PAL MiniDV and Digital8

[SoCalMK]

Some family members from Europe are sending me some home movies on MiniDV and Digital8 tapes and want me to convert them to DVD for them. What I'm wondering is if these tapes recorded on European cameras will play on cameras purchased here in the U.S.? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[daamon]

What I'm wondering is if these tapes recorded on European cameras will play on cameras purchased here in the U.S.?

My gut response is "probably not" - unless it's a PAL cam you're using. But don't quote me...

Try popping over to www.camcorderinfo.com - you may find the info in an FAQ, or in their forums.

[edDV]

Plenty of transfer houses in SoCal that could transfer PAL MiniDV and Digital8 to a HDD for you. I suggest a firewire or USB2 external drive.

Your computer and software can probably be set up for PAL editing (720x576, 25 fps) and PAL DVD authoring. Everything should work OK on the computer except external monitoring.

You should be able to finish to burned DVD and mail them the finished product.

Conversion to NTSC is another topic altogether.

[BlueViper]

I have an NTSC miniDV and Digital8 and have no problem playing PAL recorded tapes.

[Resolution]

I have a Pal Sony dig.8 which will play back NTSC recorded on a USA camcorder and output via firewire as NTSC to the PC.

[ranrobertcanada]

cameras purchased here in the U.S or Canada won't PLAY PAL format. They will only play NTSC.

[Resolution]

Oh, what a shame. Confirms I did the right thing by buying the Pal version in Chicago a couple of years back.
In the menu options, you have have the choice of playing back Pal or ntsc .

[MozartMan]

cameras purchased here in the U.S or Canada won't PLAY PAL format. They will only play NTSC.

WRONG!

I have Sony NTSC Digital8 cam TRV840 and it PLAYS Digital8 PAL tapes.

[SoCalMK]

Thanks for all of the replies. There doesn't seem to be a lot of agreement on the topic. I guess I'm going to have to find out when and if I purchase one.

[edDV]

Thanks for all of the replies. There doesn't seem to be a lot of agreement on the topic. I guess I'm going to have to find out when and if I purchase one.

You don't own a camcorder yet? You will need two camcorders you know, MiniDV and Digital 8. Do your research on the PAL playback on NTSC camcorder issue.

It won't cost much to just get the tapes transfered to a HDD.


PS: If they haven't sent you the tapes yet, have them get the DV material transferred to HDD over there first. It will be cheaper. Maybe a friend or relative knows how to do it for free. Then they will just ship you the HDD for editing and DVD authoring.