Hi Tom Powell--Or, actually, anyone else who knows about this techie stuff. I have home movie film from the 40's, 50's and up. what do you recommend for transferring these to DVD's? Thanks for your help. Nancy

Paul and Nancy Schleich wrote: > Hi Tom Powell--Or, actually, anyone else who knows about this techie > stuff. I have home movie film from the 40's, 50's and up. what do you > recommend for transferring these to DVD's? Thanks for your help. Nancy > > About the only way to do it is to use a machine called a telecine, which matches the totally different "frame rates" (among other things) between the two mediums. Larger towns and cities generally have firms that do this, but I've not been pleased with the rates. I'm also leery of the film breaking, or splices pulling apart, in which case you now pay the firm by the hour for repair. Oh, and there's the cleaning step, too, which is crucial. Once you get by all that, you hit a familiar devil: video formats, and video media. Your choices here are myriad, and if you are able to make a choice, you are likely stuck with it, and get to repeat the whole process in a few years at worst case. Google the topic and do some reading on the technical aspects, and check for local firms that advertise this service. You'll need to be somewhat savvy in the technology to even discuss the topic with them. Be wary of the tiny outfits with paper signs stuck up in the window with really low rates advertised. Do your homework, talk to a lot of vendors, talk to other people, and be careful. Or, keep your film in a cool dry place and hope for a better solution next year, or the next, or the next. -- Marty Cassidy Seattle, WA USA