PAL & NTSC DV cam??

[Big Booger]

A friend is looking for a DV camera that supports PAL and NTSC via a switch. Is this possible? She'd like to shoot video in Japan, US, and New Zealand.

Anyone know?

[emperor]

A friend is looking for a DV camera that supports PAL and NTSC via a switch. Is this possible? She'd like to shoot video in Japan, US, and New Zealand.

I remember checking into this before and finding no such camera - I just had a look again now after reading your Q and found nothing.
but you could try somewhere like http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/forumdisplay.php?forumid=20 for more checking..

Its obviously best to go with the format that is native to whichever country shell spend the longest amount of time in while having the camera... so if its living in these countries ie. a year in US, a year in Japan, a year in NZ - then maybe NTSC would be best if shell be editing a distributing DVDs or (?)videos(?)
- but if its just a holiday then the format of whichever country shes from would be best - so if shes from OZ then PAL

I wouldve gone with a NTSC when I bought mine in Japan a year ago NTSC models are cheaper but seeing as i was only there for a year and i planned on using the cam and editing the footage once i got back to PAL-land - i went with PAL - its generally said that PAL are better quality - but i think the difference is small

[cstaylor]

IIRC the benefit of shooting pal is the framerate: 25fps, almost the 24fps of movie. That way you can skip the reverse 3:2 pulldown when you want to output to film.

[mr. sparkle]

Right now, there's no such beast in the DV/SD world. However, look to Q1 of 2005 when Sony will release the HVR-Z1 camcorder. That will shoot PAL or NTSC DVCAM or in HDV. It's basically the pro version of their HDR-FX1, the hot new Sony HDV camcorder.

There is a plug-in for Final Cut Pro that will change your footage from NTSC to PAL and vice versa (http://www.nattress.com).

The Sony DSR-11 DV deck will play and record in PAL and NTSC, so that may be an option too.

[aquamarine]

Never fear! Aqua's Useless Contacts are here!!!!

One of my clients of who's main job is a head R&D guy at JVC has shown me hand-drawn designs and explanations of a device that will soon be released (see Christmas) that will completely convert the signal.

Buy a video camera here & the converter.

Film to your hearts content then hook the Cam into the Conv. and the Conv. into the TV. VOILA! It even works directly from VCR to TV. Joy is had by all!

camera---------converter----------------television

{{}}{{}} ========== ||||||=================(|__

[Big Booger]

Never fear! Aqua's Useless Contacts are here!!!!

One of my clients of who's main job is a head R&D guy at JVC has shown me hand-drawn designs and explanations of a device that will soon be released (see Christmas) that will completely convert the signal.

Buy a video camera here & the converter.

Film to your hearts content then hook the Cam into the Conv. and the Conv. into the TV. VOILA! It even works directly from VCR to TV. Joy is had by all!

camera---------converter----------------television

{{}}{{}} ========== ||||||=================(|__

This sounds like the perfect option. I'll tell her to wait it out. Though it would be nice to have a camera that incorporates this feature natively...

Why can't we all just use the same damn type?

[aquamarine]

Bad karma is the reason that I'm guessing

If definatly WOULD be nice if they had it incorporated, sadly that's how both nations make money. "oooh... your camera wont work here? Y'know that's too bad.... SO BUY A NEW ONE! MWAHAHAHA!"

[XIII]

NTSC camcorders will work great on most newer PAL TV via a RGB cable, I've tried myself
Same with DVD players, most of them can display PAL and NTSC, no problem.
I've filmed with my NTSC DV cam., edited on my PC and send home the finished DVD to my family.They can play it on their PAL DVD player and TV without any problems.
You can't on the other hand do it the opposite way, a PAL signal will NOT work on a NTSC TV!!
Just go with NTSC