BrenMyster
Well-known member
Am i right in thinking that you can pick which mode to shoot in with the EX?
Can it switch between PAL and NTSC?
Cheers
Can it switch between PAL and NTSC?
Cheers
PAL and NTSC
- Thread starter BrenMyster
- Start date
Yes and no. There is no PAL and NTSC for HD.
But it will output its downconverted signals both ways. But it won't record them - it only records HD.
It will do all the frame rates associated with both systems - 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94.
There is only one version of the EX1 for all countries - it's a world camera. You don't have to buy two cameras to shoot material for all countries.
But technically, it doesn't do PAL or NTSC.
But it will output its downconverted signals both ways. But it won't record them - it only records HD.
It will do all the frame rates associated with both systems - 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94.
There is only one version of the EX1 for all countries - it's a world camera. You don't have to buy two cameras to shoot material for all countries.
But technically, it doesn't do PAL or NTSC.
BrenMyster
Well-known member
Ok, i see
I'm boarding line getting one, was going for a HVX but then i saw some footage from the ex and it has totally swayed me to spend the extra cash
I'm boarding line getting one, was going for a HVX but then i saw some footage from the ex and it has totally swayed me to spend the extra cash
BrenMyster
Well-known member
One other question,
does the sony software work with FCP 5? if i buy the camera i will have to stick with 5 for a bit, well until they sort all the bugs out with 6.
does the sony software work with FCP 5? if i buy the camera i will have to stick with 5 for a bit, well until they sort all the bugs out with 6.
BrenMyster
Well-known member
I just head from a few people it was a bit buggy and some even went back to 5,
That could throw a spanner in the work for me, FCP is over a grand.
That could throw a spanner in the work for me, FCP is over a grand.
BrenMyster
Well-known member
Back to the PAL and NTSC, I just read the sony PDF on the Ex from their website and it desent make it too clear that this is possible, then i read this review
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/mcfa0086/discretecosine/102124.html
and under the quality section they dont metion anything about 25p
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/mcfa0086/discretecosine/102124.html
and under the quality section they dont metion anything about 25p
Now I find this REALLY confusing because although I've always read (on HD-DVD and Blu-Ray forums) that there's no PAL vs NTSC on high definition the "Mastering the Sony PMW-EX1" video definitely talks about what modes are available - 8 for NTSC, 5 for PAL). NTSC appears to have the better set!
If you look at page 35 of the user manual it states 'The selectable formats [1080/60i etc] depend on whether "Country" of the OTHERS menu is set to "NTSC Area" or "PAL Area"'
The use of "Area" is an interesting one. Is it that although HD isn't PAL or NTSC specific they've split the modes into these "logical" differences to reflect different requirements in different countries?
Given that when I buy an HD-DVD disc it's region free and there's no difference between a "PAL area" and an "NTSC area" - the discs just play, I really don't understand why there's this differentiation on the EX1?
Ian
If you look at page 35 of the user manual it states 'The selectable formats [1080/60i etc] depend on whether "Country" of the OTHERS menu is set to "NTSC Area" or "PAL Area"'
The use of "Area" is an interesting one. Is it that although HD isn't PAL or NTSC specific they've split the modes into these "logical" differences to reflect different requirements in different countries?
Given that when I buy an HD-DVD disc it's region free and there's no difference between a "PAL area" and an "NTSC area" - the discs just play, I really don't understand why there's this differentiation on the EX1?
Ian
25p is definitely possible on the EX1 (I have one). There is only one version of the EX1 for all of the world, unlike the HVX.
PAL area vs. NTSC area divides the menu into two groups of possible shooting formats - one that's based around 50Hz and one that's based on 60Hz.
Here's my theory on why they do that: The 50Hz based frame rates are actual whole numbers - 25, 50 etc. whereas the 60Hz frame rates are slowed down by .1% to accommodate NTSC's (ridiculous) 29.97 fps basis (I can explain the origin of this - it dates back to the introduction of color TV). From my tests (by no means complete - just some trials), even the undercrank/overcrank speeds in NTSC Area are "pulled down" by .1%.
So my theory is that the PAL/NTSC Area menu switch switches between groups of speeds and also toggles the .1% pulldown.
