jimvanells Loc: Augusta, GA

I need some suggestions in trying to get some VCR tapes put on DVDs. These movies' were taken on a 16mm movie camera in the 1920's and 30's and we would like to share them with the family. Any help would be appreciated. We may even be able to find the original films which may provide better resolution. We all realize these will not be sharp on a 65" 4K TV, but it's great grand parents and a bit of history.

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

Try this link, complete explanation and devices.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

I've done it myself and I've had Costco do it. Although Costco photo centers have closed, their services are still available online. And other companies offer these services, perhaps even your local Walmart.

The VCR tapes I did myself I did on a used Panasonic DVD recorder I found on eBay. It recorded any input, TV or VCR or any analog signal via RCA jacks to a DVD-R format. At the time, there were only a few other DVD recorders, all of which recorded to DVD+R, and of course I'm talking about console, or stand-alone devices and not the kind that works with a computer. I simply ran RCA-type patch cords from the VCR output to the DVD recorder input, and I connected the recorder to a TV just as I would a VCR in order to use the setup, to see what I was doing.

Incidentally, I also recorded a few commercial VCR tapes to DVD, out of print movies which were not available on DVD. To do this I had to add a "signal booster" inline on the video cable. This descrambled the image to allow it to record on DVD. This is not needed for home movies.

And for Costco, I had an old Super 8 movie some friends and I made as a youth project for church. This is the one I had Costco burn to a DVD for me because I had no output from the camera or projector that would connect to the recorder. I think it cost somewhere around $30, but I'm not sure as this was 10 or 12 years ago.

If you have one or two items to convert, it would probably be best to have it done at Costco or somewhere. IF you have dozens of old films to convert, you might look into a DVD recorder. There may be newer and better models available today, but the Panasonic DVD-R recorders were the best back in the day and ran around $350 used.

edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho

Try here:

https://www.roxio.com/en/products/easy-vhs-to-dvd/standard/

You Tube vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsIYqOV_qDc

Also found this on Amazon. It includes software:
https://www.amazon.com/TCNEWCL-Capture-Converter-Digitize-Digital/dp/B08BC5PN4T/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=vcr+to+usb+adapter+with+software&qid=1626636861&sr=8-7

$14.00

kscanman Loc: Wisconsin

I could do this service for you. Email me and we could work out something. kscanman@gmail.com

cejonesjr Loc: Norman, Oklahoma

I purchased this device on Amazon and use it to record VCR tapes and camera tapes to my computer. I do this as a part of my business. Be sure to change the video settings to the highest resolution.

BebuLamar

I guess not but if you can find the original 16mm film it would be great. The transfer to VCR would suffer serious loss in quality.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I'm not clear on how the movie film was converted to VHS. Going from the VHS to DVD would make it third generation. I would think finding a commercial service to convert the original film directly to DVD would yield better quality.

BebuLamar

Especially the OP said they were 16mm film, then they are of better quality than the home 8mm or super 8.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I convert my VCR tapes to digital via a program called "Golden Videos." Works well for me and an inexpensive program.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I used one of these. Easy peasy.

https://smile.amazon.com/Converter-Composite-Adapter-Compatible-Blue-Ray/dp/B0856WDDJB/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=convert+vcr+to+dvd&qid=1626701677&sr=8-9

Bill_de Loc: US

In this day and age I'm not sure I would use DVD as the new medium. It won't be too long (not sure what too long is) before you won't find a working DVD player to show them on. If you can go directly to a USB drive it might save you time and money in the future. Quick multiple copies of the USB would give you, or somebody else, a chance to fool around with editing with no danger of destroying your 3rd generation 'original'.

Just a though.

--

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Walgreen's used to offer that service. I believe they still do. Also Walmart.
God Bless,
Papa Joe

therwol Loc: USA

A few years ago, this was a no brainer. There were many VHS to DVD recorders you could buy. I have two of them. One is a very old GoVideo unit and the other is by Panasonic. You pop in a tape. You pop in a blank DVD. You press a button. That's it. The tape is copied to DVD in real time. Apparently they stopped making these because if you do a search on Amazon, you still see them, but the ones that are left are $700 to over $1000, and some of those are refurbished.

Used ones on eBay are not so expensive.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l2632&_nkw=vhs+to+dvd+recorder&_sacat=32852

I would suggest two things if you go this route. Avoid GoVideo. The DVDs may not be compatible with playing them on a computer. Make sure you get a working remote. Nearly everything on these machines depends on the remote.

PS. You have a last step of finalizing the DVDs. Not a big deal.

therwol Loc: USA

I think that DVDs and players will be around for another decade or two. They're still releasing new movies on DVD and Blu Ray discs. There is an abundance of discs of various new and old movies available on Amazon. Having said that, I do agree with converting video to files rather than discs. They can be edited. They can be shared through the internet. A closet full of DVDs can be stored on one external hard drive.