If there was a... oh, I don't know: let's say a jetpack, like in that Bond film -- and it was $1300, would you buy it? No? Why not? 'Cause it might be relatively cheap to own, but it's almost completely useless without a pile of extra stuff (fuel, parts, maintenance) to make it work, it's dangerous, and you probably don't have the know-how to get it up and running in the first place.

Guess what? Film is exactly the same.

Getting film is easy. The biggest problem by far is the digitizing. The best and most reliable way to get it done is to buy or build your own telecine. Which is still about 100 times more tricky and several times more expensive than buying the film in the first place.

Everytime I read a "let's make our own film transfer" thread here, I can't help but think of the Monty Python sketch "How To Do It":

Cut to a sign saying 'How to do it'. Music. Pull out to reveal a 'Blue Peter' type set. Sitting casually on the edge of a dais are three presenters in sweaters - Noel, Jackie and Alan - plus a large bloodhound.

Alan Hello.

Noel Hello.

Alan Well, last week we showed you how to become a gynaecologist. And this week on 'How to do it' we're going to show you how to play the flute, how to split an atom, how to construct a box girder bridge, how to irrigate the Sahara Desert and make vast new areas of land cultivatable, but first, here's Jackie to tell you all how to rid the world of all known diseases.

Jackie Hello, Alan.

Alan Hello, Jackie.

Jackie Well, first of all become a doctor and discover a marvellous cure for something, and then, when the medical profession really starts to take notice of you, you can jolly well tell them what to do and make sure they get everything right so there'll never be any diseases ever again.

Alan Thanks, Jackie. Great idea. How to play the flute. (picking up a flute) Well here we are. You blow there and you move your fingers up and down here.

Noel Great, great, Alan. Well, next week we'll be showing you how black and white people can live together in peace and harmony, and Alan will be over in Moscow showing us how to reconcile the Russians and the Chinese. So, until next week, cheerio.

Alan Bye.

Jackie Bye.