Do you remember all the birthdays, weddings, holidays and family events that you recorded on your video camera? Maybe your business has corporate training or special events videos. Your tapes may appear to be in good condition, but they may also have started to deteriorate slowly without you knowing it.
Early Camcorder and VHS tapes are affected by temperature, sunlight, magnetic fields and humidity changes. They begin to deteriorate after about a decade, or even less, depending on how they were stored.
The only alternative is to transfer them to a modern digital video format. Avoid losing precious memories by converting your tapes to a USB device.
A USB is an easy and cost-effective way to watch your old home videos again on your TV, computer or mobile device. You can also make duplicates to playback on your TV, PC, Mac, PlayStation, Blu-ray player, DVD player with USB port and streaming devices. GREAT GIFT IDEA!
PLEASE NOTE
Our conversion production schedule for completion of orders by Christmas is now full.
Your’e still welcome to place and send your order for completion in January/February 2025
Order online, by email, or phone 021 055 3102 or 03 546 4148
Old DVDs or CDs may contain irreplaceable photos, data, audio, precious family videos or much loved music.
Maybe your DVD/CD player is broken and you haven’t been able to play them for years? Contact Photofriend and we’ll transfer them to a handy USB stick or USB drive so you can watch or listen to them again on your TV, tablet or computer. You could even make copies and give them to family and friends as gifts.
(Prices shown exclude GST which will be added to the total amount)
CD and DVD’s with data and or videos, music and photos:
1 – 4 CDs and/or DVDs to USB – $25 each
5 or more CDs and/or DVDs to USB – $20 each
• USB drives not included in the above prices
Bulk order discounts available
What’s included in the price?
Note: Only for video tape conversions to USB and DVD
• Customised title introduction
• Editing out gaps and blank screens
• Basic enhancements where possible
• Personalised packaging
For more info see How does it work
(Prices shown exclude GST which will be added to the total amount)
1 Videotape to USB $40
2 – 15 Videotapes to USB $32 each
16 – 25 Videotapes to USB $28 each
Over 25 videotapes – Contact us for special price.
• Copy files to an extra USB – $15 per USB transfer
Return tracked courier post – $14.00 for parcels under 3kg (unless local)
• We will advise you of the return cost for parcels over 3kg
• Rural deliveries will be $5.70 extra
USB drives are not included in the above prices
You can supply your own or we can supply one
USB drive prices
• 16GB – $17 each
• 32GB – $27 each
• 64GB – $40 each
• 128GB – $75 each
Mouldy tapes
Please note that all mouldy tapes must be cleaned before we convert them
• Clean mould (light to medium infection) – $10 per tape
• Clean mould (heavy to severe infection) – $15 per tape
Don’t know what’s on your tape, and you only want family/home video content?
Click here: Only family/home video content
Mac and iPad users please use Google Chrome or Firefox browsers if you have a problem with the order form in Safari
A VHS tape heavily infected by mould. A white powdery substance, visible on the tape, will destroy the tape in time.
Video8 tape with sticky tape syndrome. This condition is becoming more frequent lately.
Video8 tape infected by mould. Difficult to clean but we may still be able to extract some good footage.
With an affected VHS tape even the case is eventually damaged and cannot be used to transfer the video.
What can happen to my video tapes when infected by mould?
Video and audio tape is made from cellulose coated with ferric oxide. It can dry out with age and become brittle. If stored in humid or damp conditions, like in a shed or garage, it will in time be infected by a powdery white fungus known as “mould” which resembles a fine white dust.
Once the tape is infected it will slowly eat into the tape and eventually completely destroy it. Mould will systematically spread from tape to tape and also infect the VCR. This problem is mostly found with VHS tapes, but lately also with Video8 and Hi8 tapes.
Mould infection of VHS, other video tapes and audio cassettes recorded in the 1980s and 1990s is becoming more noticeable lately.
Don’t let this happen to your tapes – inspect them today. If they are moulded you should be thinking of having them cleaned and transferred as soon as possible, before it’s too late.
What can you do?
• Don’t store your tapes in a garden shed, cellar or attic where temperatures can vary a lot.
• Don’t store your tapes in damp areas or in wet cardboard or wooden boxes.
• Keep your tapes in a dark cupboard and away from direct heat sources.
Inspect your tapes
• Look for a white powdery dust.
• Don’t touch it, brush it off or blow it across other tapes.
• Don’t try to play your tapes as it will infect and damage your VCR.
• Wear a face mask and gloves if you want to attempt to open the cassette (not recommended).
• Send your tapes to us – we will inspect them to determine if they can be cleaned. If so, we will then clean and extract as much footage from the tapes as possible.
Please note: We cannot guarantee that the cleaning process will always be 100% effective. Mould can cause varying degrees of damage to videotapes including tape layer damage, or the tape layers sticking together (Sticky Tape Syndrome). We will not take responsibility for any damage caused to the tape during the cleaning process due to STS, such as breakage, or if it can no longer be played.
We classify mould infection in 4 stages:
• Light
• Medium
• Heavy
• Severe
When cleaned, Light, Medium and Heavy have produced good to excellent results, whilst Severe ranges from poor to unwatchable results.
6 Huntaway Close, Stoke, Nelson 7011
Email: info@photofriend.co.nz
Tel: 03 546 4148 | 021 055 3102
A www.whitecloudcreative.co.nz service
©2016-2024 Photofriend. All rights reserved – 100% New Zealand owned and operated
PLEASE NOTE
Our conversion production schedule for completion of orders by Christmas is now full.
Your’e still welcome to place and send your order for completion in January/February 2025
PLEASE NOTE
Our conversion production schedule for completion of orders by Christmas is now full.
Your’e still welcome to place and send your order for completion in January/February 2025
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