N. american vs European Model Camera

CorTed wrote on 5/1/2010, 7:49 AM
I am going on a trip to Europe next month and a friend of mine has asked if I would buy him a Panasonic Lumix TZ10 model photo camera here stateside as a gift for his wife.
I have found out that that is the European model, and here in the States they sell them as the Panasonic Lumix ZS7.
Difference seems to be the AVCHD is 25fps vs 30fps on the American model.

If I were to purchase this for him here what effect will this have on him watching his movie clips in Europe on their equipment?

Comments

rs170a wrote on 5/1/2010, 12:23 PM
Is he a European resident or an American temporarily living there and planning to come back here soon?
25fps is the PAL video standard which most of Europe uses so that would be the model to buy if he lives there.
30fps would be useful only if he plans to return here someday soon as North American equipment (TVs & DVD players) generally can't handle the PAL format.

Mike
Coursedesign wrote on 5/1/2010, 12:35 PM
No problem viewing on a computer, for TV viewing he'd have to do a slow frame rate conversion from 30p to 25p (afaik the only way to do that quickly with good quality is by using the new FxPlug version of Twixtor to synthesize new frames and then conforming afterwards which is near instant).

If he's got a modern HDTV, he may be able to play it back as computer video though (using say a WD player), so he should check the specs for that first,

Most European TVs and DVD players play back NTSC (including Region 1 DVDs) just fine. Even the major brands there advertise this, and it works. I guess they're thumbing their noses at the concept of region protection...

CorTed wrote on 5/1/2010, 4:28 PM
Thanks guys for the info.
The friend is a resident of the Netherlands, and he wants me to do a favor for him. Sounds like I should let him get one in Europe if he wants complete compatibility.

Ted
rs170a wrote on 5/1/2010, 4:52 PM
Ted, see if a place like B&H (I'm sure there are others too) carry that specific model.
With all the taxes over there, it might be cheaper for him to pay you to buy it here.

Mike