DVD quality..

[justickleme]

Hi all,
Just a little advice please.

At what point would you return a DVD due to quality issues?

I have just bought - granted - a relatively old title (1998) which was at some point undoubtedly transferred from VHS to DVD. The quality of the film isn't very good and I'm a bit miffed at having forked out ?16 for a title which, at some points seems 'almost' black + white. I purchased it from quite a big European dealer.

Am I to expect this poor quality? Is it normal for older VHS -> DVD titles?

Comments appreciated.
Thank you.

[Officer Dibble]

"Is it normal for older VHS -> DVD titles?"

Well, yes. If it started out as VHS footage of dubious quality then simply transferring that to DVD will not miraculously clean it up and add resolution that wasn't there before. If the program you were buying was of old or rare footage it maybe that the 'master' only exists on VHS. Which means that's it, there is no more to come. Whether it?s worthwhile or not all depends on the particular program, what it is, and whom it features.




Officer Dibble







Officius Dibblus est amplus amor deus

[justickleme]

"Whether it?s worthwhile or not all depends on the particular program, what it is, and whom it features."

Thanks.

It was, in fact, a Ben Dover title

The quality is less than I'd expect from a VHS -> DVD, but I guess what I'm really wondering is if I'd be wasting my time complaining about it.

[sparky]

The video quality of the early Ben Dover releases was not great but by 1998 decent high-band cameras were used and the master tape would have been a high band format.

Hence if you have a DVD copied from VHS almost certainly you do not have an official release. Doubtful even if the VHS was 1st generation from a high-band duplicating master as using a decent VCR and DVD recorder the result would have good colour even if resolution was poor by current standards.

Which title did you buy?

[justickleme]

"Which title did you buy?"

English Porno Groupies.

eg: the scene where B.D. and Mario meet Zoe in the pub car park, it's almost black and white to begin with. It does improve, but not a great deal.

Thanks

[sparky]

Just dug out my DVD. It is a proper DVD with menu, each scene a chapter and subtitle options, not like a copy from VHS would be with not active titles and chapter every 5 or 10 minutes.

I remember this one now, one of the 1st Ben Dover's I saw back 10 or so years ago - yikes doesn't life fly by!
It is weak on colour but not almost b&w as you describe, or colour is turned up more on my TV.
The picture while not sharp / detailed by today's standard is too clean for a copy from VHS so certainly from a high band source.
Possibly also the scenes were filmed sometime before it was released.

Zoe is 3rd chapter on my version, 1st chapter is Wendy

I doubt if the company can give you a better copy, maybe they will offer you another title at reduced price.
Worth emailing them - if you don't ask you won't find out.