Compatability Question

[markymark]

Hello everyone!

Want I want to know is......if I buy a digital camcorder in the USA will I be able to watch it on my tv back in "merry" 'ole England.

I ask this as we are on PAL and the USA is NTSC, unless I am mistaken.

Any help greatly appreciated, as long as it's quick, and correct, as I am leaving on Tuesday sohappy: ) and am seriously considering buying one out in Florida, coz Britain is a freaking rip off.

Ta very much

 

[wdwmagic]

Hi Marky!

It would be possible for you to buy a TV in the UK that can accept both PAL or NTSC standards. Your current TV may already do this, check the manual or specs online.

The bigger problem would be that the warranty would most likely not be usable in the UK, so if you had problems you would be in trouble. You may also find that the power supply for the charger will have US plugs on it, making it awkward for use in the UK.

You may also have to pay tax on it at customs should you be intercepted.

With all this hassle, the saving you make is not really worth it in my opinion.

Hope that helped a little

 

[markymark]

Originally posted by wdwmagic
Hi Marky!

It would be possible for you to buy a TV in the UK that can accept both PAL or NTSC standards. Your current TV may already do this, check the manual or specs online.

The bigger problem would be that the warranty would most likely not be usable in the UK, so if you had problems you would be in trouble. You may also find that the power supply for the charger will have US plugs on it, making it awkward for use in the UK.

You may also have to pay tax on it at customs should you be intercepted.

With all this hassle, the saving you make is not really worth it in my opinion.

Hope that helped a little

Cheers Steve,

I will probably go for one at the duty free on the way out there.

Thanks again.

 

[NowInc]

If the deal you get on your camera is good enough that it saves you a good 100-150 bucks..you could also invest in a PAL/NTSC converter so you can use all types of american video standard stuff in merry ol england

Of course...there are also illegal modifications that can be made to MOST digital cam corders to make them the other region..but if you value your warranty..i dont suggest that

 

[wdwmagic]

Originally posted by markymark


Cheers Steve,

I will probably go for one at the duty free on the way out there.

Thanks again.

Be careful at Duty free too! They have all kinds of dodgy tactics in place there. The main one is that they have non-standard models, ie. you think you are buying a specific model that you may have seen at a regular store, but on closer examination it has a slightly different model number, (eg. with a B on the end or something), and it usually lacks a specific feature that the regular version has. I generally think Duty Free electronics are a way of selling to people in a pressure situation where people dont have time to look at things properly.

Try checking out www.jessops.co.uk for some good deals!

 

[markymark]

Originally posted by wdwmagic


Be careful at Duty free too! They have all kinds of dodgy tactics in place there. The main one is that they have non-standard models, ie. you think you are buying a specific model that you may have seen at a regular store, but on closer examination it has a slightly different model number, (eg. with a B on the end or something), and it usually lacks a specific feature that the regular version has. I generally think Duty Free electronics are a way of selling to people in a pressure situation where people dont have time to look at things properly.

Try checking out www.jessops.co.uk for some good deals!

hmmmm....now I am really confused! As I am going on Tuesday, and this really was a late thought, I might list the ones I like and see if the have them duty free. If not, I'll leave it and make do with the digi still camera I have got.

I see what you mean about the serial numbers Steve, I didn't realise they did that! Thanks for the warning.

 

[markymark]

Oh, also.....what is a Fire Wire connection, and do I need something specific on my pc?

:hammer:

 

[wdwmagic]

Originally posted by markymark
Oh, also.....what is a Fire Wire connection, and do I need something specific on my pc?

:hammer:

Firewire allows you to send the Digital bitsream straight from the camera to the PC. So this means that you will get an EXACT copy of your video on the PC, with no loss normally associated with analog transfers.

You need a firewire port on your PC, if you dont have one, you can buy one for about £30. All Digital Video cameras have firewire.