i cannot find a definitive/definite answer on this...


will PAL cameras have less compression than the NTSC models?

or 25fps versus 30fps?

This topic came up with the FX1 and Z1, and my impression was that there is little if any difference. Also see Adam Wilt's review of the Z1 in DV magazine. He said that in side by side comparisons of 50i and 60i HDV he was unable to see any image differences:

Indeed, I was hard-pressed to tell them apart in terms of artifacts or image degradation. A 20 percent difference in data available per frame may sound significant, but the comparison is more appropriately made between one image compressed around 50 X and the other compressed roughly 48 X

His full review is available at dv.com (registration required).

There is no real difference in data rate on SD footage, but between 60i and 50i HD modes there is a 1/6th difference. But as with what Boyd said, you might not be able to spot much difference (especially if the different GOP chews this up).

It would be interesting to see if it makes any difference in movement artifacting though.