PAL VS NTSC. Who is better? at DVinfo.net

Joao Oliveira · August 7th, 2003, 12:43 AM

I've seen numerous replies to this question. From all the differences, the biggest seem to be resolution and color.

As far as resolution is concerned, it is quite clear that PAL is superior. How much of it you can really notice, I'm not so sure. How come that the american and japanese consumers would accept this if the visible differences are substantial?

My other concern is color. I've read many posts where it is said that NTSC does not show true colors (how does the say go again...Never True Size and Color???). How can this be?

Frank Granovski · August 7th, 2003, 01:44 AM

If you compare PAL TV with NTSC TV, you will notice a big difference. Depending on where you live, you are stuck with either the lesser quality NTSC/Brazil's PAL, or the higher res'd PAL/MESECAM/SECAM. Another adavantage with PAL is that the frame rate more closely matches motion film's frame rate.

Andre De Clercq adds, MESECAM (Middle East Secam) is not a broadcast standard but a VHS recording variant for the original SECAM recording concept.. It uses frequency shift for the "color under" information rather than the frequency devision concept originally used for SECAM recording. Because freq shift is being used for PAL and NTSC, the MESECAM method is far more compatible for building multistandard VCR's. There is a slight quality penalty involved, if compared to the original (and more complicated) SECAM recording system.

Bogdan Vaglarov · August 8th, 2003, 05:07 AM

Talking about NTSC and PAL you have to specify its all about DV format - this makes big difference as the compression methods are different.

Go to http://www.adamwilt.com/DV and find a lot of info on that topic

August 7th, 2003, 12:43 AM	#1
Joao Oliveira New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 21	PAL VS NTSC. Who is better? I've seen numerous replies to this question. From all the differences, the biggest seem to be resolution and color. As far as resolution is concerned, it is quite clear that PAL is superior. How much of it you can really notice, I'm not so sure. How come that the american and japanese consumers would accept this if the visible differences are substantial? My other concern is color. I've read many posts where it is said that NTSC does not show true colors (how does the say go again...Never True Size and Color???). How can this be?

August 7th, 2003, 01:44 AM	#2
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	If you compare PAL TV with NTSC TV, you will notice a big difference. Depending on where you live, you are stuck with either the lesser quality NTSC/Brazil's PAL, or the higher res'd PAL/MESECAM/SECAM. Another adavantage with PAL is that the frame rate more closely matches motion film's frame rate. Andre De Clercq adds, MESECAM (Middle East Secam) is not a broadcast standard but a VHS recording variant for the original SECAM recording concept.. It uses frequency shift for the "color under" information rather than the frequency devision concept originally used for SECAM recording. Because freq shift is being used for PAL and NTSC, the MESECAM method is far more compatible for building multistandard VCR's. There is a slight quality penalty involved, if compared to the original (and more complicated) SECAM recording system.

August 8th, 2003, 05:07 AM	#3
Bogdan Vaglarov Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yokohama, Japan Posts: 366	Talking about NTSC and PAL you have to specify its all about DV format - this makes big difference as the compression methods are different. Go to http://www.adamwilt.com/DV and find a lot of info on that topic