Is this new or have I just missed it? Fairly interesting I wonder how much?
Canon Professional Network - Extra frame rate options for Canon XF-series camcorders (http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/technical/extra_frame_rate_xf.do)

I think I saw that Canon charge £400 for this service to make the camera dual standard by adding the NTSC frame rates.

At the Canon Expo last summer in NYC, I was told about the standards conversion option. They quoted me $500 US. Fast forward to January of this year and I shot in the UK. I set the shutter speed to 100, turned on flicker reduction, and not a blinking light to be seen - incandescent or fluorescent.

Factory PAL upgrade = $500
2 simple camera adjustments = $00.00

Nearly identical result.

You decide.

For most people with an NTSC camera, simply changing the shutter speed when under 50 cycle lights of PAL land, is the smart choice.

I am actually going to go ahead and get the upgrade for my camera. I shoot for clients in both TV standards and so being able to shoot source material with no conversion necessary, is better for me and the client.

I just ask here in Hong Kong, the Canon service center charges $500usd to upgrade to ntsc. Is there no way for the users to update the firmware? Like Nikon DSLRs etc. $500 is quite steep, though I am not complaining.

Is this new or have I just missed it? Fairly interesting I wonder how much?
Canon Professional Network - Extra frame rate options for Canon XF-series camcorders (http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/technical/extra_frame_rate_xf.do)

I had this upgrade 2 weeks ago in the UK. 400 euros + tax

Canon Singapore is asking 800 SGD which comes to $628 USD! Kind of steep for what is surely not more than a 10 min job. But for me, a lot cheaper than getting a second XF300! I just wish Canon would simply offer this as an original feature. It would save me the expense of flying the camera over to Singapore and hanging out there for the three days that they say that it will take them, bringing the total cost to well over a thousand, plus the lost days. I guess I will have to bring my XHA1 and spend my time shooting stock!

Takes 10 mins.. If you book it in and take it yourself the London centre will do it why you have a coffee..

While you have a coffee I meant! Although having tasted it, Why is also valid.

Canon Singapore is asking 800 SGD which comes to $628 USD! Kind of steep for what is surely not more than a 10 min job. But for me, a lot cheaper than getting a second XF300! I just wish Canon would simply offer this as an original feature. It would save me the expense of flying the camera over to Singapore and hanging out there for the three days that they say that it will take them, bringing the total cost to well over a thousand, plus the lost days. I guess I will have to bring my XHA1 and spend my time shooting stock!

You should come to hong kong! Only usd$500 here, i just checked with the service rep yesterday. :)

Hey That sounds good! Can they do it while I have a cup of coffee, like the chaps in london?

From what the sales rep said when I was in the showroom, it is a quick job like you have mentioned. She went up to the Canon service floors, asked a technician, and came back down to give me a quote. If you would like me to ask how quick it can be done, I can definitely give them a call. There is a TGI Fridays, Pacific Coffee, and Outback steakhouse on the first three floors of the building Canon's showroom/customer service center is in, so you can have a brewski, coffee, tea, whatever. :)

I plan on getting mine from Canon HK, the XF100 will be in stock beginning of March.

Yes, I am seriusly interested. The airfare is a little more to Hong Kong for me but if I can get it done same day, rahter than the three days that Canon Singapore says that it will take, then It will be overall cheaper for me to do it in HK. Thanks for the offer to check for me!

Frank

Okay, I will go to Canon and ask personally before I leave for the US. I will also ask them if you can send ship the camera straight to them, and ship it back to you in Vietnam after the upgrade, unless the camera is your baby, that is a logic money and time just to fly over here to HK. I will let you know.

Am I the only person who thinks that it's pretty outrageous for Canon to charge $500 or more just to install updated firmware to provide missing features that other manufacturers include without extra cost?

I told the Canon service rep lady here in Hong Kong that $500USD is outrageous, she smiled and agreed with me.

She even suggested that I tried to find the firmware online and do it myself (we can only wish).

Must all Canon camcorders be sent back to its service center for firmware reflashes?

Okay, I will go to Canon and ask personally before I leave for the US. I will also ask them if you can send ship the camera straight to them, and ship it back to you in Vietnam after the upgrade, unless the camera is your baby, that is a logic money and time just to fly over here to HK. I will let you know.

It is more a case of the shipping back into Vietnam, and what some costoms official might want to charge me to release the camera to me!

To quote Forest Gump. "Vietnam .... It's like this whole other country!"

Am I the only person who thinks that it's pretty outrageous for Canon to charge $500 or more just to install updated firmware to provide missing features that other manufacturers include without extra cost?

I am OK with the cost for the feature you get. What I don't like is that you have to send the camera in to have it done, or how some service centers say it will take three days to try and give the impression that it is a bigger job then it really is. I purchased three Canon XHA1 cameras over three years, and would have gladly done this to all three, at $500 each, had the process been easier. I don't want to ship a camera in and be without it for a week. It is just not convenient. Canon needs to supply their dealers with a limited number of units that already have this activated. I would have GLADLY paid the extra $500 up front for the last four cameras that I have bought. To get it done after the fact, is a real pain in the backside, not to mention the lost time, if I have to fly it in, and wait around a few days to get it done. If it is just a matter of flashing the firmware, just sell us the file on line! My credit card is poised!

Frank

It is more a case of the shipping back into Vietnam, and what some costoms official might want to charge me to release the camera to me!

To quote Forest Gump. "Vietnam .... It's like this whole other country!"

Ahhhhhh gotcha! Reason I love about Hong Kong is there is no customs tax. I never have to worry!

I called Canon HK service center. She said that on average, the drop off service is 5-7 days. But she added that there is a chance they can get the camera back to you on the same day, depending on their traffic for that particular day. So there is no guarantee if they can service it for you quickly (even though it is a freaking quick firmware reflash job).

I leave for the US in two days, but I will try to go up to the service center to ask personally.

By the way, I love Vietnam, and Pho' is my favorite food in the world (even above steak)!

Takes 10 mins.. If you book it in and take it yourself the London centre will do it why you have a coffee..
For the price I would expect a coffee and lunch to be included.