Blu-ray NTSC vs. PAL - any difference in picture quality ?

[Phesstve]

I know that there are different regions when it comes to Blu-ray, but I have also seen mentioned (also on DVD) that there are listings that also has the NTSC and PAL (TV systems) included which I do not fully understand the use of. From what I know it what differ between video tapes (back in the old days): NTSC system on US and Northern TVs and video players, and PAL system over here in Europe.

Does the Blu-ray (and DVD) really have a locking to the two TV systems - or will a region free (all region) Blu-ray disc that has a NTSC format work on a PAL TV over here in Europe ?

[tilallr1]

Originally Posted by Phesstve

I know that there are different regions when it comes to Blu-ray, but I have also seen mentioned (also on DVD) that there are listings that also has the NTSC and PAL (TV systems) included which I do not fully understand the use of. From what I know it what differ between video tapes (back in the old days): NTSC system on US and Northern TVs and video players, and PAL system over here in Europe.

Does the Blu-ray (and DVD) really have a locking to the two TV systems - or will a region free (all region) Blu-ray disc that has a NTSC format work on a PAL TV over here in Europe ?

Region coding is still in effect, but if the movie is region free your blu-ray will play on any blu-ray player across the globe. As they are all 1080p standard. So no NTSC(480i) or PAL(576i) anymore, like DVD and VHS before it. However you might not be able to view some special features which are just direct ports of NTSC/PAL from the DVD and are not remaster to 1080p.

So to answer your question, YES any region free (all region) Blu-ray disc from anywhere else in the world will play in Europe. The only thing that might not play are special features which were still in NTSC. But the movie will be AOK!!!

[Phesstve]

Tilallr1, thank you very much for taking time explaining and giving me an answer about the Blu-ray. So I take it that buying a NTSC DVD - even if it is region free - will not work on my PAL European TV then ?

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by Phesstve

So I take it that buying a NTSC DVD - even if it is region free - will not work on my PAL European TV then ?

No.
It can happen, but I did import almost all my DVDs back in the day from the US to Germany and my old SD TV played all of them just fine.
I made my DVDPlayer region free. DVDPlayers around the world played PAL AND NTSC.

Most European SD-TVs for the last 15 years can display NTSC.

[Phesstve]

Thank you veryone for your feedbacks

[morymb]

Not to beat a dead horse but I'd like another opinion on the whole frame rate issue between 25fps and 24fps.

If I have a sony all region Blu Ray player that can handle PAL stuff like menues and special features of , lets say, The Burbs';

will the actual feature film still run at 24fps?

will the special feature PAL (if ported from PAL source) run at 25fps or upconvert to 30fps.

I live in America so I am guessing my HDTV is NTSC, not sure if it is or if that is even possible or relevant.


I'm just balls confused over this.

I want to buy the Burbs' as well as a plethora of other Arrow, etc releases but need to know that ;
\
A) I can watch the film itself at 24fps

and

B) the special features, even if at a funky frame rate, will still be viewable on my Sony All Region Blu Ray Player.

[Rizor]

NTSC/PAL standards don't apply to HD material but may still apply to SD content on BDs (extras, opening logos or trailers, warnings, etc).

I think it's a rule of thumb that if it's region free, it'll play in Europe. European BD players will play NTSC content. Not the case in the US with PAL though.

[Phesstve]

Thank you Rizor

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Phesstve

Thank you Rizor

There are a number of region B titles that are region free, but have PAL content.

[Carlos2992]

Originally Posted by tilallr1

Region coding is still in effect, but if the movie is region free your blu-ray will play on any blu-ray player across the globe. As they are all 1080p standard. So no NTSC(480i) or PAL(576i) anymore, like DVD and VHS before it. However you might not be able to view some special features which are just direct ports of NTSC/PAL from the DVD and are not remaster to 1080p.

So to answer your question, YES any region free (all region) Blu-ray disc from anywhere else in the world will play in Europe. The only thing that might not play are special features which were still in NTSC. But the movie will be AOK!!!

This is not 100% accurate because if you buy a BR disc that has at its start trailers in PAL, or the menu in PAL, you won't be able to view the disc at all no matter if it's region free.

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by Carlos2992

This is not 100% accurate because if you buy a BR disc that has at its start trailers in PAL, or the menu in PAL, you won't be able to view the disc at all no matter if it's region free.

That's true in NTSC land, but the OP is in Europe. There's no problem playing any SD material in Europe as virtually all European TVs these days have support for both PAL and NTSC and virtually all half-decent European BD players have native support for both PAL and NTSC as well.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Carlos2992

This is not 100% accurate because if you buy a BR disc that has at its start trailers in PAL, or the menu in PAL, you won't be able to view the disc at all no matter if it's region free.

This is not true if you have a way of watching the raw m2ts files on your PC as I do. Most of the later editions of PowerDVD can do this. I can play the raw movie file in which I lose subtitles, but everything else is skipped because the trailers, warnings, etc. are encoded as different files. I have PowerDVD 9 and 10 by the way. Region coding is also bypassed with this process.

[Kentai]

There are also a handful of Blu-ray that use 1080i50Hz - sometimes called "1080p 25fps" on the package. They're basically 1080p content at PAL framerates, and can't be viewed on US TVs without a framerate converter built into the player. Either it'll send out a signal your display can't show properly, or it'll just default to a black screen.