What do I need and is it easy to put some of my little lads videos onto dvd for him ?
Is it legal, they are all shop bought original videos?
He loves the films but doesn't have a vcr in his room but does have a dvd player.

something like this maybe the cheapest option (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-VIDEO-AUDIO-CAPTURE-ADAPTER-VHS-TO-DVD-HDD-TV-CARD_W0QQitemZ170157051395QQihZ007QQcategoryZ3761Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

as to the legality i dont know

What do I need and is it easy to put some of my little lads videos onto dvd for him ?
Is it legal, they are all shop bought original videos?
He loves the films but doesn't have a vcr in his room but does have a dvd player.

The legality is dubious. You don't own the copyright or the rights to transfer it to another medium - in fact, the "WARNING" bit that we always used to fast forward through does specify that the recording cannot be reproduced in whole or in part.

For the expense of buying a video capture device and time involved (analogue - digital isn't a great payoff and you'd have to sit through each and every video!) why not just scour amazon marketplace for cheap DVD versions?

Also the end result is often poor in quality.

You quite often have to do it in real time, which means it's not a fun process.

As for how, you can get dvd + video combi units (generally not that reliable) or just plug your VCR scart output into the DVD recorder scart input (will work but may not let you record copyrighted videos).

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I will start looking for the films on dvd !!

I did a similar thread ages ago asking pretty much the same thing, iirc JoeP told me it's currently a legal "grey" area.

If you're copying them to watch yourself and not selling teh originals on though I think you might be alright. But don't quote me on that if Sheffield's finest come a-knocking.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I will start looking for the films on dvd !!
Would it not be cheaper to buy a VCR player/recorder for the lads
room?

Would it not be cheaper to buy a VCR player/recorder for the lads
room?

VCRs are pretty hard to get hold of nowadays, nobody buys them any more due to teh popularity of DVDs and DVD Recorders.

Try your local second hand shop.

Try your local second hand shop.

Or try this link (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=265306) (posted today):D

I have a VCR in my car boot just now that was on its way to the tip. I believe it still works. If you desire such an item let me know and I will save it from destruction and you can have it instead. I also have a load of videos that you can have with it.

Comet still sell VCRs.Just type vcr in the search box.

http://comet.retail-offers.co.uk/

And ... Argos (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5333916/Trail/searchtext%3EVCR.htm)

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5333772/Trail/searchtext%3EVCR.htm or these i bought two of these for cctv there on none stop very reliable
or i use the v stream usb convert vhs to dvd although must agree picture qaulity is lost.
making a back up is not a problem as long as you own the origenal but if you sell on the origenal by law the copy must be destroyed.