View Full Version : Tips for buying Firestore
femmedirector
10-04-2007, 08:25 PM
I am going to buy a Firestore but its for a rather low price so I am concerned.
Any questions and tests I should perform when I go to look at it?
I am planning to shoot on it with my camera and then exporting the footage but are there certain things that I should do in exporting?
Thanks
s
THoff
10-04-2007, 09:04 PM
For starters, make sure it's the FS-100 and not a FS-4HD.
Check to make sure both Firewire ports work, that the fan runs, and that there are no odd noises coming from the hard drive.
MikeWilkinson
10-04-2007, 09:38 PM
How are you buying? Website or local? If website, check out resellerratings.com, and if it's local, test it out when you meet up to purchase it. Also what THoff said.
nsoltz
10-05-2007, 05:21 AM
If it is too cheap, be concerned.
Basically, read the instructions. Menus can be a little daunting.
Are you editing PC or Mac? What is the price? Where are you trying to buy it? If it has not shipped with firmware 4.0, download the free upgrade and upgrade the unit.
Ned Soltz
femmedirector
10-05-2007, 11:45 AM
On a Mc/PC.
thx
s
Denada Chile
10-05-2007, 11:54 AM
It works great with Mac. It's a very reliable machine, only you have to check well the settings before you start recording so you make sure it's recording in the mode you set it...but after some practice you won't even have to worry about it. It has really worked great for me.
THoff
10-05-2007, 12:27 PM
If it is too cheap, be concerned.
Basically, read the instructions. Menus can be a little daunting.
Are you editing PC or Mac? What is the price? Where are you trying to buy it? If it has not shipped with firmware 4.0, download the free upgrade and upgrade the unit.
Ned SoltzThe V4 firmware is only free if you already have at least V3 -- if the FS-100 is pretty old, you may need to pay for the update to V4.
If you buy a new one, it has to be the 4.0 Firmware on it! (Or the Dealer give it for free). I love my Firestore :)
THoff
10-05-2007, 03:23 PM
That's not true. If the dealer has had it sitting in his stock room since before the V3 firmware was put on the FS-100's leaving Focus Enhancements (which was done starting February 1, 2007), then you could get a FS-100 with older firmware and no free update.
Also, if this is a used FS-100, the owned may have decided he didn't want to pay for the update.
All I'm saying is: don't assume...
KROOKEDKROWN
10-05-2007, 03:29 PM
Make sure its compatible with your camera if you have the Canon with 24f you will need the FS-C
If you are buying it off Ebay, check to make sure the buyer protection (on the right side under the seller's info) is up to $2000. If the seller doesn't have enough feedback points, they will only be able to offer $200 of buyer protection.
Be very careful buying from any seller who has less than five feedback points.
THoff, if you have a good dealer he will give the 4.0 for free. If not, :kali: ...and go to a good dealer!!!
Just my 2 cents...