Formats
As you may have noticed
I didn’t mention using a VHS
Camera.Here are a few reasons why.
1. |
Using
a VHS Tape as a master is not recommended unless you have exhausted
all other resources. Previously you read about the longevity of
VHS tapes but the quality of the image that you capture is another
issue. I have many clients who previously had their 8mm film conversion
done with the older VHS-tape technology and were amazed to see
the significant improvements in the quality of their film transfer
to DVD.
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2. |
Other equipment
involved in the process has a bearing on the final result as well.
Film transfer companies that use VHS cameras in their loop tend
to use other out dated equipment. |
The resolution of a VHS
recording (the number of horizontal lines that make up an image) will
produce only about 240 lines of resolution and the DV signal will be
500+. The difference in resolution is the reason why VHS recordings
tend to look muddy, washed out and not very sharp or in focus. In comparison,
DVD outputs 540 lines of resolution, although not all TV’s can display
that many lines.
This higher resolution is
why on most TV’s, DVD images are sharper and more colorful than the
same images made on VHS camcorders. Digital copies obtained from a DV
Camcorder will always be identical and will not loose their sharpness
or clarity over time. On the other hand, every time you make a copy
of a VHS tape the quality is degraded. In addition, digital technology
allows for easy editing and enhancing of your film.
Many consumers who are the
do it yourself type elect to have their film conversion outputted to
a hard drive first as opposed to a DVD and then do the editing themselves
on their home computers because it is much more challenging to edit
material on a DVD.
If you want a quality job
done on your 8mm film conversion to another format beware of the all
in one “film transfer systems in a box” or converter/transfer units
by a company called Ambico and others. These systems use extra lenses
and mirrors and will only degrade your final output. Avoid using them
at all costs. In the links section of this booklet you will find a company
that offers really top quality film transfer systems, which will give
you professional results.
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