There is an interesting new video photography app called, 8mm Vintage Camera by Nexvio, Inc., that brings your iPhone and iPod Touch back in time to capture the beauty and magic of old school.
My family is fortunate to have many home movies, including dozens of film reels dating back to the 1950s and videotapes from the 1970s. But hauling out the creaky old 8mm film projector was a chore, and we didn’t have a working VCR, so never watched the movies. Digitizing old home movies makes them viewable on today’s devices—HDTVs, laptops, tablets and smartphones. It also preserve these precious records of family history: Old films and videotapes are slowly degrading, but digital versions will remain stable virtually forever (as long as it can play on current technology). It’s relative easy to improve the quality of digitized movies and share clips online.
USB converter box: Most of the film transfer services in the chart on page 52 digitize videos, but you can digitize them yourself with an inexpensive USB converter box. I used Honestech’s VHS to DVD 5.0 Deluxe for Windows ($45 on ), and was pleased with the results. (A newer 7.0 version lets you adjust video brightness, contrast and saturation. It costs $59.99.) To convert videos to digital with a USB converter box, you need a device to play them back. To play VHS and VHS-C videos, I bought a refurbished VCR on Amazon.com. I connected the VCR to the Honestech VIDBOX with the included cables, and connected the VIDBOX to my computer with a USB cable. I played back the videos and watched them as the Honestech software converted them to digital files.
You need an adapter to play a VHS-C (compact videocassette) in a VCR. To play back Hi8 and Video8 videos, I bought a used Sony Digital8 camcorder that handles both video types. I connected the camcorder to the VIDBOX with an S video connector. I saved the converted video as MPG files on my computer.
Old camcorder video was never sharp to begin with, but the converted video looks just as good as the original. Real-time: Unfortunately, there’s no way to connect an 8mm, Super 8 or 16mm movie film projector or camera to a USB converter box. Real-time film transfer is the cheapest method to digitize these film types. A service that uses a high-definition camera or camcorder for real-time transfer will get slightly better results. But even at its best, real-time transfer produces video that’s slightly blurry with less vivid color.
Most methods involve projecting the movie on a screen as you take digital video of it. You can do that yourself with a projector, a screen or whiteboard, and a digital video camera. You’ll probably need to do a lot of tweaking to get the setup right. Depending on the scanning resolution, film transfer services usually charge between $8 and $15 per 50-foot reel for frame-by-frame transfer. Professional frame-by-frame film scanners usually cost $50,000 or more, but MovieStuff of Texas offers a unit designed for home use for just $2,995. The requires Windows 7 or 8 and handles 8mm and Super 8 film, but doesn’t transfer sound.
Unattended, the unit can scan a 50-foot-roll of 8mm film in about 30 minutes. Roger Evans of MovieStuff says you don’t need special skills to operate the Retro-8. Even at under $3,000, it wouldn’t be a practical purchase unless you have a lot of film to convert, but you could plan to sell the scanner when you’re done. Motion picture film scanner: Made for professional use, a motion picture film scanner uses a roller-based (rather than a sprocket-based) system. That means you can get good results even if your film has bad sprockets.
Many scanners also adjust for shrunken film. They produce significantly better video than frame-by-frame scanners. DigitalFilmTechnology’s Spirit and Scanity scanners are state-of-the-art motion picture film scanners, but because they carry a hefty price tag (nearly $500,000 for one scanner), this isn’t a DIY option. When comparing film transfer services, a key consideration is scanning resolution.
Typical options include standard definition (SD) with 480 horizontal lines of vertical resolution and high definition (HD) with 1080 horizontal lines. The number of lines of resolution of your film depends on the camera, lens, lighting and focus when it was recorded. 8mm and Super 8 film is usually equivalent to between 700 and 1,000 lines of horizontal resolution, so a SD scan at 480 lines won’t capture all the lines, but an HD scan at 1080 lines will.
While an HD scan is adequate for 8mm and Super 8 film, there may be some benefits to scanning at an even higher resolution. Video Conversion Experts, which offers scanning with high-end DataCine film scanners, recommends 2K scanning for better color reproduction and restoration of 8mm and Super 8 film. Some services scan at a lower resolution and then upconvert to a higher resolution. That doesn’t match scanning at a higher resolution to begin with, so ask what the native scanning resolution is without upconverting. Also find out if the service uses interlaced or progressive scanning, indicated by an i or p, as in 1080i or 1080p. Progressive scanning is preferred because you can change playback speed without loss of image quality and it produces better still images. Most film transfer services charge by the foot.
