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Making a Slideshow on Videotape, Surround Sound and Cable, DLP vs. LCD

Week 3, 2003

Q: I have a digital camera and would like to make slide shows on videotape.   Is it possible to do this?
-Jan Kovac, Sewickley

A: You can transfer still pictures from your camera to videotape, though they will not look as good as when displayed directly from your camera.   Take the yellow video output cord from your digital camera and connect it to a corresponding yellow input on your VCR.   Insert a blank videotape, then use your remote to select the proper VCR input (usually L1 or Video 1).   Next, make sure your VCR is set to SP mode for best recording quality.   Hit record, and as the tape records, advance the pictures on your camera every ten seconds or so- however long you would like them to be displayed when the tape plays.   The pictures will be recorded to the videotape for playback on any VCR.

If you want to add a soundtrack, you can connect a CD player to the VCR audio inputs that correspond to the video input.   As the CD plays it will be recorded to the tape along with the digital pictures.

Q) We’re a middle-aged couple (living in the dark ages when it comes to this stuff!) setting up a surround sound home theatre system.   Our cable company is really pushing digital cable, but the analog cable is considerably cheaper and has the channels we want.   Does surround sound still work if we have analog cable?
-Elizabeth W Schmitz

A): Analog cable will work just as well as digital cable for Dolby Pro-Logic surround sound.   Just use the red and white stereo audio outputs from your TV and select
Pro-Logic mode on your receiver.

Q:   I am interested in purchasing either a Samsung HLM507W (DLP) or Sony KF50XBR800 (LCD) rear projection HD-ready TV. Which technology is better, DLP or LCD, and does anyone else besides Samsung make DLP HD-ready TVs? Both sets sell for around $4000.  

-Gary Dicroce, Scott Township

A: DLP (Digital Light Projection) is widely considered to be the better technology.   Much of this is due to LCD projection systems’ inability to produce deep, convincing black colors.   Whether DLP or LCD technology is better should not be your primary concern, as a great LCD projector will outperform a mediocre DLP projector.     You should focus on making a controlled comparison to determine which of the sets has a better picture, especially since you will be spending $4,000.

First, use your own DVDs to compare the televisions.   By bringing your own program material, you will have a common reference point between stores and televisions.   The television demo material used in many stores has lots of action that flashes before your eyes and cuts from scene to scene quickly.   It can be confusing and makes it hard to get an accurate assessment of the set’s image quality.

Be sure the picture on both sets is set properly.   This usually means color temperature at the warm setting and the contrast dialed down to around one-half.     When you evaluate both TVs using familiar scenes from your favorite DVDs, I think you will quickly determine which of the sets is the one for you.

DLP rear-projection televisions are available from Marantz, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, RCA, Samsung, Toshiba, and Zenith, with prices ranging from   $4,000 to $17,500.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 25th, 2007 at 2:19 pm and is filed under Cable and Satellite TV, Connections and Cables, Digital Photography, DVD Players, Home Theater, How-tos, Newspaper Columns, Speakers and Sound Systems, Television, VHS/Video Tape. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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