PAL vs NTSC in FPV Cameras: What the Formats Mean and How to Check Compatibility

What PAL and NTSC mean

Values follow this order: PAL / NTSC.

• Lines per frame: 625 / 525
• Fields per second: 50 / 59.94
• Frames per second: 25 / ≈29.97

These are analogue television systems described in ITU-R Recommendation BT.470-7 [1]. In analog FPV the camera outputs a video signal in such a format, and the rest of the chain must accept and display it. Other camera specifications - TVL, Lux, WDR - do not determine the format; they are explained in “How to Choose an FPV Camera: TVL, Lux, WDR and PAL/NTSC”.

Why compatibility matters

In an FPV chain the signal passes through several devices:

• the camera;
• the transmitter (VTX);
• the receiver;
• goggles or a monitor;
• a DVR, if you record video.

If any device does not support the signal format, the image may be unstable, lose color or be missing altogether, depending on the equipment. Some devices detect the format automatically while others need manual selection; check each device’s documentation.

Cameras with a switchable format

Ratel Pro is a confirmed example: the Caddx page lists “NTSC & PAL (changeable)” [2]. For PRBZ Mini 1800TVL and FPV Starlight JS-18Por the product pages list “PAL / NTSC” but do not describe how the format is selected - do not assume it, confirm it before ordering. Caddx Thermal IRC-640CA has an analog PAL output.

• Caddx Ratel Pro 1500TVL: NTSC / PAL, switchable (per Caddx) [2]
• PRBZ Mini 1800TVL: PAL / NTSC
• FPV Starlight JS-18Por: PAL / NTSC (CVBS video output)
• Caddx Thermal IRC-640CA: PAL, analog

What to check before buying

1. Identify your system’s format. Check the documentation of the transmitter, receiver, goggles or monitor, and DVR.
2. Make sure both ends of the chain support it. The camera and the rest of the devices must work with the same format.
3. Choose a camera with the right format. If your system may change, take a model with switching.
4. Confirm how switching works. OSD menu, jumper or another method - it depends on the model.
5. Test the picture end to end. Connect the camera to the whole chain before mounting it in the build.

If the image is unstable

Rule out a format mismatch first, then check focus, power and connections in the order given in “FPV Camera Image Quality Has Got Worse”.