workshop

The place of microfilm in the 21st century

At the beginning of the 21st century digitisation began to spread rapidly, and this process continues today. Much material that was recorded on microfilm decades ago is now also being made available in digital form – providing faster access and easier searchability.

At the same time, many institutions still use and require microfilm recording today, since despite digital media it is still regarded as one of the most reliable and durable archiving methods.

What are the advantages of recording data on microfilm?

Microfilm was designed specifically for long-term archiving, and no extra equipment – such as a computer, software or other hardware – is needed to read it. One of the greatest advantages of microfilm is its durability: with proper storage it can be preserved for up to 500 years. In addition, it takes up extremely little space compared with paper-based records, so it is also an economical storage solution.

From the archiving point of view, microfilm is extremely reliable and secure. If properly stored and handled, it remains intact for centuries.

SMA microfilm archiving equipment

SMA, one of the leading manufacturers of precision scanning and archiving technologies, offers state-of-the-art microfilm processors and writers that meet even the highest industry standards.

The SMA 16 is a lightweight and mobile desktop microfilm writer that records onto 16 mm microfilm.

It is also suitable for recording black-and-white images, and with this unique capability it is the only product of its kind available on the market.

• Minimal space requirement
• Ideal for mobile use
• Cost-effective, with excellent value for money

The SMA 51 microfilm writer is a market leader in the world of 16/35 mm microfilm writers.

The SMA 51 microfilm writer supports all 16–35 mm microfilm formats as well as microfiche. With an optional accessory, all microfilm and microfiche types can now be covered with a single device.

• 16 and 35 mm microfilm writer
• Can be used with standard microfilm of any brand
• 8K technology for exceptional
• Conversion speed of up to 7,200 images/hour
• Can handle any film length, from 30 metres to 600-metre reels

The PICCOLO 35 is an easy-to-use desktop microfilm processor. The PICCOLO 35 is suitable for developing 35 mm and 16 mm microfilm.

The device requires no water connection or waste-water drain; only the bottles of the Piccolo chemical kit need to be connected for processing.

• Compact size
• Available in several configurations
• Requires no water mains connection

Which institutions should consider microfilm preservation?

Microfilm can be especially useful for archives, libraries, local-history societies and other similar institutions where preserving documents of local history is important. It is worth making a microfilm copy even if the materials have already been digitised – since technology can fail, and digital files can be damaged or lost. A microfilm backup helps preserve the valuable past.

If you would like more information about SMA’s microfilm systems, feel free to contact our colleagues.

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