Hi Def Camcorders-Some research

[Peter]

What do you use, HDV or AVCHD?

PAL or NTSC?

Do you NTSC users have any practical difficulties with the format? I know what the problems are 'on paper' but do they actually affect you?

[PKAY]

I've got a Sony Z1 and in HDV mode it is pretty good, a tad filmy.

I've also got a Sony HXR-MC1P which records in AVCHD and it is stunning.

But for value for money the Sony EX cams are the best.

And certainly shoot in PAL, NTSC (never twice the same colour) is relatively crap.

[Peter]

I'm toying with the idea of taking my editing services "live" onto a more business footing. Upto now, it's just something i've done for a couple of other shooters I know, then they tell their friends/peers who ask me, they tell friends etc, etc.....

Upto now, they just turn up with their kit an we plug it in, but i'm envisaging problems with 'remote' editing where a HDV tape turns up in the post, shot on an eBay NTSC camera.

I don't fancy buying an HDV-PAL cam and a HDV-NTSC cam (or a deck that can handle both) until I know the business is there.

I've made several assumptions here, that the HDV shooters for DVD and high end work would have their own editing set-up and so not be troubling me too much, and most of my work would come from the cottage indusrty shooters, probably on AVCHD pro-sumer camcorders, who just want website output. But as I say, just assumptions.

But to confuse matters, I need a new cancorder anyway, not necassarily for HD, but may as well get HD if I'm buying. I've taken a fancy to the canon HV40, but theres as much as ?300 difference between PAL and NTSC. Just wondered how many of my (mythical) customers would have opted for the cheaper route.

So just a bit of research from the editing viewpoint, rather than shooting!

[PKAY]

The Sony Z1 handles DVCAM and HDV in both NTSC and PAL formats so could be a good option as a camera / deck.

[Rico]

I agree.

[BNMedia]

I use a Sony FX1000 HDV setup and it provides excellent results for me.
I believe its the Z5 (newer Z1) but without xlr audio inputs and possibly some other tweaks I wouldn't use.
I purchased a Juicedlink pre-amp for hooking up audio to a boom.

[nasty]

I use the Panasonic HVX200 at uni, it's pretty shit hot, but expensive!

[Peter]

cockney wrote:

> You're not likely to get a HDV tape shot on an NTSC camera
> unless you get tapes from USA, Japan etc.

If you look on eBay, most of the HDV camcorders (eg canon HV40) are misleadingly badged as "Legia/Vixia" (Its either one or the other) and "PAL/NSTC compatible", because they can playback directly onto an HD ready TV in either PAL or NSTC mode.

I'm wondering how many people have bought one of these through ignorance of the whole PAL/NSTC thing, being mislead by the claims of dual compatibility (I nearly was), or simply opted for the ?600 HV40 (NSTC) rather than the identical ?900 HV40 (PAL).

I suspect there's a lot more NSTC stuff being shot that we realise.