European/US versions

Peter C.

Peter C.

Veteran
Why do camera companies still sell two versions? I assume it's a money making strategy but I find it strange because you'd think it be cheaper and easier to sell one camera that would do both and simply have a menu setting that defaults to the market that they're selling in.
 
I can't speak for other manufacturers, but Sony used to do it that way because cameras were either built for NTSC or PAL regions. A few years ago they started making "worldwide" cameras that are switchable for either one. So, now I think all their cameras are exactly the same worldwide even if the model number may vary slightly for paperwork purposes.
 
I saw an Panasonic X2 for a good price but it was European model. I think Panasonic you can't change.
 
It's no big deal for a camera manufacturer to offer world frame rates, and makes economic sense because they can manufacture one model for both markets. Possibly any difference between the X2 sold in US or European markets is simply the initial default setting in each market, both have PAL and NTSC framerates available. AFAIK it's only Canon that bashes its current models up to the XF605 with its cripple hammer so that the models are either PAL or NTSC and need an expensive conversion if you want to convert one to the other.
 
Peter C. said:
I saw a Panasonic X2 for a good price but it was European model. I think Panasonic you can't change.
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I thought most cameras were built as “world cameras” (user switchable system frequency and frame rates). Maybe the power cables that it comes with are only EU/UK versions.
 
Besides the NTSC/PAL reasoning as a possibility, maybe there are also rules and regulations and laws to consider on different types of land. Very small changes, maybe even with the components used, could lead to a lot of that aforementioned paperwork resulting in different models (this could be for any electronic that's sold).
 
I’d say it’s a strategy to sell more cameras to those entities that need to travel internationally. Wireless mic companies have been doing the same thing. Deity recently released a wireless system that broke tradition, it covers the entire wireless spectrum. No doubt this was done to try to gain market share because they’re not in the old boys club.
 
Anything to do with more money goes without saying; that's a given for eternity. It's everything after that, ha.

Because of course anyone and everyone will exhaust all options to make every penny, especially regarding markets, supply & demand, laws, loopholes, ulterior motives, etc.
 
In the past I heard it was for marketing strategies; warranties and the like. Not sure if that makes sense since that can all be tracked with serial numbers.
 
Paul F said:
In the past I heard it was for marketing strategies; warranties and the like. Not sure if that makes sense since that can all be tracked with serial numbers.
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Hard to make sense of the mind set of these Japanese companies. Even in the instance I suggested international video application, it doesn't make sense. Meaning if I was going create travel videos even if I film in another country that content would be used in my country of origin. I wouldn't need to buy or use a European camera. Most content is no longer being used for broadcast.

I know there are gray market cameras where they want to sell the same camera at different prices based on region. But again that's unrelated because frame rate isn't necessary different for different regions. For example Chinese based gray market cameras use NTSC so I would be able to purchase it. Warranties are a separate issue, they are tied to the location of the person buying the camera not the frame rate of the camera.
 
Funny thing I found was stuff that was made for the 550D worked extremely well with my T2i. When I downloaded Visioncolor which was made for the 550D it worked right away with my camera, and I have been using it since then. My tragiclantern build which I offered the download for works too for the T2i.
 
Peter C. said:
if I film in another country that content would be used in my country of origin
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I'd tweak that argument. Unless you are specifically filming for Broadcast, then the whole NTSC vs PAL/SECAM is kinda irrelevant. Likewise with Film. Unless your content is aimed for a Theatrical Release, 24fps makes little sense.

I'd suggest a better approach these days is to aim to capture in the same framerate (or a clean fraction/multiple) of the refresh rate of the prominent display device that your content will be viewed on. Anything else will lead to some form of pulldown pattern judder. I'd base my FPS decision based on what of the following:
- TV Broadcast (NTSC): 29.87/59.94fps
- TV Broadcast (PAL/Secam): 25/50fps
- Cinema: 24/48fps
- Mobile Phones: 30/60fps as all phones are 60hz (or multiples like 120hz); to my knowledge there is no 50fps (or multiple) refresh rates on any phones worldwide.
- PC's: Could be anything, but probably record in 30/60fps as 60hz is the most common refresh rate out of the box (or a multiple, eg 120hz, 240hz) though there is also 72/144hz which could make 24fps a fine option but that will be a small % of viewers. Thankfully, many video playback apps also support dynamic refresh rate switching to match that of the content being played so there is no issue with these setups but again I think it is a small % of users who know how to set that up.
- Smart Set Top Box / TV's: Some of these devices also supports dynamic refresh rate switching to match that of the content being played so no issue with these setups, but again you normally have to find that option and turn it on (it's off by default).

If my audience was primarily:
- in one of the few NTSC countries then I'd shoot 30/60fps as it would work well with traditional TV, phones, most PCs
- in the majority of countries using PAL/SECAM then the decision to use 25/50 vs 30/60 gets harder given how much is now consumed on phones.... then again viewing content on phones is hardly about critical viewing so it probably does not matter anyway!
 
I'm just saying that this is not a hardware limitation there's no need for separate EU/US models. Should display all the frame rates or allow for simplification mode that hides frame rates not in your location.
 
I don't disagree. It is just how the SW is implemented on gear. For example, my FX6 & DJI's just let me choose the desired FPS from a scrolling list that includes all PAL & NTSC frame rates (nice!)..... yet my A7Siii is worse in this regard as you have to first toggle between NSTC/PAL and then you only see only a subset of the available fps options. I doubt the FX6 and A7Siii have HW differences that require this, just the legacy of SW was built.

Also FWIW - it's was not restricted to EU/US models but the wider PAL/NTSC schism.
 
The camera manufactures are so backwards when it comes to usability and what makes sense. I just bought a new Panasonic camcorder and in their infinite wisdom decided to change the recording indicator from solid red to flashing orange light. And if you think that wasn't counterintuitive, to indicate an error the light flashes more rapidly. I kid you not I'm not making this up. What's next it's going blink morris code?
 
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