NTSC to PAL conversion question.

[Aryko]

Hi gents, wondering if anyone has some opinions on this.

I've been trying to find a way to get my NTSC footage into a "film-like" format (and anyone who starts into the chant of "if you want it to look like film, shoot film" can go and have some jelly beans. Bear with me. . The software solution of frame rate conversion just doesn't seem to do a good job, complete with jerkiness or quality loss.

So, I think to myself, well PAL has a 25 fps rate, that's pretty close, why not just find some analog solution to convert the signal to PAL and then edit at 25 fps?

So I spot the Emerson NTSC-PAL conversion unit (EVC-1550) for less than 60 bucks US. Is this thing really going to take a 29.97 fps NTSC source and produce a 25 fps PAL output?

Any comments or advice appreciated.

- Aryko

[hippie91]

well, if budget allows, get a camera that shoots in pal, and/or progressive scan mode. having both of these would be best, but shooting in pal is optimal if you're eventually going to film, if you want it just to look like film, canon makes some nice non-interlaced cameras. both of these options are best but require buying a new camera. as for converting, i haven't had too much experiance but from what i've heard converting from pal to ntsc or back is never going to look perfect. if anyone else knows better than me, feel very free to correct me (since once i want to put stuff to film i'd rather do it from PAL than NTSC)

[Aryko]

I agree, I'd love to pick up an Optura or one of the others that shoot in progressive scan mode. I'm still waiting for it to come down in price, especially with the release of the Optura Pi.

Maybe I'll see if I can still pick up the converter for cheap, and then just give it a go.

- Aryko