BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Convert 8 mm Movies to DVD

By eHow Electronics Editor

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Many people have found old 8 mm movies in their parents' or grandparents' belongings and would love to have a copy of them on DVD. It's a link to the past that many would love to share with their children and friends. Sending the 8 mm movies out to be converted to DVD can be very expensive. Follow these steps to convert 8 mm movies to DVD on your own.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

8 mm film projector
Smooth white screen
Digital video camera
Tripod
Computer with video-editing application

Step1

Wipe the film projector and the white background clean of dust. Adjust the lens on the film projector so the image is clear and tightly focused.

Step2

Set up the digital video camera right next to the 8 mm projector so there isn't much of an angle. Make sure that the projector is not in the digital video camera's line of vision.

Step3

Practice for a couple of minutes by starting up the 8 mm movie and adjusting the digital video camera so there isn't much background surrounding the movie. Rewind the 8mm movie and start the recording over once you have the digital video camera properly adjusted.

Step4

Mute the digital video camera when recording so it doesn't pick up background noise or the annoying buzz from the projector as it's playing the 8 mm movie. If you don't have a mute button then put a mini-jack adapter into the audio input on the digital video camera.

Step5

Transfer the digital video to the computer. Do this by connecting the Firewire on the digital video camera to the computer. Open your video editing program, such as MyDVD, and follow the instructions included with the program to convert the movie to DVD.

Tips & Warnings

Avoid bumping the projector or the digital video camera while recording.

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Comments

quantumquark said

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on 2/12/2008 The problem you are experiencing is one of sampling frequency. The sampling frequency of your home (modern) video camera is very fast compared to your old home movie. The home video camera can actually see part of the black line between frames in your old home movie, called aliasing. Solution:

1. Reduce sampling frequency of modern camera
2. speed up home movie

Then, you'll have to use video editing software that has the ability to speed up or slow down movies. You need this because you're perfect movie was recorded either slower or faster than real life.
Or. Have one someone like these guys do it for you:
https://www.homemoviedepot.com/film/film_transfer_steps.php
http://www.mymovietransfer.com/scanning_process.html

popayetwo said

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on 10/21/2007 But some digital video cameras record the frame lines from a projector as a black horzontal line moving up or down the screen. What settings must be used on the camera to avoid these? Incidently, the older analogue video cameras did not suffer from this problem.