Best capture of DVCAM ...SDI or firewire ?????

No sorry, it's in New Zealand!

Another option is to convert PAL DVCAM to NTSC DVCAM at a facility.
Then get a Sony DVCAM deck that can do NTSC.

I can't quite remember which can switch easily.
I think it is the DSR-11, but not sure.
Thought DSR-45 could do it to, but I can't find the option in the deck that is beside me at the moment.


Then you could capture the files yourself as NTSC for your cut.

I thought this issue rang a bell. Sure enough, I vaguely remember attending a session led by Graeme Nattress that included this subject. Here's a link to a fairly technical article that he wrote.

http://www.nattress.com/Chroma_Investigation/chromasampling.htm

As you'll see, his conclusion isn't completely definitive. But it didn't make me run out and upgrade my DVCAM deck or add a Aja card to deal with DVCAM footage. The incremental benefit didn't seem to be worth the price. On the occasions when I need something significantly better than DVCAM, I find it's best just to start off with another format.

dsr-11 will definitely handle both PAL and NTSC.

The DSR-11 has a mechanical switch on the back to change it between formats.

I've done a PAL edit and later converted to NTSC a couple of times now and haven't had complaints as yet. It's funny how Mr Nattress comes up again...check out his standards converter, i know that wasn't your original question but thought it was worth mentioning.

http://nattress.com/Products/standardsconversion/standardsconversion.htm

also his article on SDI v Firewire as linked to above is a good read.

Good luck..

Mike