Canon XL1 (PAL) and American T.V.s at DVinfo.net

December 10th, 2002, 01:41 AM

I just moved from London to NYC with my Canon XL1(with a PAL operating system) and did not realize that American televisions only operate in NTSC. I know I cannot view my images on t.v. but is there any way to remedy the situation? Also, what are the repercussions of say, shooting a film using one camera on PAL and other on NTSC... can problems be solved in post-production? What about viewing minidv tapes recorded in PAL in a NTSC camera? Is this camera completely useless in the United States? (i am obviously quite ignorant in this matter i know) Please Help!

All help greatly appreciated,

Melissa Tomjanovich

Jeff Donald · December 10th, 2002, 06:49 AM

Welcome to the US, land of NTSC (never twice the same color). PAL is going to be a problem for you, as you quickly discovering. In a 2 camera shoot (1 NTSC, 1 PAL) the colors will never match. Professional conversions are expensive and software conversions (the type you can do on a computer) are of poor quality, not suitable for broadcast.

What type of work do you do? If your work is for broadcast, I would advise you to sell your camera. After conversion, it will never look as good as the NTSC footage and that will cost you clients and money.

Now for the good news. New York is the hot spot for independent film production. PAL cameras are highly sought after because the frame rate (25fps) closely matches the rate of film (24fps). The indie's don't care about PAL because they are going to film and don't do a conversion to NTSC. There should be a good market for your used PAL XL1. Good luck

Jeff

Francis Mcauslan · December 24th, 2002, 03:15 AM

Hi, I just read your post and I am facing the mirror image of your situation, i.e. I am moving back to scotland in march and I cannot decide if I should sell my ntsc xl1s or take it with me! I know the image quality of ntsc is inferior but most newer vcr's play ntsc video and I also read something abiut dvd's being the same in that you can play ntsc dvd's on pal equipment but not vice versa.......anyway, have you sold or trared your pal body yet?

Frank Granovski · December 24th, 2002, 04:09 AM

I would sell your XL1s in the USA before you go back to Scotland. I doubt you will get a fair price in PAL land, because no one would want it---unless they don't know any better or are moving to a NTSC country. However, I believe most of the TVs in Europe also read NTSC.

Didi Schoeman · January 10th, 2003, 02:17 PM

Hi Francis

About NTSC DVD's playing on PAL equipment but not vice versa, I shoot all my documentries on PAL, my clients in the US gets their copies on DVD and I havent had any complaints, so I guess its a myth!!!

But yea, get a PAL camera, immage quality is much better and in PAL land... well as mentioned above NTSC is not going to get you very far.

Didi

Francis Mcauslan · January 10th, 2003, 02:26 PM

I just read my post, the one you responded to-I didnt realise I was so bad at typing!! Thanks for that input, I'm glad it seems dvd's are able to play on US systems! My younger brother (an actor) is living in S.A. and just did his first commercial for British T.V (he likes the other end of the lens) I have not seen it yet though

Adrian van der Park · January 10th, 2003, 05:17 PM

if you want to unload your PAL XL1, drop me a line... gulag@telus.net

December 10th, 2002, 01:41 AM	#1
Melissa Tomjanovich Posts: n/a	Canon XL1 (PAL) and American T.V.s I just moved from London to NYC with my Canon XL1(with a PAL operating system) and did not realize that American televisions only operate in NTSC. I know I cannot view my images on t.v. but is there any way to remedy the situation? Also, what are the repercussions of say, shooting a film using one camera on PAL and other on NTSC... can problems be solved in post-production? What about viewing minidv tapes recorded in PAL in a NTSC camera? Is this camera completely useless in the United States? (i am obviously quite ignorant in this matter i know) Please Help! All help greatly appreciated, Melissa Tomjanovich

December 24th, 2002, 03:15 AM	#3
Francis Mcauslan New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: was Seattle/now Scotland Posts: 11	pal xl1s Hi, I just read your post and I am facing the mirror image of your situation, i.e. I am moving back to scotland in march and I cannot decide if I should sell my ntsc xl1s or take it with me! I know the image quality of ntsc is inferior but most newer vcr's play ntsc video and I also read something abiut dvd's being the same in that you can play ntsc dvd's on pal equipment but not vice versa.......anyway, have you sold or trared your pal body yet? __________________ Red faced Scotsman

January 10th, 2003, 02:17 PM	#5
Didi Schoeman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tzaneen South Africa Posts: 76	Re: pal xl1s Hi Francis About NTSC DVD's playing on PAL equipment but not vice versa, I shoot all my documentries on PAL, my clients in the US gets their copies on DVD and I havent had any complaints, so I guess its a myth!!! But yea, get a PAL camera, immage quality is much better and in PAL land... well as mentioned above NTSC is not going to get you very far. Didi __________________ Didi Schoeman ProAfrica Television & Video Productions

January 10th, 2003, 02:26 PM	#6
Francis Mcauslan New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: was Seattle/now Scotland Posts: 11	buying pal I just read my post, the one you responded to-I didnt realise I was so bad at typing!! Thanks for that input, I'm glad it seems dvd's are able to play on US systems! My younger brother (an actor) is living in S.A. and just did his first commercial for British T.V (he likes the other end of the lens) I have not seen it yet though __________________ Red faced Scotsman

January 10th, 2003, 05:17 PM	#7
Adrian van der Park Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London, England Posts: 87	if you want to unload your PAL XL1, drop me a line... gulag@telus.net __________________ Adrian van der Park VFX modeler London, England

December 10th, 2002, 06:49 AM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Welcome to the US, land of NTSC (never twice the same color). PAL is going to be a problem for you, as you quickly discovering. In a 2 camera shoot (1 NTSC, 1 PAL) the colors will never match. Professional conversions are expensive and software conversions (the type you can do on a computer) are of poor quality, not suitable for broadcast. What type of work do you do? If your work is for broadcast, I would advise you to sell your camera. After conversion, it will never look as good as the NTSC footage and that will cost you clients and money. Now for the good news. New York is the hot spot for independent film production. PAL cameras are highly sought after because the frame rate (25fps) closely matches the rate of film (24fps). The indie's don't care about PAL because they are going to film and don't do a conversion to NTSC. There should be a good market for your used PAL XL1. Good luck Jeff

December 24th, 2002, 04:09 AM	#4
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I would sell your XL1s in the USA before you go back to Scotland. I doubt you will get a fair price in PAL land, because no one would want it---unless they don't know any better or are moving to a NTSC country. However, I believe most of the TVs in Europe also read NTSC.