Question: Will the GH3 be NTSC/PAL switchable? at DVinfo.net

Lee Mullen · September 25th, 2012, 12:32 AM

Can this be officially confirm please?

Colin Rowe · September 26th, 2012, 04:39 AM

Google will tell you in 5 seconds, try it sometime, its quite handy!!!!!!!!!!!!
DMC-GH3, H-HS35100 | Press Release | LUMIX | Digital Camera | Panasonic Global

Thomas Smet · September 26th, 2012, 08:51 AM

If it isn't in the released specs on the GH3 website then chances are nobody here is going to have a solid answer until the camera actually comes out. You may be able to find somebody out there talking about it but honestly a lot of the talk is pure speculation at this point. So unless it is a written final word from Panasonic you have to treat anything as speculation.

William Hohauser · September 26th, 2012, 09:04 AM

The specs seem to say yes but there is an asterix next to the PAL specs that says that you can only record up to 30 minutes in European areas. (This is due to an EU trade regulation that taxes video cameras differently than still cameras, apparently recording less than 30 minutes denotes a still camera.) Does that mean that cameras sold in Europe have the recording limit but not the cameras elsewhere? Or does that indicate that PAL is only available to cameras sold in PAL areas. Not easy to say right now as no one has used the finalized camera with the finalized firmware.

Also Google doesn't always work the same around the world, censorship issues.

Don Litten · September 26th, 2012, 09:23 AM

Assuming this camera is hackable, there will be an option to remove the 30 minute limit even if you opt to keep the OEM firmware.

Ivan Hurtado · September 26th, 2012, 11:41 AM

I have the feeling it will be locked as the GH2. I'll be pleasantly surprised if otherwise, but don't have high hopes for it. Remember that it's primarily a photo camera with a very good video implementation. If you need the ability to switch formats I'd consider a pro camcorder, not a DSLR.

Regards!

Cristian Adrian Olariu · September 26th, 2012, 01:54 PM

On B&H doesn't say for sure http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/892456-REG/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_GH3_Mirrorless_Digital.html

Colin Rowe · September 26th, 2012, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Hohauser

Also Google doesn't always work the same around the world, censorship issues.

Very true William, but its always a good place to start

Bill Bruner · September 26th, 2012, 05:53 PM

For what it is worth, the GH2's spec chart is organized in the same way as the GH3's - with the NTSC and PAL numbers separated. That camera was sold in two separate non-switchable versions, with no OEM video recording time limit for the NTSC version. My guess is that the GH3 will have separate non-switchable NTSC and PAL versions - as did the GH1 and GH2 before it.

Cheers,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

Lee Mullen · September 26th, 2012, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan Hurtado

I have the feeling it will be locked as the GH2. I'll be pleasantly surprised if otherwise, but don't have high hopes for it. Remember that it's primarily a photo camera with a very good video implementation. If you need the ability to switch formats I'd consider a pro camcorder, not a DSLR.

Regards!

Thanks. My Canon 600D and 650D being consumer/prosumer cameras do allow PAL/NTSC choice, so I disagree with your last remark.

Lee Mullen · September 26th, 2012, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin Rowe

Google will tell you in 5 seconds, try it sometime, its quite handy!!!!!!!!!!!!
DMC-GH3, H-HS35100 | Press Release | LUMIX | Digital Camera | Panasonic Global

Why use google when I have you!! You are very handy!! :D

Lee Mullen · September 26th, 2012, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Hohauser

Also Google doesn't always work the same around the world, censorship issues.

This was my point to Colin!

Bill Koehler · September 27th, 2012, 04:34 AM

I would be willing to bet that NTSC and PAL are two different cameras.
If you go to Panasonics USA spec page for the GH3:

Panasonic DMC-GH3KBODY - NEW! LUMIX GH3 Body Only, 16 Megapixel Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera (No Lens) - Technical Specifications

You will see they never reference PAL or PAL frame rates.

Wacharapong Chiowanich · September 28th, 2012, 03:31 AM

True. And I have no doubt Panasonic will price the PAL version to the max as has always been the case with almost all of their video-capable devices.

