VHS & Old Video Tapes to USB, DVD & Digital Transfer in Ireland
Professional transfer of VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS, Betamax, Video8, Hi8, Digital8 and MiniDV tapes to USB memory stick, DVD or digital files. Based in Athy, Co. Kildare, we accept video tapes from customers throughout Ireland by post or local handover.
Whether you have one family tape or a large box of old recordings, we carefully inspect and digitise each tape using playback equipment suited to the original format.
Video Tape Formats We Digitise
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VHS Family
VHS, S-VHS, VHS-C and S-VHS-C transferred to modern digital files.
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8mm Video
Video8, Hi8 and Digital8 camcorder tapes professionally digitised using compatible playback equipment.
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DV, DVCAM & Betamax
MiniDV, full-size DV, selected DVCAM and Betamax tapes transferred to digital.
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Professional & Other Formats
Sony XDCAM Professional Disc and other legacy or professional video formats can also be assessed. If you are unsure what you have, send us a photo.
Simple Video Tape Digitisation Pricing
€20 per tape for the first 9 tapes (up to 2 hours each).
€15 per tape from the 10th tape onwards.
Digital files can be supplied by secure download, or on USB for €10. Return shipping within Ireland is €11, with free return shipping on orders of €100 or more.
Mouldy, damaged or difficult tapes require additional recovery work. We will assess the tape and contact you before carrying out any extra work.
The €11 starting payment covers tracked return postage of your original tapes within Ireland. Once your tapes arrive, we inspect them and confirm the exact digitisation cost before any work begins.
Mouldy or Damaged Tapes? We May Still Be Able to Help
Old VHS and camcorder tapes can develop mould, become stuck, snap or suffer physical damage after years in storage. In many cases, the recording can still be recovered.
We can assess mouldy VHS, VHS-C, Betamax, Video8, Hi8, Digital8 and MiniDV tapes before digitisation. If cleaning, repair or other recovery work is required, we will contact you before carrying out any additional work.
Video Tape Digitisation FAQ
Can I send video tapes from anywhere in Ireland?
Yes. Customers throughout Ireland can send tapes to Retro Cameras Ireland for digitisation. All work is carried out in Athy, Co. Kildare, and your original media is returned after the work is complete.
Which video formats do you digitise?
We digitise VHS, S-VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS-C, Betamax, Video8, Hi8, Digital8, MiniDV, full-size DV and selected DVCAM tapes. We also support Sony XDCAM Professional Disc and can assess other legacy or professional video formats. If you are unsure what you have, send us a clear photo and we will help identify it.
How much does video tape digitisation cost?
Standard video tapes up to 2 hours cost €20 each for the first 9 tapes and €15 per tape from the 10th tape onwards. Professional and specialist formats are priced individually and start from €40 per item.
If a tape is mouldy, damaged or requires disassembly and cleaning before digitisation, recovery work is charged from €20 extra per item, on top of the normal digitisation price. More extensive repair or cleaning may cost more, but we will always contact you before carrying out any additional work.
How will I receive my digitised videos?
Your finished videos can be supplied by secure download or on a USB drive. USB is available for €10.
Will I get my original media back?
Yes. Your original tapes and other media are returned after digitisation. Return postage within Ireland is €11 and is prepaid when you start your order.
Can you digitise mouldy or damaged tapes?
In many cases, yes. We can assess mouldy, stuck, broken or physically damaged tapes before digitisation. If cleaning or repair is required, we will contact you before carrying out additional recovery work.
What if I don’t know what type of tape I have?
Send us a clear photo of the cassette and we can usually identify the format and advise which service you need.
How do I start my digitisation order?
Pay €11 return postage to start your order. After payment, you will receive instructions for sending your media to Retro Cameras Ireland. Once it arrives, we inspect it and confirm the exact digitisation price before work begins.
What does the €11 payment cover?
The €11 covers return postage of your original media within Ireland. It is not a digitisation charge or assessment fee.
Do I have to pay for digitisation before sending my tapes?
No. You only prepay the €11 return postage. After we receive and inspect your media, we will confirm the exact digitisation cost and send you a payment link before the work begins.
What happens if my tape cannot be recovered or digitised?
If a tape cannot be successfully digitised or recovered, you will not be charged the normal digitisation fee for that item. Your original media can still be returned using the €11 return postage already paid.
What if my tape is mouldy or damaged?
Mouldy, damaged or stuck tapes may require disassembly, cleaning or repair before they can be digitised. Recovery work starts from €20 extra per item, in addition to the normal digitisation price.
We will always contact you before carrying out any additional work. There is no obligation to proceed. If you decide not to accept the additional cost, we can simply return the affected media using the return postage you have already paid.
If only some items in your order require additional recovery work, you can also choose to digitise the rest of your order and leave the damaged items untreated.
Postage, Packaging & Returning Your Media FAQ
How should I send my media to Retro Cameras Ireland?
We recommend sending your media using an An Post tracked service and keeping your tracking number until we confirm that your parcel has arrived. If your media is particularly valuable, please consider an appropriate insured postal service and check An Post’s current insurance terms, exclusions and compensation limits before sending. Please remember that irreplaceable family recordings may have sentimental value far greater than their financial value.
How should I package my tapes and media?
Please use strong, secure packaging suitable for the weight and type of media you are sending. Make sure tapes, reels, photographs and other items cannot move freely inside the parcel. Where practical, we reuse the packaging in which your media arrived when returning it to you, helping to reduce unnecessary packaging waste. Please therefore make sure your packaging is sturdy enough for both journeys.
How will my original media be returned?
Original media is returned within Ireland using An Post tracked delivery. Return postage is €11 and is prepaid when you start your order. Our standard return service is tracked, but we cannot place a meaningful insurance value on unique family recordings or control the parcel once it has been accepted into the An Post network.
What happens if my return parcel is delayed or lost?
Postal delays can occasionally happen, particularly during busy periods such as Christmas. To date, we have experienced delayed parcels but no permanently lost customer return parcels. We keep your completed digital files for 30 days after your originals are shipped back to you. This means that even in the unlikely event that a return parcel is lost, your digitised files will still be retained temporarily. We recommend downloading and backing up your files as soon as you receive them.
Ready to Digitise Your Video Tapes?
Whether you have one tape or an entire box of family recordings, Retro Cameras Ireland can help preserve them in a modern digital format. Customers throughout Ireland can send tapes to us by post, with local handover around Athy available by arrangement.
Start your order by prepaying €11 tracked return postage. Once your tapes arrive, we inspect them and confirm the exact digitisation cost before any work begins.