Digital conversion of reel to reel video and/or vhs pal video - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Gabe001 · 24th Dec 2023, 10:52 am

Just wondering if anyone would be able to convert some reel to reel video and vhs (pal) footage filmed by my late father in law into a digital format?

Please let me know if you can help, or point me in the right direction

Thanks you
Gabriel

Ambientnoise · 24th Dec 2023, 11:25 am

I used Memories to Video in Bristol with good results but I think they’ve stopped doing cine conversions. Our local photo shop sends such material to a lab in Cheltenham (££££) but don’t know the name. I have learned that price and quality are not well correlated though. Whoever you use, it’s important that they care for your irreplaceable originals !

Gabe001 · 24th Dec 2023, 1:02 pm

Thank you
Just want to see if anyone here can do them before I look at commercial offerings.

Also should add that I'm happy to pay a fair price

Paul Stenning · 24th Dec 2023, 1:28 pm

It would be useful to give the tape width, the diameter of each reel and closer shot of the centre of the spools to help identify whether they are audio or video and what type of machine they are from.

If it's quarter inch wide tape then it's almost certainly audio as I don't think there were any quarter inch open reel video formats. However if it's half inch then it could be video and is likely to be a fairly obscure format.

VHS is more straightforward; I and probably other members closer to you have the equipment to do that although mine isn't "professional" grade.

Gabe001 · 24th Dec 2023, 3:18 pm

Diameter 7 inches
Closer shot of centre attached
Diameter of fim is a bit over quarter inch, see picture
They were filmed in Australia, if that helps.

Envelope they were stored in says they're film. One says "super8" so that may be the format.

We've got a pic of him using the camera he filmed this on, but it's not very clear. See attached.

Marconi_MPT4 · 24th Dec 2023, 5:59 pm

Akai produced one commercial 1/4" VTR in 1969 (VT-100). There may have been others.

https://www.rewindmuseum.com/reeltoreelvideo.htm

Scroll down about 3/4 page for VT-100 details.

Rich

vidjoman · 24th Dec 2023, 7:28 pm

I think the film is standard 8mm. Super 8 has sprocket holes that are smaller and has a larger picture area.

24th Dec 2023, 10:52 am	#1
Gabe001 Octode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,646	Digital conversion of reel to reel video and/or vhs pal video Just wondering if anyone would be able to convert some reel to reel video and vhs (pal) footage filmed by my late father in law into a digital format? Please let me know if you can help, or point me in the right direction Thanks you Gabriel Attached Thumbnails

24th Dec 2023, 11:25 am	#2
Ambientnoise Heptode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 917	Re: Digital conversion of reel to reel video and/or vhs pal video I used Memories to Video in Bristol with good results but I think they’ve stopped doing cine conversions. Our local photo shop sends such material to a lab in Cheltenham (££££) but don’t know the name. I have learned that price and quality are not well correlated though. Whoever you use, it’s important that they care for your irreplaceable originals !

24th Dec 2023, 1:02 pm	#3
Gabe001 Octode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,646	Re: Digital conversion of reel to reel video and/or vhs pal video Thank you Just want to see if anyone here can do them before I look at commercial offerings. Also should add that I'm happy to pay a fair price

24th Dec 2023, 1:28 pm	#4
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,074	Re: Digital conversion of reel to reel video and/or vhs pal video It would be useful to give the tape width, the diameter of each reel and closer shot of the centre of the spools to help identify whether they are audio or video and what type of machine they are from. If it's quarter inch wide tape then it's almost certainly audio as I don't think there were any quarter inch open reel video formats. However if it's half inch then it could be video and is likely to be a fairly obscure format. VHS is more straightforward; I and probably other members closer to you have the equipment to do that although mine isn't "professional" grade. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

24th Dec 2023, 3:18 pm	#5
Gabe001 Octode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,646	Re: Digital conversion of reel to reel video and/or vhs pal video Diameter 7 inches Closer shot of centre attached Diameter of fim is a bit over quarter inch, see picture They were filmed in Australia, if that helps. Envelope they were stored in says they're film. One says "super8" so that may be the format. We've got a pic of him using the camera he filmed this on, but it's not very clear. See attached. Attached Thumbnails

24th Dec 2023, 5:59 pm	#6
Marconi_MPT4 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Dorset, UK. Posts: 523	Re: Digital conversion of reel to reel video and/or vhs pal video Akai produced one commercial 1/4" VTR in 1969 (VT-100). There may have been others. https://www.rewindmuseum.com/reeltoreelvideo.htm Scroll down about 3/4 page for VT-100 details. Rich __________________ To an optimist a glass is half full; a pessimist half empty; an engineer twice as big as need be!

24th Dec 2023, 7:28 pm	#7
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,327	Re: Digital conversion of reel to reel video and/or vhs pal video I think the film is standard 8mm. Super 8 has sprocket holes that are smaller and has a larger picture area.