A 3-inch reel has 50 feet and a 7-inch reel has 400 feet. Some services charge extra for splicing film from 3-inch to 7-inch reels, cleaning and lubricating the film, correcting color and exposure and converting audio, plus fees for setup and shipping. They also might charge for adding a menu to your disc and a title at the beginning of each reel. When preparing your discs to be transferred, number the reels and supply a title for each one. Consider getting your movies on different types of media—and figure these costs into the total price. DVD: SD video on a DVD plays on a TV or a computer with a DVD or Blu-ray player. The video isn’t as clear as your original movies.
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You can use a menu to jump to different chapters (reel numbers). Blu-ray: HD video on a Blu-ray disc plays on an HDTV with a Blu-ray player or a computer with a Blu-ray drive.
Windows 7’s Media Player plays DVDs, but to play DVDs with Windows 8 or Blu-rays with Windows 7 or 8, you need a third-party player, such as the free. HD video on a Blu-ray should be about as sharp as your original movies.
You can use a menu to jump to different chapters. Editable files on a hard drive: If a DVD or Blu-ray includes an on-screen menu for jumping to different chapters, the files on the disc are in a format you can’t import directly into a video editing program.
You need file formats such as AVI, MOV and MP4 for editing. That allows you to use video-editing software to rearrange scenes, add music or narration, and compile clips to share with relatives. DVD and Blu-ray discs eventually will become obsolete. Editable files on a hard drive are better for long-term archiving your video. Compare and contrast The chart below compares film transfer services. Many customers safely mail their movies to a service, but if you worry about losing them, look for a nearby service where you can hand-deliver your films. Search the web for film transfer service plus the name of your city or state.
Verify that the service handles your film type, with sound if necessary, plus the digitization method, scanning resolution and output media you want. Find out how much the project will cost and what’s included in the pricing. The cost could be substantial if you have many films to transfer, so it’s a good idea to start with one film as a test.
You’ll have to pay for it, but it could save you from spending a lot of money only to be disappointed. In the test transfer, look for color accuracy, even illumination across the film frames, and details in dark and light areas. To digitize my 8mm and Super 8 films, I chose Studio Vision Productions (SVP; now The Memory Preserve) of Bismarck, N.D., for the pricing, frame-by-frame scanning at a resolution of 1080, and full range of media output.
They’re also located nearby, so I didn’t have to trust my home movies to the mail. I started with a test on a 3-inch reel. The converted video was excellent, except for one thing: the motion was too fast.
As it turned out, SVP converted it at 24 fps (frames per second), while my films were shot at 18 fps. It was nice to get the speed figured out before transferring the rest of my movies. I was pleased with the results. A three-minute stretch from one reel turned out shaky because of loose sprockets, but given the variable quality of the original films, the rest of the converted video has good detail, accurate color and proper illumination. SVP returned the original films in perfect condition, with the 3-inch reels transferred to 7-inch ones.
Share and save Once you get your digitized movies, the first thing you should do is to make backups and, preferably, store them offsite. Some film transfer services offer simple film editing online, so you can rearrange clips and create custom DVDs.
If you used a USB converter box to digitize your video or you ordered editable files on an external hard drive, you can edit your movies with video-editing software. Popular free programs include for Mac or Windows, and iMovie, part of the iLife suite of software applications included with new consumer Macs. Using Sony Movie Studio Platinum 12.0 for Windows ($94.99), I’ve created collections of clips to share on DVD and Blu-ray, and I’ve extracted clips to post on Facebook. My computer already had a DVD burner and I bought a Blu-ray burner, so now I can easily duplicate DVD and Blu-ray discs. I also purchased a Canon PIXMA Wireless Inkjet Photo All-in-One Printer with scanner and copier, which can print on blank printable discs. (The MG5420 model is $94 on Amazon.com.) Printing titles and pictures on the discs looks nicer than just writing on them with a Sharpie. Pricing for film transfer service varies depending on resolution, scanning method and delivery mode (DVD, Blu-ray or external hard drive).
Having files put on an external hard drive usually costs extra and requires digitizing at the highest resolution. Ask whether film cleaning, splicing and minor repair is included in base pricing. Also ask whether shipping is included or if minimum orders are required. In addition to transferring 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm film, some companies also transfer VHS, VHS-C, Betamax or MiniDV video.
Looking to transfer data between your mobile and PC? If you are looking to transfer contacts or other data, it can take quite a long time for the transfer to be completed.
With these 32 amazing contact transfer apps though, transferring contacts from your phone to your PC and vice versa can be real easy. Part 1: Top 8 Contact Transfer Software for PC 1. Wondershare TunesGo This is a phone transfer app which can be used to transfer phone data from an Android phone to another or from a Android phone or iPhone to a computer. Pros -. It supports both iPhone and Android phones and tablets. Messages can be exported and backed up on Android phone to PC.
