Bought a NTSC Camcorder

Rich Grant · 09-06-2006, 12:57

Hi there. Today I got my Sony DCR-DVD405 camcorder delivered from USA. I have now noticed that it is NTSC instead of PAL, this is a wedding present so am now very worried that it's not going to work properly on our tv/dvd. Am I correct to be worried or are most new(ish) tvs and dvd players able to handle playback of both PAL and NTSC?

Thanks.

RA75 · 09-06-2006, 13:18

It's not ideal as you say we use PAL here in Europe, but that said most DVD players from as far back as a couple of years are able to play both NTSC as well as PAL discs. But what your problem might be is that DVD's have regions and your US camcorder might record in a region set for the US and not Europe.

Rich Grant · 09-06-2006, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by RA75

It's not ideal as you say we use PAL here in Europe, but that said most DVD players from as far back as a couple of years are able to play both NTSC as well as PAL discs. But what your problem might be is that DVD's have regions and your US camcorder might record in a region set for the US and not Europe.

The present is for my brother who currently has a Philips DVP 630 dvd player. Looking at the specs for this player, it says that it can play both PAL and NTSC, so does this mean that it won't matter what tv it is playing on? Also, I think i've read somewhere that you are able to unlock this particular DVD player to play all regions.

EDIT: Should sell it on ebay (because I got it for a lot less than any where else selling it, i'm sure i'd make at least a £100 profit on it), or should I just keep it?

Last edited by Rich Grant : 09-06-2006 at 14:32.

Astaroth · 09-06-2006, 15:24

No, both the TV and the DVD player needs to support the format. The camcorder recordings should be region free and so that part shouldnt be an issue. Most modern DVD and TVs support both Pal and NTSC (cheaper to get them manufactured to work in both countries and just switch the power cable if you need to move stock from one country to another rather than having something in the USA that if it proves popular here and not their they are stuck with unwanted stock)

If you have a PC I would imagine you can get software to convert the formats but I dont know if this exists in the freeware arena.

mongosito · 09-06-2006, 23:22

The camcorder should be fine.
There will be no region coding on any recordings.
Any UK player will play NTSC and PAL and always have done as R2 also covers some NTSC territory.
The main stumbling block will be playback on older tv's,portables which could give B&W pictures with NTSC.
If its all wrapped up and new you could try ebay,although you would have to be specific about it being NTSC which will seriously devalue it against a UK model.
I would give it one go on ebay and if does not go then use it.
If you create any dvd's that have playback problems with some tv's you can use Nero which can be set to burn a disc in PAL.
I found NTSC-PAL did take quite a while though

09-06-2006, 12:57	#1
Rich Grant Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 208	Bought a NTSC Camcorder Hi there. Today I got my Sony DCR-DVD405 camcorder delivered from USA. I have now noticed that it is NTSC instead of PAL, this is a wedding present so am now very worried that it's not going to work properly on our tv/dvd. Am I correct to be worried or are most new(ish) tvs and dvd players able to handle playback of both PAL and NTSC? Thanks.

09-06-2006, 13:18	#2
RA75 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 106	It's not ideal as you say we use PAL here in Europe, but that said most DVD players from as far back as a couple of years are able to play both NTSC as well as PAL discs. But what your problem might be is that DVD's have regions and your US camcorder might record in a region set for the US and not Europe.

09-06-2006, 13:44	#3
Rich Grant Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 208	Quote: Originally Posted by RA75 It's not ideal as you say we use PAL here in Europe, but that said most DVD players from as far back as a couple of years are able to play both NTSC as well as PAL discs. But what your problem might be is that DVD's have regions and your US camcorder might record in a region set for the US and not Europe. The present is for my brother who currently has a Philips DVP 630 dvd player. Looking at the specs for this player, it says that it can play both PAL and NTSC, so does this mean that it won't matter what tv it is playing on? Also, I think i've read somewhere that you are able to unlock this particular DVD player to play all regions. EDIT: Should sell it on ebay (because I got it for a lot less than any where else selling it, i'm sure i'd make at least a £100 profit on it), or should I just keep it? Last edited by Rich Grant : 09-06-2006 at 14:32.

09-06-2006, 15:24	#4
Astaroth Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 3,421	No, both the TV and the DVD player needs to support the format. The camcorder recordings should be region free and so that part shouldnt be an issue. Most modern DVD and TVs support both Pal and NTSC (cheaper to get them manufactured to work in both countries and just switch the power cable if you need to move stock from one country to another rather than having something in the USA that if it proves popular here and not their they are stuck with unwanted stock) If you have a PC I would imagine you can get software to convert the formats but I dont know if this exists in the freeware arena.

09-06-2006, 23:22	#5
mongosito Banned User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,307	The camcorder should be fine. There will be no region coding on any recordings. Any UK player will play NTSC and PAL and always have done as R2 also covers some NTSC territory. The main stumbling block will be playback on older tv's,portables which could give B&W pictures with NTSC. If its all wrapped up and new you could try ebay,although you would have to be specific about it being NTSC which will seriously devalue it against a UK model. I would give it one go on ebay and if does not go then use it. If you create any dvd's that have playback problems with some tv's you can use Nero which can be set to burn a disc in PAL. I found NTSC-PAL did take quite a while though

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Bought a NTSC Camcorder