What exactly is VHS-C?
A shortened VHS cassette for camcorders, introduced by JVC in 1982.
The “C” stands for Compact. Inside is the same ½-inch (12.65 mm) tape as full-size VHS, wound on smaller reels. Camcorders could be lighter, yet you could still watch the footage at home. In Latvia these cameras mostly arrived in the 1990s, often brought from Germany or Scandinavia, and the tapes tend to hold birthdays, school concerts and the first family road trips.
How do I tell VHS-C from Video8 or Mini DV?
By size and by the reels you can see.
VHS-C is about 9 × 6 cm and only one reel is visible through the window; the other is hidden. Video8 and Hi8 are similar in size but show two identical reels and carry an “8” or “Hi8” logo. Mini DV is smaller still, about the size of a matchbox. Unsure? Send us a photo.
Do I need an adapter?
No. Send just the tapes; we have the adapters.
The adapter is a VHS-sized shell with a small motor or gear train. Once a VHS-C tape is inside and the lid is shut, it draws the tape out so a VHS deck can read it. Old adapters often fail: flat batteries, worn gears, tape that jams. We use tested adapters with serviced decks, so there is nothing for you to hunt for.
What picture quality can I expect?
The same as the original recording, with no extra loss.
Standard VHS-C delivers about 240 horizontal lines, the same as full-size VHS. If your camcorder was S-VHS-C (the tape will say “S-VHS-C”), the picture is sharper and we play it on an S-VHS deck. Many VHS-C tapes were recorded in long-play mode to squeeze in more minutes; those recordings are noisier and benefit most from a precisely aligned deck and a time base corrector.
What if the cassette is damaged?
Send it anyway. A repair costs €9 per tape.
The small shell is more fragile than a full-size one, and camcorder mechanisms sometimes crinkled the tape during recording. We check every cassette, splice snapped tape or move it into a new shell, and clean off mould (also €9). Everything is agreed with you beforehand.
How much is it, and how do I send the tapes?
€9 per tape, sent from any parcel locker in Latvia.
VHS-C and S-VHS-C digitization costs €9 per cassette regardless of length. Finished MP4 files come via a Google Drive link (€7.90) or on USB (from €12). Full-size VHS tapes in the same order are €15, and orders of more than 20 tapes get 10% off. Ship with Omniva, SmartPosti or DPD to the Tallinn locker we name in our reply.
How to order
- Send a requestTell us the formats and number of tapes. We reply with exact information, the price and shipping instructions.
- Ship to a parcel lockerWith Omniva, SmartPosti or DPD, from a Latvian locker to the Tallinn locker we give you.
- Get your filesUsually within 10–14 working days: MP4 via Google Drive or on USB, paid by invoice.
In short
Is VHS-C the same as VHS?
Same tape, smaller cassette. With an adapter, VHS-C plays in a normal VHS deck.
Should I send the adapter too?
No, we have our own. Send only the tapes.
How do I pay?
By invoice after the work, to a private person or a company.