No loss of data. User can manage phone calls on PC Cons -.
Must be installed in a PC before use. WondershareMobileTrans It can transfer contacts from any mobile operating system to the PC in just one click. Pros -. Supports a variety of networks.
Absolutely risk-free and high in quality Cons -. Mac's software version cannot transfer data to and fro Nokia phones 3. MOBILedit MOBILeditconvenientlytransfers data from all mobile operating systems to both Mac as well as Windows PC. Download it:Pros -. Supports phone with any system.
Old phone data can be retrieved too Cons -. Must be installed in a PC. Phone must be connected via bluetooth or wifi or cable to the PC before use 4. DataPilot This app allows the user to back up his phone data and transfer to a PC or even a new phone easily. Pros.
Makes it easy to add, edit and delete existing and new contact data. User can change phones easily without worrying about transferring phone data Cons.
Not compatible with all the phones. The phone must be first connected to a PC before use 5. SyncDroid It can be used to transfer contacs as well as pictures, videos and music from any android device to the PC. Download it: Pros -.
Great for managing contacts and editing and adding them on your Android Phone Cons. Works for Android phones only 6. PhoneTrans PhoneTrans is a free software that easily transfers your contacts from an iPhone to your PC. Download it: Pros -.
Supports multiple operating systems and devices. Phone can be backed up and restored Cons -. Must be installed in a laptop of PC first. PC is needed to tranfer data from one device to another 7. IMazing All the data of an iPhone can be transferred to your PC through iMazing. Download it: Pros -. Easy and quick transfer allows save time.
Makes it easy to manage contacts Cons -. Works only for iPhones 8. HTC PC Suite 3.3.21 The software can be used to transfer data and contacts from the HTC mobile to the PC.
It can also backup and sync data. Pros -.
Makes it easy to transfer and manage data from the phone to the PC. Also provides backup Cons -. Works only for HTC phones Part 2: Top 8 Contact Transfer Apps for Mobile 1. ISkysoft This highly recommended mobile transfer tool allows quick phone data transfer and also provides backup to phone data. Pros-. Transferred data is exactly the same as original.
works as a backup tool for phone data that is to be saved Cons -. Not free 2.
CLONEit CLONEit is an app which can not only transfer but also backup 12 types of mobile data from one mobile to another in just 2 simple steps. It does not need any network, a computer or a cable. Pros -. Free to use with no limitations. No data cable or wi-fi hotspot required.
Complete privacy guaranteed as no data is uploaded to the clouds Cons -. Only supports Android and iOS operating system 3. MOBILedit MOBILedit allows the user to view the files in his phone from a PC. After the app is installed in the PC, the user can edit, sync, add or delete anything in the phone data.
Pros -. Supports any operating system. Data can also be retrieved from old phones with the help of this app Cons -. Must be installed in the PC only. The phone must be connected via bluetooth.
Cable or wifi to the PC in order to use the app 4. Wondershare MobileTrans This app named MobileTrans from Wondershare allows the user to transfer all the data between iPhone, Symbian and Android in a single click. It is great for people who switch to a new operating system all of a sudden.
Pros -. Supports an array of networks. No loss of quality. Completely risk-free Cons -.
Software version for Mac cannot transfer data to and from Nokia phones 5. PhoneSwappr PhoneSwappr helps to transfer contacts between 2 devices which operate on different operating platforms. It supports Windows, Android and iOS. Pros -.
Very secure transfer process. Supports multiple platforms Cons -. Does not support Blackberry OS. If the app is deleted then the downloaded data will also be erased 6. NQ Contacts Sync This app offers effective solutions to tranfer, restore and backup contacts whenever need be. It works on several operating systems such as Nokia, iOS, Android and Blackberry. Pros -.
Compatible with several platforms. Can manage your contacts online Cons -. Cannot support older iPads and iPhones 7. Contacts Backup & Transfer Pro Yet another great app which helps to tranfer, backup and restore contacts without the need of syncing any of your devices.
It copies your entire contact list into a bundle at the tap of a button. Pros -. Contact list saved in a vcard format which is recognized universally.
No backup size limit Cons -. Unable to transfer contacts to other devices. Not compatible with older phone models 8. IContactsPro+ It is a renowned and comprehensive contact and group management app which is available for iPhones.
One can easily edit his contacts and manage and share them too. Pros -.
Flexible way of searching for details of contacts. Completely secure and quick execution Cons -. Can only be used for Gmail and iPhone Part 3: Top 8 Contact Backup Software for PC 1. MobiLedit MOBILedit allows the user to view the files in his phone from a PC and provides complete backup for the same. After the app is installed in the PC, the user can edit, sync, add or delete anything in the phone data. Pros -. Supports any operating system.
