Abstract: A format converter is provided for converting without loss of picture information a motion picture film image to and/or from a given recorder/player format. The recorder/player stores chrominance and luminance data as 8 bit digital samples. The motion picture chrominance information is also provided as 8 bit samples. The motion picture luminance data is provided either 9 or 10 bit samples. The 8 most significant bits of each luminance sample are stored as sequential 8 bit samples in the fields of the player/recorder. The additional 1 or 2 bits per luminance sample is/are stored at the end of the sequential 8 bit samples in each field of the recorder/player. During replay, the additional 1 or 2 bits per sample is/are matched with a corresponding 8 bit sample to reform 9 or 10 bit luminance samples.