Is there any practical difference between PAL and NTSC in HDV-land?

Context: I have been using a JVC GY-500 and Canon broadcast wide zoom since FCP 2, through 4.5. Full-size, relatively heavy camera, and of course, 4:3.

Now, after not doing anything in FCP, and with the advent of all the HD formats I am hesitating before buying a Sony HVR-V1P---if I maintain an HDV workflow up to output, is there any difference between getting the PAL or NTSC models?

There was a difference in the SD world; the extra 100 lines of vertical resolution. We always shot in 4:3 PAL DV and standards-converted the final program to NTSC for DVD production/distribution for the U S market, and viewers liked the resulting quality.

But what is the situation these days? If our desired output ranges from YouTube, iTunes, through to DVD, is there any practical difference? And is using 25p any less complicated with the PAL version than the NTSC one? We will not be outputting the results for any television broadcast, and hence the questions. Or, is there a more suitable camera out there (if I am not wedded to the HDV format)?

Grateful for the responses on the other questions, too. cheers to all, KL

The frame rates are different. Make sure the camera is switchable.

Thanks Tom, and please excuse an HD-newbie question (and knowing that PAL and NTSC have a 50Hz vs. 60Hz frame rate difference), what are the practical implications of that difference? I can see I am going to have to spend a lot more time on the Wiki! TIA, KL

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The practical difference is that a 25fps video won't play on a North American television.

Thanks Tom; it looks as though, if I am going to go with this camera, I would be better off with the NTSC version. The frame rates are not switchable as they are on the Z1.

Is it possible to cut HDV Pal material on Final Cut version 5.1? Is it as simple as changing frame rates
in the settings? Sorry to all for the newbie questions...

Amy

>Is it possible to cut HDV Pal material on Final Cut version 5.1

Sure Just choose the relevant HDV Easy Setup for your format and then create a New Project or Sequence and capture/edit away

Thanks much Andy.

Amy