pjd@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Peter J. Dotzauer) (07/17/89)
I was following the recent discussion about the advantages of 8mm camcorders, compared to VHS machines (picture quality and resolution, shelf life of recorded material, etc.). I suppose that any 8mm camcorder that is marketed in North America will automatically record in NTSC mode, and that there is no way to record in PAL mode. If that is ideed the case, are there any bi-standard camcorders? Are the components that generate a NTSC signal vs. a PAL signal from the optical input quite modular so that they could be exchanged (let's say, like you can exchange the graphics card in your PC)? I suppose that most of the mechanics, optics, and electronics of a camcorder are standard-independent, but I may be wrong on that. Your input, please! Sincerely, Peter J. Dotzauer
roc@sequent.UUCP (Ron Christian) (07/17/89)
It might be easier (and cheaper) to buy a second camcorder in PAL. I strongly suspect that a dual-standard camcorder would be more than twice the price of two single-standard camcorders. I have seen PAL 8mm camcorders for sale in San Francisco in the plethora of camera shops on the warf or over by Market. No doubt they are available elsewhere. Ron