Can NTSC mini dv cam export PAL tape to MAC/PC with firewire? at DVinfo.net

Joao Oliveira · November 2nd, 2003, 07:40 PM

Hi all,

I'm sure that somewhere this questions has already been answered.

I'm in PAL country, but the TV's here are mostly multisystem, and VHS recorders are almost extinct. I plan to export my movies to DVD, so if PAL or NTSC does not really matter (correct me if I'm wrong).

Comparing prices, I can get the NTSC cam for half the price of the PAL version.

My only remaining issue is to know if I can export my PAL footage to my MAC, using the NTSC cam.

I appreciate any comments. Thanks.

Jeff Donald · November 2nd, 2003, 07:42 PM

No, an NTSC player can not play back a PAL tape.

Adrian Douglas · November 2nd, 2003, 10:29 PM

Some Sony cameras, at least here in Japan, will play back PAL tapes on a TV, but as for exporting the footage I have never tried it. Since it's digital it should work if the camera will play it back but you definately won't be able to record PAL footage back to the camera.

I'd go with the PAL model if you are in a PAL country.

Joao Oliveira · November 3rd, 2003, 07:58 AM

Hi again,

Thank you for your feedback. The thing is that the more I read and research, the more confusing it seems to get. On camcorderinfo.com, I found several posts saying that Sony NTSC cams can play PAL footage via firewire to the computer and back.

I wonder if that is true for all brands, namely Panasonic.

In Asia, namely Thailand, VHS and VCD are almost dead. Therefore all my finished stuff is to be exported to DVD. Here, as far as I could learn, is does not really matter whether the original stuff was NTSC or PAL, correct me if I'm wrong. By the way, I do not want to mix footage anyway between my old PAL and any new NTSC.

In terms of prices, I'm looking at the following (Thailand-PAL/US-NTSC)
Canon GL2 - $3250/$1500
Sony TRV950 - $2250/$1400
Panasonic DV953 - $1650/$900
Panasonic GS70 - $1250/$650

See what I mean. Hope someone can give me further advise. Thanks.

Diu Hai · December 7th, 2003, 03:14 PM

i can transfer the taped record by dvx100e via firewire by using the trv27 ntsc

Helen Bach · December 7th, 2003, 09:33 PM

Why not get PAL equipment from the USA? B&H sell PAL equipment, for example. Aren't prices in PAL Singapore (Cathay for example) as low as the US for video equipment? They were when I was there a couple of years ago.

Best,
Helen

Wayne Orr · December 7th, 2003, 10:03 PM

Contrary to Jeff's assertion, you can indeed playback PAL tapes on a NTSC camera. Here are two recent posts on the Yahoo VX2K forum:

> I was with Mark P. today in RAINY ARIZONA - and he had an idea!!
> We linked a VX2k [PAL] to a PD150 [NTSC] via a firewire cable.
>
> I played a PAL tape on the VX2k which played perfectly on the LCD of the
> PD150 and recorded perfectly onto a tape on the PD150 too!!!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vx2k/message/22268

And later:

> When I stuck the PAL tape in the NTSC only PD150 it played fine. I
> have no PAL/NTSC setting in the menu. It shows up in Pauls VX but
> not in the US NTSC PD150. I changed no settings, just stuck in teh
> PAL tape and hit play.
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vx2k/message/22294

Please keep in mind that this is a playback only. There is no coversion of the signal. As mentioned, if you record on the NTSC machine from a PAL source, you record PAL.

I would think other cameras are similar, but don't know for certain.

Wayne Orr, SOC

Frank Granovski · December 8th, 2003, 04:08 AM

Joao Oliveira, didn't you post this question before?

Quote:

Can NTSC mini dv cam export PAL tape to MAC/PC with firewire?

No.

Quote:

I would think other cameras are similar, but don't know for certain.

No. Some of the Sony PAL cams can play back NTSC footage only. Perhaps some of the newer NTSC Sonys can play back PAL (the older ones couldn't, such as the TRV900), but this I don't know.

November 2nd, 2003, 07:40 PM	#1
Joao Oliveira New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 21	Can NTSC mini dv cam export PAL tape to MAC/PC with firewire? Hi all, I'm sure that somewhere this questions has already been answered. I'm in PAL country, but the TV's here are mostly multisystem, and VHS recorders are almost extinct. I plan to export my movies to DVD, so if PAL or NTSC does not really matter (correct me if I'm wrong). Comparing prices, I can get the NTSC cam for half the price of the PAL version. My only remaining issue is to know if I can export my PAL footage to my MAC, using the NTSC cam. I appreciate any comments. Thanks.

November 2nd, 2003, 07:42 PM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	No, an NTSC player can not play back a PAL tape. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 2nd, 2003, 10:29 PM	#3
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Some Sony cameras, at least here in Japan, will play back PAL tapes on a TV, but as for exporting the footage I have never tried it. Since it's digital it should work if the camera will play it back but you definately won't be able to record PAL footage back to the camera. I'd go with the PAL model if you are in a PAL country. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

November 3rd, 2003, 07:58 AM	#4
Joao Oliveira New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 21	Hi again, Thank you for your feedback. The thing is that the more I read and research, the more confusing it seems to get. On camcorderinfo.com, I found several posts saying that Sony NTSC cams can play PAL footage via firewire to the computer and back. I wonder if that is true for all brands, namely Panasonic. In Asia, namely Thailand, VHS and VCD are almost dead. Therefore all my finished stuff is to be exported to DVD. Here, as far as I could learn, is does not really matter whether the original stuff was NTSC or PAL, correct me if I'm wrong. By the way, I do not want to mix footage anyway between my old PAL and any new NTSC. In terms of prices, I'm looking at the following (Thailand-PAL/US-NTSC) Canon GL2 - $3250/$1500 Sony TRV950 - $2250/$1400 Panasonic DV953 - $1650/$900 Panasonic GS70 - $1250/$650 See what I mean. Hope someone can give me further advise. Thanks.

December 7th, 2003, 03:14 PM	#5
Diu Hai New Boot Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 19	i can transfer the taped record by dvx100e via firewire by using the trv27 ntsc

December 7th, 2003, 09:33 PM	#6
Helen Bach Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 120	Why not get PAL equipment from the USA? B&H sell PAL equipment, for example. Aren't prices in PAL Singapore (Cathay for example) as low as the US for video equipment? They were when I was there a couple of years ago. Best, Helen

December 7th, 2003, 10:03 PM	#7
Wayne Orr Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northridge Ca Posts: 734	Contrary to Jeff's assertion, you can indeed playback PAL tapes on a NTSC camera. Here are two recent posts on the Yahoo VX2K forum: > I was with Mark P. today in RAINY ARIZONA - and he had an idea!! > We linked a VX2k [PAL] to a PD150 [NTSC] via a firewire cable. > > I played a PAL tape on the VX2k which played perfectly on the LCD of the > PD150 and recorded perfectly onto a tape on the PD150 too!!! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vx2k/message/22268 And later: > When I stuck the PAL tape in the NTSC only PD150 it played fine. I > have no PAL/NTSC setting in the menu. It shows up in Pauls VX but > not in the US NTSC PD150. I changed no settings, just stuck in teh > PAL tape and hit play. > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vx2k/message/22294 Please keep in mind that this is a playback only. There is no coversion of the signal. As mentioned, if you record on the NTSC machine from a PAL source, you record PAL. I would think other cameras are similar, but don't know for certain. Wayne Orr, SOC