Looking for a definitive answer.

My Canon pro-dealer says it cannot be done. They have asked Canon UK and Japan and they have never heard of it.

Canon says it an option in their launch material.
I have seen it mentioned in many posts.
I think even Alan Roberts referred to it in his report.
CVP London have offered it to a customer on another forum.

Does anybody have the answer?

Simple, get in touch with CVP

Pro-kit asked the horse, Canon UK have never heard of it! but then they also didn't know the spec of the WA when asked either.

If CVP say yes, that does not = a definitive answer!? If someone has had the upgrade, well that would.

Alan Roberts mentions it on page 1 of his report. A collection of yes an no answers does not help anyone, just looking for facts!

So if anybody knows I would appreciate it? I work in the US often and would seriously consider the upgrade.

I will call CVP, I can't get any more confused!

Ok...... CVP said they think its possible but has to go back to Canon.

So I call CPS and am told they are not sure, where did I get my info from... I say Im looking for a definitive answer and please come back with one.. Finally CPS find a man in the basement in a room with no windows and with no friends who says "YES" he can do that....400 euros..

I've suggested they tell the dealers.

I hope this helps others.

400 Euros = 338 Pouds + vat no doubt. Sounds expensive hope that guy in the basement has a good set of eyes..

1 min firmware upgrade I bet..

I asked Canon's Norwegian service center the same question about 2 months ago.
The email I got back stated that I would have to send the XF300/305 to a service center called RCC in Sweden for them to do the modification from NTSC to PAL for a minimum of 400 euro + tax.

Pretty expencive upgrade itself, but still very cheap concidered that the camera has almost a double price tag in Norway compared to the states.

I have my XF300 upgraded now.
Canon RCC in Sweden did it for me, but at least Canon USA can also perform this upgrade.
After the upgrade, NTSC or PAL is selectable in the menu.

I asked the Canon Representative at the Hong Kong Canon showroom here in Hong Kong, who then went up stairs to their service department to ask a Canon technician, and they quoted me $500 USD for a Pal xf100 upgraded to include NTSC. Very expensive, but still cheaper than Europe!

Does this upgrade modify the camera to be both "PAL and NTSC" or is it "PAL or NTSC".

After the upgrade, you select NTSC or PAL in the camera's menu.
So to answer your question, the camera becomes PAL AND NTSC.

I just asked last week Canon Wiliich Germany for XF300/305. It is possible to do it from NTSC to PAL and the other way around. You will have both modes foir400 Euros + TAX

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/files/education/technical/extra_frame_rate_xf/XF300_XF305_switching.pdf

I wish they'd offer both pal and ntsc to begin with... can't have everything can we...

After the upgrade, you select NTSC or PAL in the camera's menu.
So to answer your question, the camera becomes PAL AND NTSC.

Thanks, exactly what I wanted to know.

I wonder if it's just a menu that they make visible for $500.00

Most likely. (or combined with a firmware upgrade)
I got my camera back from RCC about 30 minutes after I delivered it.

I wonder if it's just a menu that they make visible for $500.00

If it is, Canon wins.. gold medals..

Only fools rush in.

Is there a quiet revolution going on? Is this the first camcorder to have this simple, menu driven Continental Plate shift? Does this mean Canon are the first to jump ship away from the archaic, rigid camera formats?

What next? 100fps progressive 444 at the flick of a switch? Oh, it's coming, .... it's coming..... Forget about frames. How about streaming visual CODE that is "captured" human-retina like directly to a human edit interface. AVID, or Vegas or whatever directly on a camera (camera? Gonna have to call it something else soon!).

I bet there are some staggering devices being dreamt up.....

Grazie