Dumping P2 footage in the field?? Specifically a Chinese field..

[newsbykko]

Hello all

I'm sure this is an obvious question but I need to ask.

I just relocated to China and want to start using my HVX but can't get around how to dump the P2 card footage in the field. I need to be able to work in the field away from a computer for 4-5 days, whice means 1-2 hours of footage a day, 5-6 hours at the end of the trip.
I'm shooting 720PN with two 16G cards that are okay for day to day shooting but definetly not enough for 4-5 days worth of shooting.

I looked at the P2 store but its too small (60G) and buying two is a bit out of budget.
I don't want to have to carry a laptop everywhere due to weight.
Also cant afford to buy many more P2 cards.

Then I discovered the very interested fact that the HVX's has the ability to download to an external Hardrive.

This is kind of a solution but still limits me since I need to have a power outlet for the Hardrive. (HVX cant supply power via fire wire to a HD)
My qestion is:

Is there a better solution?

Can I use a Firestore as an external HD and dump footage at the end of the day? But I dont really want to shoot to the Firestore sice it makes the camera more bulky during shooting.

Thank you all for your help in advance.

Krisztian K Orban
www.KrisztianKOrban.com
www.FeralCatFilms.com

[Shooter]

Film making has always had "associated baggage" of some sort or other.

Its is difficult to get past the laptop as lesser baggage and the best solution ....unless you want to shoot tape.

I think I might invent a clockwork wind up hard drive. Wot ya think of that for a great idea?

[gary2yuk]

when i was china, i would dump via Duel Adapter to a MacBook Pro. we usually didnt need power for the laptop as long as we charged it every night.. also i just kept a lot of the laptop hard drive space free so i didnt have to carry a hard drive as well.. again, i would dump to the hard drve from the laptop nightly..

but, like you said, you have to carry the laptop around.

[warwickt]

Krisztian, many solutions out there. I have resorted to using a SELF POWERED FIREWIRE DRIVE enclosure from a company in Korea call NEXTTODI. (as you know, no power on 4 pin FW400 on HVX) THE ND2525 device permits a PATA DDM of up to 250GB. It comes with two batteries and optionally extras including power adapter cables , leather case [cool!] and cables. Just pop a PATA DDM in and away you go. TAke a few PATA DDMS with you on the road if you will shoot more stuff. THey are simple to install.

Please note each offload constructs a PARTITION in the FATS32 file system. Same with all these devices.

Just OFFLOAD the HVX200 using IEEE1394 HOST MODE with your 4-6pin FS400 cable. Note also this is not an FS-100 so you cant record on it..

THe enclosure is available in Hong Kong for about $HK1350 or so. (RMB 1300+). A local guy sells these.

USage: 2mins per GB to offload. Limietd by effective FW400 speed. Same as mac laptop etc.
I travel with this device and can offload by 2 x 16GB P@'s anytime.

I would highly reocmmend this as a cost effectove alternatve to lugging around a LAPTOP or a BATTERY or a powersupply for a DISK. especially if you're going to XinJiang etc...

I've posted about this device several times this forum. Just search for NEXTTODI CF ND2525

When your in Hong Kong next, email me and I'll show you first hand.

HTH
Warwick
Hong Kong

[newsbykko]

Warwick

Great! I sent you a mesage with my personal email and cell numbers. I can come over tommorow. This is excatly what I was looking for!

As they say in the USA "you rock!!!!"

Kris