Converting 1080I to PAL?

[George Odell]

My (possible) foreign client has just realized they use PAL in their country (duh).

Any thoughts on how I might shoot this 1080I with a Sony HVR-Z1U and convert to PAL as Standard Def
for a final delivery as h264 .mov?

Thanks!


BTW: Sony used to make a SD DV handicam that would shoot PAL as well as NTSC. Used it a few times for an Australian TV client some years back. Does anyone remember what the model was?

[Donald McPherson]

Most if not all PAL DVD players will play NTSC.
Don't know about Blue ray though I imagine they will work too.??

[David Heath]

Originally Posted by George Odell

My (possible) foreign client has just realized they use PAL in their country (duh).

Any thoughts on how I might shoot this 1080I with a Sony HVR-Z1U and convert to PAL as Standard Def
for a final delivery as h264 .mov?

OK, first, it's important to get clear that PAL and NTSC only really have meanings as standard definition formats.

They often (wrongly) get used in reference to HD formats - what is really meant is the HD format based on 50Hz or 60Hz, the mains frequencies of the region.

Therefore if you want SD, and you want PAL SD, then if you're starting off with HD it's important to shoot in a format based on 50 Hz- not 60. Hence, relevant modes would be 1080p/25, 1080i/25 or 720p/50. If they want "film-look" motion, use 1080p/25, if they want "normal" motion use 720p/50.

After that, any decent NLE should offer H264 as a choice of export settings. (Though I'd normally expect H264 to be wrapped as .mp4?) And as said in another thread, you need to know from them roughly what bitrate they're expecting. Saying H264.mov by itself is pretty meaningless.

[Peter Manojlovic]

Hey George, is there anyway to shoot 1080 progressive with your camera??
Interlaced downconversion is usually a pain in the rear..

[Ervin Farkas]

George, I do remember the model number of that Sony camera.

It is your Sony Z1U.

So... to quote you... duh!