FAQ's Cine to DVD Transfers:

What will the quality be like?
We use Digital Telecine Equipment. To the layman, these are machines dedicated for the purposes of transfering cine film.

This technology ensures that films are perfectly reproduced without any of the numerous problems associated with the mismatch between modern and past day frame rates.

The process delivers faithful and well saturated copies of your precious material. We do not aim to be the cheapest but we do aim to be the best which is reflected in our prestigious client base.

I'm worried about sending my material in the post. Is it safe?
We've carried out our cine film transfer mail order business for years without any problems whatsover. However, we always recommend sending your material to us by recorded delivery or special delivery where possible.

On receipt we'll contact you to confirm safe arrival of your film. For peace of mind, we return everything by recorded delivery as standard and where requested, special delivery too.

Note regarding Christmas - Due to the increased demands that this period places on us and the postal service, please allow for plenty of time when sending your material to us.

How long does it take?
On average we turn work around in a week although at peak times it takes a fraction longer.

I have a variety of cine reels of different guages. Does this matter?
No - our studio handles all formats including Standard 8, Super 8, 9,5mm & 16mm.

Can you transfer reels in order?
Yes: If you wish to view them in the correct sequence, all reels and boxes must be clearly numbered.

What’s the quality of a DVD like?
The video quality of a DVD , is better than a Super VHS tape. A single sided, single layered DVD could have more than 2 hours of high quality video although if you're looking for absolute quality, then we recommend a maximum of 1 hour per DVD.

Are subsequent copies of the DVD the same price as the first one?
No! They are cheaper.. The first mastered one(s) take longer but subsequent copies are cheaper.
(see 3 for 2 offer)

I can't exactly remember what's on my reels! Is there a way that I can edit the transferred footage myself?
Yes! Due to the huge increase in customers looking to take greater control over their cine material, we are invariably asked to provide quality Digital Mini DV copies with each order.

Given that most films have bits that need to be cut out, re-ordered or enhanced with titles etc, this has become an incredibly popular option that has been fueled by easy to use and economical editing software. To assist you, we've also produced a free guide to editing which in plain language explains the basics. Apart from some simple editing software and an appropriate PC, you'll just need access to an everyday Mini DV camcorder from which you can output your film.

Mini DV gives you the benefit of a high quality, uncompressed version ideal for editing on your pc (much better for editing than DVDs which are better suited for general viewing purposes and storage). At just £19.99 per mini DV, it's incredibly economical. (Please also note that if you choose this option, you've no need to opt for background music or the titles option since you can easily carry out these elements yourself during the editing process)

What do I have to do in advance of sending the films?
Not much but if you have not viewed your films in recent years, we advise you to scan through the contents of your film(s) using a projector and (assuming they are numbered) check the reel numbers correctly match the numbers on the boxes, particularly numbers 6 and 9!.

Check also that all spools are wound the correct way round start to finish. White leader tape should be found at the start of the spool and not in the centre. If your films require editing we recommend transferring the entire contents onto tape or disc then creating a simple edit list using the time clock on the front of your video or disc player. A note explaining how to do this will be found inside the cassette case that accompanies the tape or disc. Should we detect a soundtrack already on the film it will be recorded at no extra charge.

If you intend to add some additional material at a later date it is important that you request a 3 hour tape. Be warned however that this is not possible with DVD as the discs have to be finalised. Do appreciate that there will always be some loss in picture quality in the transfer process whichever format you choose.

Do you alter the originals?
No, your original material will be returned to you unmodified.

Do you charge for re-splicing breaks?
No! For two reasons:

i) Firstly, our machines are purpose designed for cine transfers and as such are treat all guages of film delicately.

ii) Secondly, in the rare cases where there are old splices that have come unstuck, we completely absorb the cost of resplicing them.

Can you extract photos from my movie?
Yes. Should there be a particular image that you'd like extracted from whatever your movie material is, be it video, camcorder tape of cine film, just drop us a line here explaining what you want to do and we'll contact you to run through the process. We'll work with you to extract and save those images and it doesn't cost a fortune!

Other Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I send the item(s) to Supaphoto?

Send us your items in the post:

Step 1: Collect the items in question.
Step 2: Carefully pack the item(s).
Step 3: Send to us