PAL Camcorder - What Is It and Why Do You Need One?

If you are thinking of buying a PAL camcorder but aren’t sure if you truly need it, then this guide is for you. We explore what a PAL camcorder is, how it is different from other types of camcorders, and whether you can benefit from having one.

Explaining the PAL Camcorder

Camcorders come in either PAL or NTSC formats, which are different from each other in terms of frame rates and image resolutions. A PAL camera can record at a rate of 25 fps, while an NTSC camcorder rate is 29.97 fps. The standard resolution of a PAL recording is 720x576 while NTSC recording resolution is 720x480. Because of these differences, camcorders can only record on either PAL or NTSC format—never both.

Is PAL better than NTSC? No—it’s not a matter of being better. PAL is simply the video standard used in camcorders in most of Asia, Europe, and Australia, whereas most camcorders in Japan and the US are NTSC. Note, however, that PAL videos contain more scan lines compared to NTSC videos, so when a PAL video is converted to NTSC, details may get lost in the conversion process.

Determining If You Should Buy One

Do you plan to watch videos on your PAL TV set directly from your camcorder? Then you will need a PAL camcorder. If you want to burn your videos into discs, then you also need a PAL DVD player (because discs don’t play on NTSC players). But if you plan to watch the video on a computer, it doesn’t matter. Computers are not limited to a certain video format and can therefore play both NTSC and PAL.

Buying Your PAL Camcorder

The easiest way to shop for a PAL camcorder is online. Go to the website of an electronics retailer offering these digital recorders on top of other gadgets and appliances. Shopping online for a camcorder allows you to quickly compare prices as well as specs. It’s amazing how much prices vary depending on the brand, so take your time. The best online appliance and electronics stores allow you to sort the selection based on price (highest to lowest or vice versa) as well as by brand (alphabetically from A to Z or the other way around). They can give you access to a wide variety of PAL camcorders with international warranties so you can bring to wherever in the world you are going.

About the Author:

Peter Perira is the managing director of SamStores, which is one the largest distributors for household Electronic Goods, we Guarantee the infrastructure to offer you nothing but the best in quality of products and after sales service.