24 frame progressive scanning
 

What exactly does that mean? I know it is supposed to make video look more film like but not sure if my camera uses it automatically, or if I should put it in or at what cost. (I have the Sony HDR-FX1 e)

Also, because I am in europe and using pal (25 fps) will there be any differences that I should know about?

Thanks for all help

The FX1 doesn't do progressive scanning, so you can't "put it in." I believe that your PAL model will have something called "cineframe 25" whereas the NTSC models have cf24 and cf30. These are an approximation of progressive scan, but some resolution will be lost. For more info see the following: http://www.adamwilt.com/HDV/cineframe.html

But the general idea with 24 frame progressive (24p) is that it's similar to film which is shot at 24 frames per second.

Also, there is an important difference between a 24P image and a 24 frame per second interlaced image. The FX1 only shots an interlaced picture. Even though the CineFrame options do shoot in a framerate of 24 fps or 30 fps (or even 25 fps if we're speaking PAL) it still isn't a progressive image. A progressive image will always have more resolution than an interlaced image. It will also have a different look to it. I can switch to 30P mode on my camera and it will yield a different looking image than a 60i image. Just some information I thought might be useful in this discussion.