Why Scanning the Original 8mm Cine Film Matters | VHS Transfer vs AI Restoration

Описание: This side-by-side comparison shows a situation we see very often.

The customer originally had their 8mm cine film transferred to VHS many years ago.
More recently, they sent us both the VHS tape and the original cine film so we could compare the results properly.

Left:
A transfer made from the VHS copy of the cine film.

Right:
A brand-new scan of the original 8mm cine film, captured in 5K, restored using our AI technology, and presented in 4K for modern viewing.

The difference comes down to one crucial point:

👉 A VHS tape is already a copy of a copy.
Once detail, colour, and sharpness are lost at that stage, they can never truly be recovered.
By going back to the original cine film, we’re able to:
Capture vastly more detail
Restore natural colour and contrast
Stabilise the image and correct exposure
Apply AI restoration gently, without making the footage look artificial

This example shows why, whenever possible, we always recommend scanning the original film rather than older video transfers.

If you still have your original cine film, even if you already have a VHS or DVD copy, the improvement can be dramatic.

If you have Super 8, 8mm, or 16mm film and want to see what’s really there this is the difference.

📍 Alive Studios – UK
🎞 Specialists in cine film, videotape & archive restoration
🌐 https://www.alivestudios.co.uk
If you have any questions about rescanning or restoration, feel free to ask in the comments.