Bill Koehler · September 28th, 2012, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin Rowe

DMC-GH3, H-HS35100 | Press Release | LUMIX | Digital Camera | Panasonic Global

Looking at that Panasonic product info page, I also found this:

"*3 Motion images can be recorded continuously for up to 29 min 59 sec in European PAL areas."

Which implies NTSC cameras don't have that limitation. That is huge and is one of the first things I would test for.

September 25th, 2012, 12:32 AM	#1
Lee Mullen Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Western Australia Posts: 576	Question: Will the GH3 be NTSC/PAL switchable? Can this be officially confirm please?

September 26th, 2012, 04:39 AM	#2
Colin Rowe Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cornwall UK Posts: 793	Re: Question: Will the GH3 be NTSC/PAL switchable? Google will tell you in 5 seconds, try it sometime, its quite handy!!!!!!!!!!!! DMC-GH3, H-HS35100 \| Press Release \| LUMIX \| Digital Camera \| Panasonic Global __________________ Colin Last edited by Colin Rowe; September 26th, 2012 at 08:19 AM.

September 26th, 2012, 08:51 AM	#3
Thomas Smet Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,719	Re: Question: Will the GH3 be NTSC/PAL switchable? If it isn't in the released specs on the GH3 website then chances are nobody here is going to have a solid answer until the camera actually comes out. You may be able to find somebody out there talking about it but honestly a lot of the talk is pure speculation at this point. So unless it is a written final word from Panasonic you have to treat anything as speculation.

September 26th, 2012, 09:04 AM	#4
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Re: Question: Will the GH3 be NTSC/PAL switchable? The specs seem to say yes but there is an asterix next to the PAL specs that says that you can only record up to 30 minutes in European areas. (This is due to an EU trade regulation that taxes video cameras differently than still cameras, apparently recording less than 30 minutes denotes a still camera.) Does that mean that cameras sold in Europe have the recording limit but not the cameras elsewhere? Or does that indicate that PAL is only available to cameras sold in PAL areas. Not easy to say right now as no one has used the finalized camera with the finalized firmware. Also Google doesn't always work the same around the world, censorship issues. __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

September 26th, 2012, 09:23 AM	#5
Don Litten Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 400	Re: Question: Will the GH3 be NTSC/PAL switchable? Assuming this camera is hackable, there will be an option to remove the 30 minute limit even if you opt to keep the OEM firmware.

September 26th, 2012, 11:41 AM	#6
Ivan Hurtado Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Granada, Spain Posts: 75	Re: Question: Will the GH3 be NTSC/PAL switchable? I have the feeling it will be locked as the GH2. I'll be pleasantly surprised if otherwise, but don't have high hopes for it. Remember that it's primarily a photo camera with a very good video implementation. If you need the ability to switch formats I'd consider a pro camcorder, not a DSLR. Regards! __________________ IvI

September 26th, 2012, 01:54 PM	#7
Cristian Adrian Olariu Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iasi, Romania Posts: 121	Re: Question: Will the GH3 be NTSC/PAL switchable? On B&H doesn't say for sure http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/892456-REG/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_GH3_Mirrorless_Digital.html

September 26th, 2012, 05:53 PM	#9
Bill Bruner Major Player Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sunny California Posts: 513	Re: Question: Will the GH3 be NTSC/PAL switchable? For what it is worth, the GH2's spec chart is organized in the same way as the GH3's - with the NTSC and PAL numbers separated. That camera was sold in two separate non-switchable versions, with no OEM video recording time limit for the NTSC version. My guess is that the GH3 will have separate non-switchable NTSC and PAL versions - as did the GH1 and GH2 before it. Cheers, Bill Hybrid Camera Revolution

September 27th, 2012, 04:34 AM	#13
Bill Koehler Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA Posts: 760	Re: Question: Will the GH3 be NTSC/PAL switchable? I would be willing to bet that NTSC and PAL are two different cameras. If you go to Panasonics USA spec page for the GH3: Panasonic DMC-GH3KBODY - NEW! LUMIX GH3 Body Only, 16 Megapixel Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera (No Lens) - Technical Specifications You will see they never reference PAL or PAL frame rates.

September 28th, 2012, 03:31 AM	#14
Wacharapong Chiowanich Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 400	Re: Question: Will the GH3 be NTSC/PAL switchable? True. And I have no doubt Panasonic will price the PAL version to the max as has always been the case with almost all of their video-capable devices.