The nice thing about the grouping for PAL/NTSC is that it gives you settings that will be compatible with the mains frequency in the country you are working in, reducing the incidence of flicker.
Anyway, all EX1's do all frame rates - both "PAL" and "NTSC."
PAL area vs. NTSC area divides the menu into two groups of possible shooting formats - one that's based around 50Hz and one that's based on 60Hz.
Here's my theory on why they do that: The 50Hz based frame rates are actual whole numbers - 25, 50 etc. whereas the 60Hz frame rates are slowed down by .1% to accommodate NTSC's (ridiculous) 29.97 fps basis (I can explain the origin of this - it dates back to the introduction of color TV). From my tests (by no means complete - just some trials), even the undercrank/overcrank speeds in NTSC Area are "pulled down" by .1%.
So my theory is that the PAL/NTSC Area menu switch switches between groups of speeds and also toggles the .1% pulldown.
The nice thing about the grouping for PAL/NTSC is that it gives you settings that will be compatible with the mains frequency in the country you are working in, reducing the incidence of flicker.
Anyway, all EX1's do all frame rates - both "PAL" and "NTSC."
BrenMyster
Well-known member
music to my ears, I'm sold
Pal and NTSC traditionally referred to both resolution (Pal had more than NTSC) and frame rate (25p/50i PAL and 30p/60i NTSC). These two issues made it difficult, but not impossible when converting. DVD's added the concept of regions (1-7) which had nothing to do with format or framerate, but was just a formatting option on DVD media to let it be played only in certain regions (easily defeatable).
HD media now means that there is no difference between resolution with PAL and NTSC. But there is still different framerates. (PAL = 25p, 50p, and 50i and NTSC = 30p, 60i, and 60p).
Adam
HD media now means that there is no difference between resolution with PAL and NTSC. But there is still different framerates. (PAL = 25p, 50p, and 50i and NTSC = 30p, 60i, and 60p).
Adam
PAL and NTSC refer to color systems, neither of which is used in HD.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL
Of course there are frame rates associated with these systems, but HD with those framerates is referred to by the framerate itself and not with the the terms PAL and NTSC.
Examples: 1080 25p or 1080 29.97p
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL
Of course there are frame rates associated with these systems, but HD with those framerates is referred to by the framerate itself and not with the the terms PAL and NTSC.
Examples: 1080 25p or 1080 29.97p
Last edited:
It's even more complicated than that (at least if you live in Brazil) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL-M since PAL-M is a TV system with the resolution and frame rates of NTSC, but with PAL colour coding.
And live in many other countries and a "PAL" DVD (more correctly, a 576i/25 DVD) could just as properly be called a "SECAM" DVD.
"PAL" and "NTSC" only properly refer to analogue composite signals, and even then they don't uniquely define resolution or framerate - as the PAL-M example shows.
"PAL" and "NTSC" really have no meaning at all with HD, as matthew77 has correctly said, and IMO Sony should really have referred to 50Hz or 60Hz areas rather than PAL or SECAM. As it is, in Brazil, they need to specify an "NTSC" area to get what they want (60Hz HD), even though all SD broadcasting is PAL.......
AndrewGentle
Well-known member
How about the power supply?
How about the power supply?
That's great news about the EX1 being an international camera. I have another question about it though, can someone please take a look at the power supply and tell me if it supports up to 240 volts at 50 Hz and whether or not the power cable is one of those figure-8 ones you can rip out and replace with one which will fit into your native wall sockets? Thanks!
-Andrew
How about the power supply?
That's great news about the EX1 being an international camera. I have another question about it though, can someone please take a look at the power supply and tell me if it supports up to 240 volts at 50 Hz and whether or not the power cable is one of those figure-8 ones you can rip out and replace with one which will fit into your native wall sockets? Thanks!
-Andrew
AndrewGentle
Well-known member
Thanks, that's great news.
Things are so much cheaper in America and Japan. And the PAL - NTSC difference doesn't help things. I was looking at HV20s from B&H and the PAL version is $1200 while the NTSC version is $700!!
Things are so much cheaper in America and Japan. And the PAL - NTSC difference doesn't help things. I was looking at HV20s from B&H and the PAL version is $1200 while the NTSC version is $700!!