Film to video conversion

[Gary Benton]

We have several 16mm films in our archives we'd like to preserve/archive
in digital format. I've studied into the process and have started
calling labs. I'd like to convert the films to a format that has the
highest resolution possible and will last several years until we
transfer to another format. 

Of the two transfer labs I've talked to, both say digital betacam is
the highest quality and least compression. I was hoping to find an
uncompressed format, but I'm not sure if there is one right now. DVcam
uses compresses twice as much as digital betacam, so the quality is
lower. I believe DVD uses even more compression (anyone know for sure?).


I'd like the digital video we get from these 16mm films to be HDTV
quality, so they'll look good on HDTVs in a few years when more people
have them. 

Are these goals realistic? Are we trying to do the impossible?

We'd like to make these films available to alumni and others on VHS
tape and DVD. Any suggestions on how to do this?

If someone knows of a better forum in which to discuss this, please let
me know, and I'll ask there.

Thanks in advance,

Gary

Gary Benton
Library Systems Technician
Walla Walla College