American Mini DV Cameras

Author
Discussion

adam1330

Original Poster:

1,839 posts

270 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
Thinking of getting a Mini DV Video camera and bullet cam to put in my car. Was thinking of buying from America to take advantage of the exchange rates, but was wondering about the NTSC/PAL issue. I would be editing all the footage I take on the computer, and then burning to VCD or DVD, so will I have to worry about the camera being NTSC? I assume I could convert to PAL on the computer?

simpo two

87,026 posts

272 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
You might save a bit (though you'll get done for VAT when it arrives here anyway) but in the long run I fear you'll be making a rod for your own back as you'll be incompatible with everyone else in Europe! PAL and NTSC have completely different resolutions and frame rates, and swapping from one to the other is not a walk in the park. So by the time you've added on shipping and VAT, is it worth the aggro?

adam1330

Original Poster:

1,839 posts

270 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
To buy, for example, a JVC GR-D70 camcorder here, would cost £398, the same from America, including postage, works out at £203, so even with the VAT added on, it still only comes out at £238, saving £140. Would have to buy a power adaptor, but the money saved would more than pay for the bullet cam!

srider

709 posts

289 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
adam1330 said:
To buy, for example, a JVC GR-D70 camcorder here, would cost £398, the same from America, including postage, works out at £203, so even with the VAT added on, it still only comes out at £238, saving £140. Would have to buy a power adaptor, but the money saved would more than pay for the bullet cam!


It would still be NTSC though.....

gt5s_1985

703 posts

263 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2004
quotequote all
Most video editing software programs can handle both NTSC or PAL. You'll need to be very careful with this issue - I don't think it will be a problem but you'll need to verify this with the manufacturer before spending your money.

I've recently purchased two different pieces of hardware that allow me to connect my VCR to my computer to download videos and I have had some issues with NTSC tapes. My video recorder plays all formats, but apparently, according to the tech support line, does a pseudo-conversion to PAL that my television can recognize. This particular video device cannot recognize this pseudo-signal, and therefore the image on my computer is in B&W.

If I were to play this NTSC video on a NTSC machine, there would be no issue.

Anyway, it CAN work. You need to check with the manufacturer of your video-editing software to make sure it is compatible with both NTSC and PAL.

simpo two

87,026 posts

272 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2004
quotequote all
simpo two said:
PAL and NTSC have completely different resolutions and frame rates

Just for the sake of interest:
PAL: 625 lines, 25fps
NTSC: 525 lines, 30fps

Bacardi

2,235 posts

283 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2004
quotequote all
........not to mention the non square pixels in both formats, squashed upright in NTSC and landscape for PAL.

If you're not worried about potential warranty issues and still want to save the money you can buy PAL cameras from B&H:

www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=search&Q=&b=193&a=227_1426&Submit.x=47&Submit.y=14&shs=&ci=1918&ac=

HTH

simpo two

87,026 posts

272 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2004
quotequote all
That would appear to solve the problem!

meeja

8,290 posts

255 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
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gt5s_1985 said:
Most video editing software programs can handle both NTSC or PAL.


Yes they can, but they will not allow you to mix NTSC and PAL footage on the same timeline.

Fine if all of the rushes have been filmed in the same format, but if, for example, you wanted to use some stock or archive footage that has been filmed in PAL, as a cutaway.... you are shafted!

meeja

8,290 posts

255 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
simpo two said:

simpo two said:
PAL and NTSC have completely different resolutions and frame rates


Just for the sake of interest:
PAL: 625 lines, 25fps
NTSC: 525 lines, 30fps


Just to be pedantic.... NTSC is 29.97 FPS

simpo two

87,026 posts

272 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
meeja said:
Just to be pedantic.... NTSC is 29.97 FPS

But you have to ask yourself - does it really matter?

meeja

8,290 posts

255 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
simpo two said:

meeja said:
Just to be pedantic.... NTSC is 29.97 FPS


But you have to ask yourself - does it really matter?


It can do, when frame matching NTSC footage in a NLE suite, and up against a tight deadline!

simpo two

87,026 posts

272 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
meeja said:
It can do, when frame matching NTSC footage in a NLE suite, and up against a tight deadline!

Tha's why I'm a producer - I save the teccy stuff for you guys. As long as I'm two steps ahead of the customer, that's OK!

meeja

8,290 posts

255 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
simpo two said:

meeja said:
It can do, when frame matching NTSC footage in a NLE suite, and up against a tight deadline!


Tha's why I'm a producer - I save the teccy stuff for you guys. As long as I'm two steps ahead of the customer, that's OK!


You sound like one or two producers I have worked with before!!

Especially one guy who used to come into the suite and say "I need you to make the picture do the whatsit thing where it whizzes past the thingy..... oh, you know what I mean...."

It's what makes it a fun industry!

simpo two

87,026 posts

272 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
meeja said:
You sound like one or two producers I have worked with before!!

I sincerely hope not. Try me!
'Course, I could just dump a box of unlogged rushes on your desk and say 'Edit that by teatime, and there's no script'. Or worse, persuade the client to produce it

Do you suffer from the phrase 'How easy would it be to...'

Think we'd better hand this thread back to its rightful owner!

meeja

8,290 posts

255 months

Thursday 5th February 2004
quotequote all
simpo two said:

Do you suffer from the phrase 'How easy would it be to...'


Oh yes..... along with... "That looks brilliant, it's just how I wanted it. But now I've seen it, I think it looked better the way you did it first time......"

Grrrr.....