Price vs Locality (USA vs UK, PAL vs NTSC)

[pascalbrown]

I couldn't think of anything more concise to express my current dilemma so apologies for the title. Well, this is my first post here after much browsing, so I've read a bunch of the threads and I am now convinced I want, no, MUST buy a Canon HV20.

I live in the UK at the moment, and whilst the £ may be strong, prices in the UK are also very strong. £700 is about the going rate. This is to get a PAL camera (obviously). I have been cruising the online shops and ebay etc, and it seems possible to buy this camera for something around $900 USD. That is under £500. ie. here in the uk we are being charged a 40% premium to get a local PAL version. My mum spends a lot of time in Canada so she can get things sent to her place there either from the states or Canada and I'm not seriously considering doing that. I've negated the option of getting one from the far east because although I've seen some great prices, I want english language on the body of the camera.

My next concern is buying PAL vs NTSC. I have read MANY threads discussing this and am still somewhat clueless as to the real every day differences. I understand very well the technical differences and that when I come to produce DVD's for people I may have problems if I'm producing NTSC dvd's for PAL users etc. But the price is a major factor. Most modern TV's and DVD players over here can play NTSC anyway so I don't think it's a MAJOR problem anymore. But, I would realyl appreciate the advice of people who have done this, or know far more about it than me!

The next concern is with warranty. I know it will be a real headache dealing with warranty claims from the UK when I bought a camera in the states/canada. I've read about some dodgy units that people have exchanged but surely this is a tiny percentage so shouldn't be just cause to worry.

So, I look forward to people's opinions and advice. Also, if anyone knows where the best/cheapest place in Canada to get this camera please let me know (especially in the Vancouver area!). Thanks in advance.

[Mal]

No one other than yourself can answer this question unfortunately; and you seem well informed as to the up's and down's of each scenario.

I can offer this though:

1) getting a PAL cam in NTSC land is worse than getting an NTSC unit in PAL land, as playing NTSC in PAL countries is MUCH MUCH more forgiving and possible, than playing PAL footage in NTSC lands.

2) If you shoot exclusively HD (HDV), and downconvert to SD for DVD delivery, your source footage (25/50fps vs. 24/60fps) will be less relevant; i.e. you can relatively easily change the fps from 24p to 25p, or from 60i to 50i (resolution will be the same in HDV).

3) It IS best to get the cam that's relevant in your country though; it will be less hassle.

4) Keep in mind that the UK will still sting you for VAT when you bring the cam into the UK.

[pascalbrown]

Thanks for a mega fast reply.

Can you elaborate on point 2 please. What do you mean by "relatively easily"? Inevitably there will be a problem with losing/adding a frame won't there? How would the problem be different if shooting in SD?

[Worley]

And the VAT is not calculated according to the rate of exchange on the day you paid. Customs calculates the exchange rate in advance, so you could end up paying more VAT than usual.

Let's say the exchange rate is £1=$2, and you pay $1000 for the camera. YOu would reasonably expect to pay VAT on a purchase price of £500. However, Customs may have decided that the exchange rate is £1 = $1.80, so you end up paying VAT on £555.

Worley

[Mal]

In SD you have a whole bunch of other issues, color space, and resolution.
I doubt you'll be shooting SD with the HV20 though; it seems pointless.

There's no "problem" in doing a simple 24p to 25p conversion, BUT you have to keep in mind that you will add the frustration of having to deal with pulldown and all that crap when working with NTSC.

You will really do yourself a favor in getting a PAL. Despite it being a few dollars more. Out of the two, the PAL version is superior in my POV; 40% more....I am not sure.

[sajid]

Well, all other differences aside, its definately easier to edit the PAL version. And that really counts for something, all on its own.

[pascalbrown]

Thanks for the info guys. I wasn't aware it was so much easier to edit in PAL so that's a worthy consideration. It's just such a massive price gap. I mean, if it was £100 more I wouldn't think about it. It's all food for thought...

[Rico]

Hi pascalbrown

Get the extra money and get it from the UK IMHO, if you get it from canada and it goes wrong and you need to take it back then what, you would be really wishing you had gotten it close to home, it's just money:hv20-smilie03:

[John Watson]

You've made the most important decision already - the one to buy an HV20! :)

I would add, though, that I found the pulldown issue could be more important than I realised when I bought the camera. One of the 'biggies' of the HV20 is it's ability to film in 24/25p. After buying the camera I thought I was going to have to buy $200 worth of extra software to remove the pulldowns, or go freeware and have a lot of extra steps decoding each and every 'take'

Prior to buying the camera pulldown was just another thing I didn't understand and didn't concern myself with very much. After buying it I began to realise what it meant and could cost me in time/money to sort out. It was a great relief to be told here at HV20.com that I didn't need to worry about it with a PAL version.

I understand you want the camera, and want it as cheaply as possible.. but I would add caution that once you've had it a while and the cost fades a little in your memory, the ease of capturing 25p (if that's something that interests you) and using it as a PAL camera in a PAL area would be worth spending extra for in the long run - at least it would to me.

At the end of the day creative tools should be as hassle free to use as possible :)

Good luck whatever you decide :)

[joemit]

Just purchase a PAL version, you KNOW it makes sense!!!

Good luck, Joe