Converting old VHS tapes to a digital format is a good idea because that old tape can fail  unexpectedly -- not to mention finding VHS players is getting harder and harder. But if you're really into ensuring you'll be able to watch the now-coverted media for a long time, you may be wondering if you should skip converting to DVD and convert to Blu-Ray instead. It's a big thing now when an old film gets released on Blu-Ray, so that format might be the one that will be around for longer, right? However, what you should concentrate on is what the best way to watch the video is now. Proper quality now will help you later if you have to reconvert the video.

Quality Issues

People say something is VHS-quality when the quality is watchable but not stellar, and for a reason. VHS tapes presented images that were fine for watching but that didn't present nearly the amount of detail you can see now with Blu-Ray and high-definition DVDs. So if you're converting a bunch of VHS tapes, putting them on Blu-Ray would not really do anything in terms of improving the quality of the video. If the VHS images are grainy and a bit faded, they're going to look grainy and a bit faded on the Blu-Ray as well. You may as well just transfer the video to a regular DVD, which will likely be one of the cheaper conversion options.

Storage Space

On the other hand, Blu-Ray discs will provide a stunning amount of recording time. A standard DVD can fit up to 10 hours of video, but a recordable Blu-Ray disc can fit up to 23 hours. If you want to both preserve your videos and cut down on the number of things you have in your home, recording several video tapes onto a Blu-Ray disc would work well.

The Just-in-Case Backup

Of course, if you have the money, there is the option of getting the VHS tape converted into three formats: Blu-Ray, DVD, and a digital version to store on your computer. That way you're covered no matter which formats fade out or remain viable for years. This will cost more than having one copy made, of course, but it does give you flexibility as technology changes and falls in and out of favor.

Review the tapes again to see what the quality is like, and ask a conversion services, such as Prime Time Video Digital Productions, how much they charge for multiple conversions. These services are aware that people may need more than one copy, and you can see what deals they may be offering.