Buying new camera - PAL or NTSC?

RandyQ · 11-19-2009, 03:14 PM

I plan to buy a new camera soon, and I suddenly realized that one basic decision I have to make is whether I buy a PAL or NTSC model. Consider the following:

1. I am buying the camera for some shoots I plan to do late this year and early next year. These shoots are in China (PAL), HK (PAL), Marshall Islands (NTSC) and other US territories, and of course, Manila (NTSC).

2. I will post it here in Manila, but thats irrelevant - FCP and do PAL and NTSC with no issues.

3. My work will be shown in both PAL and NTSC countries, but most of the time the playback is on a laptop (maybe 80-90%), and the rest on DVD. Once in a while there is a conference where they show it on a screen with a DVD player.

4. Probably NO CHANCE of playback on BROADCAST. IF there IS a chance, it will be broadcast in Chinese television which is PAL.

5. I dont want to buy an expensive am that supports BOTH framerates.

SOME QUESTIONS:

1. Considering this situation, DOES THE STANDARD MATTER?

2. If I buy the PAL model, does this transcode nicely into 29.97 fps, in the event that I absolutely have to provide an NTSC framerate?

3. If I buy PAL, is this a poor mans' 24 fps? Do we have to shoot following "film-rules" to avoid stuttering/strobing during pans?

Anyway, hope you fellows have the time to chime in here.

rgds/ RandyQ

dvsadvocate · 11-20-2009, 02:20 AM

I have so been out of the video production scene for a long time now and this is one of the questions that i often overlooked. Cant wait for the answers to this one!

mac scofield · 11-20-2009, 06:45 AM

Sir, I sent you a PM, kindly check... hope it sheds some light. thanks!

nre · 11-20-2009, 07:13 AM

PAL is the higher quality standard isn't it? So you don't shoot NTSC then convert it to PAL and expect the video to measure up to other native shot-in-PAL video. Converting PAL to NTSC (should the need arise) is actually a sort of downgrade so no issue there.

RandyQ · 11-20-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nre

PAL is the higher quality standard isn't it? So you don't shoot NTSC then convert it to PAL and expect the video to measure up to other native shot-in-PAL video. Converting PAL to NTSC (should the need arise) is actually a sort of downgrade so no issue there.

This is precisely why the answer to this question is not as obvious as it appears to be.

For example, while it may be argued that PAL is the higher quality standard, it is also true that higher quality is not the only factor in deciding which format to adopt. Other factors to consider are the usage at the end, as well as the workflow in getting it there.

For many years, indy shooters shot in the US shot in PAL because it was very close to 24fps, and therefore a very economical way to do film projects. Today however, many cams can do 24P economically so this argument is moot.

Also, transcoding is possible from one format to another, but the workflow and resultant quality is an issue. As mentioned, 25fps goes into 24p very easily (you dont do anything, in fact - the show just gets longer). But 25fps to 29.97 could be a bummer depending on how you do it.

imabs · 01:32 PM

you should get a PAL format cam. wait, are you going to shoot in HD (if size or dimension is a factor) ?
even in Ireland, they don't use NTSC format in the production in terms of size and dimension. my friend there uses PAL format even in post prod.

nre · 11-20-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyQ

This is precisely why the answer to this question is not as obvious as it appears to be.

Interesting! Sorry if I was thinking along a different direction but it stems from a recent experience working with a UK crew shooting a piece here in the Philippines for broadcast in the US. Obviously, situations differ and it so happened we also had that PAL vs NTSC conversation.

RandyQ · 11-20-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imabs

you should get a PAL format cam...even in Ireland, they don't use NTSC format in the production in terms of size and dimension. my friend there uses PAL format even in post prod.

iMabs,
Yes, it seems tempting to get a PAL model - this is because much of the world outside of the is PAL. Only US territories, North America, Japan and us Filipinos still use NTSC.

The thing that is swaying me towards buying the NTSC model is because most PAL countries I've encountered are very multi-system, meaning they are very ready to accept NTSC material. For example, I ran a production studio in China (a PAL country) for a long time, and nobody cared if we shot/edited/exported in NTSC. In fact even today they are still using my old NTSC cameras and nobody knows the difference.

So if I am planning to shoot footage for China distribution (like I am going to do in a week or so), it doesn't matter - they accept both NTSC and PAL with no problems as long as you dont broadcast it.

On the other hand, if you show up in the US (and even here in Manila) with PAL footage, you are almost surely sunk. You will have to convert the footage and good luck doing that.

So for now it seems as if NTSC is the way to go.

BTW, you did not mention what your reason for recommending PAL - maybe you can explain your reasoning. Maybe I am wrong and PAL is actually the right format to buy.

rgds/RandyQ

imabs · 11-24-2009, 01:22 AM

with regards to frame rates from 24fps to 29.97fps, baka magmukhang kuha gamit ang mobile phone. i have encountered PAL transcoding to NTSC before if i can recall. it's not that good.

crowmac · 11-26-2009, 09:03 PM

Randy why don't you just Buy The Sony Z1? It shoot DV/HDV and also PAL/NTSC

It's not that Expensive at the Moment and you can also find used units with good prices