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What is a NTSC camcorder?

What is the difference between NTSC and PAL formats for a digital hard drive camcorder?

  • I am trying to buy a hard drive camcorder online, but the description says the camcorder is NTSC format. I thought digital camcorders were all formats, cant they be switched? Whats the difference? Does that mean I cant use it in a PAL country? Thanks

  • Answer:

    NTSC is based on the 60 hertz AC frequency we use here. PAL is based on the 50 hertz AC frequency used in Europe and elsewhere. For a video recorder there is not much difference as far as the camera is concerned. What makes a difference is if you want to burn the video on to DVD and/or play back on different systems. There is a NTSC standard for 24.97 FPS for DVD usage. This is for Zone 0 compability. This is fine for computer playback, but can be a problem with some tabletop DVD players that are locked to a single zone. In your computer you can change the format from NTSC to PAL with a video editor. It is not any automatic thing, you have to setup everything correctly.

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use it in the us and japan, (and i think mexico). use it in PAL countries too but dont expect playback on tv, unless a multisystem tv or converted to PAL and played on dvd. PAL provides a slightly higher resolution and slower frame rate than NTSC, but hardly noticeable. bottom line: dont worry. go buy it.

evilgenius4930

The difference is the same as with the tape versions. With NTSC- viewing & recording (aspect ratio 4:3) is same as the tv, while with PAL- viewing & recording (aspect ratio 16:9) is like with the horizontal black lines you see at the top & bottom of your tv screen that makes it wider. And mind you, i prefer pal than ntsc mainly because it records with a higher resolution. Switched? no, you won't be able to watch your video on the tube with a different system. But it doesn't mean you can't use it to other country! Nowadays, There's always the multisystem tube where ever you may be. Preferrably, get a videocam with a system that corresponds with your local system

tagheuer17

NTSC is the Video format that is used in the US and a few other locations. PAL is used in Europwe and elsewhere. Your camera would work anywhere, it would just not be compatible for playback onto a different format device like a TV or VHS or even possibly a DVD recorder.

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