The Best Way to Convert Home Movies to DVD
Converting a library of old home movies on 16 mm, 8 mm or Super8 film to video can be costly if you use a professional service. Try this do-it-yourself process using old equipment to mimic the professional telecine process. Once you have completed your DIY telecine, you can import the video to your computer. Using desktop software now included with most computers, you can transfer that video to DVD.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Your original home movies
- A projector for the old movies
- A video camera
- A tripod for the video camera (or a safe substitute)
- A computer
- IEEE 1394 cable (also known as a FireWire or i.Link cable)
- Video software (iMovie or Windows Media)
- DVD burning software
Instructions
-
Getting the Film onto Video
-
1
Set up a projector to project the films. If you do not have a screen, use a firm, clean, white surface as a substitute screen.
-
2
Set up a video camera to capture the projected images. Position the video camera so the framing on the projected image is not on a slant. Where you position the camera will depend largely on what kind of camera you use. Some prosumer cameras with tripods can tilt down a bit at the image to be captured without distortion. A smaller video camera could easily be placed in front of the projector.
-
-
3
Turn on the light of the projector without starting the film. This will give you a frame of white light on your screen.
-
4
Turn on the video camera and frame your image around the white light on the screen. Get as close as you can to capturing the image in the same frame as it will be projected.
-
5
Press RECORD on the video camera.
-
6
Start the projector. You should be capturing the home movies on the video camera.
Import the Video
-
7
Connect the video camera with the completed tape to your computer. Use an IEEE 1394 cable (also known as a FireWire or i.Link cable)
-
8
Open your media software. On a Mac, the software included is iMovie. On a PC, the software is Windows Media Maker
-
9
Import the video following the instructions for importing video in your software.
-
10
Output the video to DVD using the same video software.
-
11
Burn your DVD.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The darker the room in which you project your film, the better for the videotaping.
Spend as much time as you can getting the size of the frame just right on your video camera. Read the manual to see what the optimal spacing is for the lens on your camera.
Search the net to find groups that collect or use the type of film you will be projecting to learn tips about homemade conversions to video.
The DIY telecine process is not perfect. You may notice additional grain or color de-saturation in the process. Your home DVD software may be able to correct some of this in its outputting process. If you are not satisfied with the image quality, you may want to pay for a professional telecine conversion. Keep your DIY version in case anything happens to your film while out for the telecine process.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit role of film image by Slobodan Djajic from Fotolia.com