Data can also be retrieved from old phones with the help of this app Cons -. Must be installed in the PC only.
The phone must be connected via bluetooth. Cable or wifi to the PC in order to use the app 2. Android PC Suite 2.1.7.215 This is one of the best softwares that provide a thorough backup of your PC and phones at the click of a button Pros -.
Easy to install. Quick Cons -.
Can be used for Android PC only 3. Vibosoft Android Mobile Manager This app helps keep your Android device aboslutely safe by creating a perfect backup of all your data in your computer. Pros -. User can backup everything from Android device to computer without losing any data. Apps can be organized, downloaded.
Installed and uninstalled quickly and easily Cons -. Works for Android devices only 4. Android Manager This app allows the user to backup, manage, transfer, edit and view Android mobile data on the PC without any hassles. Pros -. All types of data can be backed up.
Easy-to-use Cons -. Works only for Android devices and not other operating systems 5.Samsung Kies This backup app allows the user to move data from one Samsung phone to another and also provides a complete backup for any kind of data. Pros -. Compatible with both MAC and Windows.
Photos, music and contacts and much more can be backed up instantly Cons -. Used for Samsung devices only. PC or tablet is required to use the software 6. SyncDroid It can be used to transfer and back up contacts as well as pictures, videos and music from any android device to the PC. Pros -. Great for managing contacts and editing and adding them on your Android Phone while providing a thorough backup Cons -.
Works for Android phones only 7. MoboRobo This app is the first cross platform software that allows the user to transfer and backup contacts on both Android and iOS devices making it easy to switch to a new phone. Pros -,. Multi-media file management. Tranfer contacts between iPhone & Android Cons -.
Does not work for Windows or Blackberry phones 8. Wondershare MobileTrans It can transfer contacts from any mobile operating system to the PC in just one click. Pros -. Supports a variety of networks. Absolutely risk-free and high in quality Cons -. Mac's software version cannot transfer data to and fro Nokia phones Part 4: Top 8 Contact Backup Apps for Mobile 1.
Super Backup: SMS & Contacts This is the fastest backup data backup tool on Android which allows the user to save all the data at the click of a button. Pros -. Make backup copies of every kind of data on Android device. Backup call history and calendar too Cons -. Works for Android devices only 2. Contacts Backup This app allows the user to backup and restore all his data inlcuding the contact list quite easily and access it any time he needs to.
Pros -,. Secure and easy backup provided. All contacts can be saved on the mail Cons -. Works only on the apple operating system 3. MCBackup - My Contacts Backup This app helps users to quickly backup all their phone data and access it when needed Pros -.
One touch access to entire phone data. Secure and quick backup Cons -. Works on apple operating system only 4.
My Contacts This app helps you save all your important phone data including contacts even if you switch off your phone or lose it somewhere Pros -. Easy and secure backup at all times. Can backup the data directly from the phone Cons -. Does not have an extensive range of features 5. My Contacts and Restore Another great app that helps backup all the phone data and save it on your PC. The data can be accessed easily. Pros -.
Files can be directly restored from the backup. Makes backup easy and secure Cons -. Only a 1000 contacts can be backed up at one go. No advanced features 6. Contacts Transfer Backup Sync This is a smart, free and simple application that offer automatic contact backup, transfer andsync Pros -. Works across several devices and operating systems.
No loss of information or duplicate contact Cons -. Might experience error during a file transfer 7. Phonebook Backup This is an easy-to-use phonebook backup app which provides a backup of all your contacts to the email account of your choice Pros -.
One click backup of contacts to email account. User gets an option to enable or disable backup photos in contacts 8. MobileGo This is a phone transfer app which can be used to transfer phone data from an Android phone to another or from a Android phone to a computer. Pros -. Messages can be exported and backed up on Android phone to PC.
No loss of data. User can manage phone calls on PC Cons -,. Used for Android phones only. Must be installed in a PC before use.
One Stop Solution to Manage, Transfer and Backup Files on Android and iPhone. Backup your music, photos, videos, contacts, SMS etc. To computer and restore them easily.
Manage, export&import your Contacts and SMS, deduplicate Contacts, reply SMS with computer. One-click Root - Root your Android phones/tablets to take full control of your device. Phone to Phone Transfer - Transfer music, photos, videos, contacts, SMS between two mobiles (both Android and iPhone are supported). App Manager - Install, uninstall, import or backup Apps in batch. Gif Maker - Create Gif from photos, motion photos, videos. iTunes Manager - Sync iTunes Music to Android or transfer music from Android to iTunes. Fully compatible with 3000+ Android devices (Android 2.2 - Android 8.0) from Samsung, LG, HTC, Huawei, Motorola, Sony etc.