OT: Request for a Friend

[bmattock]

I have a friend at work who asked me ("you know all about cameras and stuff, right?") if I knew of a service that would convert his old VCR tape of his wedding to a DVD. He doesn't want to buy the gear and do it himself, he just wants to pay a professional service to do it for him. He says the tape is starting to have tracking issues, etc; so he really wants a 'pro' lab to do the work, even if it costs more.

I have no idea, but I suspect that there are such services out there.

Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing and care to make a recommendation?

Thanks!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[FrankS]

I'll be your friend, Bill!

 

[bmattock]

With friends like you...

 

[rover]

There you go. I think the processing place I use does it and I was going to suggest that you inquire at places like that (old camera store now transitioning to processing and digital services and still has a little bit of camera stuff to survive) near you. My other suggestion would be to look through the ads in the back of Shutterbug Mag. Lots of stuff back there, I bet this is a service that is offered by one of the vendors advertising there.

 

[JoeFriday]

I'm not 100% certain, but I think that can be done by any talented amateur who owns one of those new DVRs (digital video recorders).. I don't own one, even tho they're pretty common these days.. but a friend has one and he's copied several laserdiscs from my old collection.. I assume that a high quality vcr would hook up exactly the same way as a laserdisc would, since laserdisc players only have analog outputs

anyway, ask around if anyone has a DVR.. they could probably do the job for the cost of a few blank dvd discs (less than a buck a piece) and a few beers

 

[bmattock]

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the links - I should have been more clear in my request. I was hoping somebody would have some experience with one of these and be willing to recommend them, instead of shooting blind, as it were.

I guess the reason I'm asking - this fellow is a 'friend at work' if you get my meaning. He is very, shall we say, particular. I've heard him argue on the phone for twenty minutes over a twelve cent charge on his credit card, and I've heard him spend an hour on the phone with his wife explaining what 'hospital corners' are when you make a bed. Perfectionist is just the beginning with him.

He's ultra-religious, and his family watches their wedding video all the time - it's an event for them, if you get my meaning. Whomever does the transfer had better be a professional company and do a great job and NOT wreck his original VCR tape, or he'll raise hell. That's why *I* don't want to do it. I told him I'd see if I knew anyone who had any experience with a company that does that sort of service.

My bad, I should have been more detailed in my request.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[captainslack]

Bill, there might be a place in Raleigh that does that. Might want to look through the yellow pages.

 

[FrankS]

I try my best to steer way clear of people like that.

 

[bmattock]

Cap'n & Frank,

I can't exactly steer clear, he's a coworker and we share a wall of our cubes. Sigh.

As to the Raleigh yellow pages, yes, I guess I'll just direct him to that.

Thanks anyway,

Bill Mattocks

 

[parks5920]

Sticky situation, good luck!

 

[ErnestoJL]

My father said once:
Boy, you may choose your friends, also your wife... her relatives are kind of a heritage you wouldn´t get rid of ever.... and coworkers are sorted at random... then you may or not be lucky enough....

Best regards and good luck!
Ernesto

 

[kiev4a]

Our local Wallgreens does it for a pretty reasonable price. They send it out somewhere to be done.

 

[bobofish]

Almost any video production studio or videographer will be able to do it, some at a more reasonable cost than others.

Look in the phone book for a videographer that also rents equipment, preferably a smaller business, and he'll be able to do it for you.

If you were on this ocean, I could tell you exactly where to go.
Cheers, and tell your friend to get a hobby to alleviate some of his problems.