shooting in pal at DVinfo.net

Andrew OShea · December 10th, 2005, 11:51 PM

hey im thinking of buying either a dvx10 or a pd100a in the pal format, i figure its almost like shooting in 24 frames p/s but i am naive about this stuff... Ultimatly it is easier and less expensive to transfer pal to film (I think?)... Can someone give me some info about what sort of problems i might run into shooting pal, like expense wise and stuff like editing being that i am in the U.S. Thanks...

Boyd Ostroff · December 11th, 2005, 09:25 AM

Hi Andrew - and welcome to DVinfo,

What's a DVX10? Do you mean DVX100? If so then the NTSC version can actually shoot at 24fps progressive scan however the PAL version cannot. The PD-100a is a much older camera which isn't going to give you the quality of many newer models.

You do realize that a film transfer is a really expensive prospect, right? The cost of the camera is nothing compared to that...

The Sony HVR-Z1 will do PAL, NTSC and HDV if you really want maximum flexibility, but it's probably more than your budget. Take a look at DVfilm's website - they do film transfers and also make software for converting PAL to NTSC and deinterlacing: http://www.dvfilm.com/faq.htm In particular, see question #30. They are not really suggesting that you use PAL for film transfers anymore.

As far as the downside to buying a PAL camera, well for starters you won't be able to show your footage on any of the NTSC TV's in the US and if you make PAL DVD's they won't play on DVD players here in the US. To do this you would need to use some software like DVFilm Atlantis to convert everything to NTSC which involves long rendering times and doubles the amount of hard drive space needed for your projects, plus you'll lose some quality in converting to NTSC.

For editing, just about any software or computer can handle both PAL and NTSC so that won't be much of an issue. But if you want to view your footage on anything other than a computer monitor you'll need a PAL compatible monitor.

Personally I don't think it makes sense to buy PAL equipment to use here in the US unless it's for a specific project which requires it. I did a PAL project last summer in Argentina, and I bought a Sony Z1 so that I could work in both NTSC and PAL.

Andrew OShea · December 11th, 2005, 10:50 AM

sorry i meant pdx10,

Boyd Ostroff · December 11th, 2005, 01:31 PM

I'm sure a PAL PDX-10 would be a nice little camera. It would have all the issues I mention above regarding to using PAL in an NTSC country however. I'd get the NTSC version and use some software like DVFilm Maker if I wanted 24p personally.

Matt Brabender · December 11th, 2005, 03:48 PM

The PDX10P does not shoot progressive if that is what you are after - it only does 50i.
If you are serious about finishing on film, then, if it were me, I'd budget for hire costs of good quality cams that shoot 24P.

Andrew OShea · December 12th, 2005, 10:42 PM

thanks for the advice, i bought the ntsc version....

December 10th, 2005, 11:51 PM	#1
Andrew OShea New Boot Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 12	shooting in pal hey im thinking of buying either a dvx10 or a pd100a in the pal format, i figure its almost like shooting in 24 frames p/s but i am naive about this stuff... Ultimatly it is easier and less expensive to transfer pal to film (I think?)... Can someone give me some info about what sort of problems i might run into shooting pal, like expense wise and stuff like editing being that i am in the U.S. Thanks...

December 11th, 2005, 09:25 AM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Hi Andrew - and welcome to DVinfo, What's a DVX10? Do you mean DVX100? If so then the NTSC version can actually shoot at 24fps progressive scan however the PAL version cannot. The PD-100a is a much older camera which isn't going to give you the quality of many newer models. You do realize that a film transfer is a really expensive prospect, right? The cost of the camera is nothing compared to that... The Sony HVR-Z1 will do PAL, NTSC and HDV if you really want maximum flexibility, but it's probably more than your budget. Take a look at DVfilm's website - they do film transfers and also make software for converting PAL to NTSC and deinterlacing: http://www.dvfilm.com/faq.htm In particular, see question #30. They are not really suggesting that you use PAL for film transfers anymore. As far as the downside to buying a PAL camera, well for starters you won't be able to show your footage on any of the NTSC TV's in the US and if you make PAL DVD's they won't play on DVD players here in the US. To do this you would need to use some software like DVFilm Atlantis to convert everything to NTSC which involves long rendering times and doubles the amount of hard drive space needed for your projects, plus you'll lose some quality in converting to NTSC. For editing, just about any software or computer can handle both PAL and NTSC so that won't be much of an issue. But if you want to view your footage on anything other than a computer monitor you'll need a PAL compatible monitor. Personally I don't think it makes sense to buy PAL equipment to use here in the US unless it's for a specific project which requires it. I did a PAL project last summer in Argentina, and I bought a Sony Z1 so that I could work in both NTSC and PAL.

December 11th, 2005, 10:50 AM	#3
Andrew OShea New Boot Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 12	meant pdx10 sorry i meant pdx10,

December 11th, 2005, 01:31 PM	#4
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	I'm sure a PAL PDX-10 would be a nice little camera. It would have all the issues I mention above regarding to using PAL in an NTSC country however. I'd get the NTSC version and use some software like DVFilm Maker if I wanted 24p personally.

December 11th, 2005, 03:48 PM	#5
Matt Brabender Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 230	The PDX10P does not shoot progressive if that is what you are after - it only does 50i. If you are serious about finishing on film, then, if it were me, I'd budget for hire costs of good quality cams that shoot 24P.

December 12th, 2005, 10:42 PM	#6
Andrew OShea New Boot Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 12	thanks for the advice, i bought the ntsc version....