The world of digital video video is here.  It seems every phone and digital camera these days has the ability to take video, and some with stunning quality. High-end wedding videographers are even switching from the tried and true digital video camcorders of yesteryear to digital SLR cameras capable of recording 720p HD video.  But it seemed like just a few months ago that digital video used to mean video shot onto digital videotape.  And the advantages between recordings digital video camcorders and analog camcorders were numerous.

Digital vs. Analog Video

Digital camcorders possess many advantages over their analog predecessors.  Due to the advances in technology that came with the introduction of Digital Camcorders, we highly recommend you no longer shoot with Analog formats.  But it is important to note that not all digital video is the same - we are talking here about camcorders that record video to digital tape formats, not your handheld digital camera that records compressed video to a digital file.  Unless you have a high-end Digital SLR that records to HD video, you will still get better quality shooting to tape with your Digital camcorder.

Here's why we recommend Digital Video over Analog Video:

• Higher-quality recorded video signal
  Analog video uses an electrical signal to capture video images onto magnetic tape, while a digital video signal begins and remains digital.  No quality is lost when you copy your video.   It is also much easier to record and capture video to your computer directly via Firewire.  Analog video degrades with each copy and requires a special video capture card or analog-to-digital converter box in order to import video onto your computer.

Posted by: MemoryHub
Labels: General

If you have 8mm film, Super8 film or 16mm film, it may take a little time to find a place where you can preserve your film in your own home without it degrading.  Follow these suggestions on how to store your film to keep your memories safe and intact.  Better yet, transfer your 8mm film to DVD at the same time with our film transfer service.

How to store your film

1. Store film in a location with steady temperature and humidity.  Film stored at room temperature may last up to 50 years before decomposition occurs
2. Consider multiple locations for multiple copies of prints or duplicates of films
3. Label your film correctly, so if you send it in to MemoryHub for digital film transfer, it will help you and our film transfer team to get your film processed quickly
4. Store your film canisters horizontally, no more than 8 cans high
5. Use "Safety" film stock, polyester-base is preferred
6. Store on moisture-proof cores and in corrosion-resistant cans
7. Store in a location no hotter than 70 degrees, with 20 to 30 percent humidity

How NOT to store your film

1. Do not store your film in ziplock or plastic bags. Film needs to breathe and needs the exposure to oxygen.  Lack of ventilation will cause the film's rate of decomposition to increase
2. Do not store your film in attics or in direct sunlight as high-temperatures lead to an increased rate of decomposition
3. Avoid any locations near chemicals, paint or exhaust
4. Do not throw away your original film if you transfer your 8mm to DVD or 16mm to DVD.  They are still something you can preserve as a keepsake and emergency backup.

Posted by: MemoryHub
Labels: Film Transfer

A film length calculator can be very useful in determining the length of video per reel of film.  The run-time for a reel of film will vary based on the framerate the video was captured with.  For example 100 feet of film shot at 18 frames a second will have a longer run time than 100 feet of film shot at 24 frames per second.

However you can use the following as a general calculation:

50 feet of film (3 inch film reel) = 3 minutes
200 feet of film (5 inch film reel) = 12 minutes
400 feet of film (7 inch film reel) = 24 minutes

For additional information visit the film to dvd page.

full article

Posted by: MemoryHub
Labels: Convert Video, Film Transfer, General