View Full Version : hvx200 conversion from Ntsc to PAL??
MARIOSCICLUNA
10-10-2008, 05:03 AM
hi guys,
I've got a friend of mine who had to work on a project in NTSC format and invested in an HVX200. Being us working in europe we usually work on Pal, now the camcorder became useless for him in NTSC. Is there some way (via the camera firmware replacements) that this camera can be converted to Pal once and for all? Is it just a question of firmware or it involves some mechanical replacement? should he sell his camera and buy a new one. Because it's a pity to sell the camera with just a few hours on itself.
jrmiller_entertainment
10-10-2008, 05:08 AM
I'm not sure if it's possible but it seems kind of ridiculous to sell the camera for one project. Since he shoots in PAL normally I'm sure he'll have other projects after this one that will be shot in PAL again. The easiest, most cost effective way would just be to rent an NTSC camera for the shoot.
MARIOSCICLUNA
10-10-2008, 06:39 AM
yeah, that would have been the brightest Idea. But we live in the tiny Island of Malta (Europe) and within our 400,000 strong population (yes- it's fourhundred thousand) one cannot find a rental company for Pal equipment, let alone for NTSC which is the system we do not use!!! Cheers Mate.
jrmiller_entertainment
10-10-2008, 07:09 AM
ah good point. I still wouldn't sell the PAL though. If it's within your budget to buy the NTSC without selling the other buy it and sell it right after the shoot, otherwise you'd be selling a used PAL at a loss by buying a new NTSC, and then you'd have to sell a used NTSC at a loss to buy another new PAL.
MARIOSCICLUNA
10-10-2008, 08:48 AM
if it was a pal he won't be selling it. the problem is that he had to buy an ntsc for a one off unusually ntsc job. The video system in Malta is Pal, so if it was a case of working in pal he wouldn't have to buy an ntsc cam. his only hope is to convert it into Pal via firmware (if it is possible to happen) so that he can use his Hvx for local jobs. Moreover we have to fly off to Italy to find a service centre that can service Panasonic! Regards.
Too bad you bought the NTSC camera... should have bought the PAL camera and used Natress Plugin in FCP to convert to NTSC....
Cheers
dwells
10-11-2008, 06:01 PM
If you do a mix of frame rates, try getting some conversion software to change the frame rate between 60i and 50i. For Final Cut Pro, check out Nattress (www.nattress.com (http://www.nattress.com)) or DVFilm Atlantis (www.dvfilm.com (http://www.dvfilm.com)). For PCs, check out DVFilm Atlantis or, for Vegas, some of the plug-ins from VASST (www.vasst.com (http://www.vasst.com)). Lots of good software apps, so you don't have to buy a camera that only does one region (NTSC vs. PAL).
David
DogDay
10-11-2008, 06:53 PM
Hej Mario soory this is off topic...
I am curious about your country, I have heard good things about the conditions for doing co-productions there etc and or going there to shoot and getting budgets matched by the government...Do you know where or who I can speak with to get more in depth information concerning these issues and policies?
Thanks!
DogDay
P.M. me it will save this thread from more diversion.