Panasonic P2 Store

[blando3]

Does anyone use the Panasonic P2 store? I haven't seen too many threads about it. It sounds like a great alternative to the Firestore or carrying a laptop in the field...

[David Jimerson]

Well, it's nothing like the Firestore; there is no direct capture to a hard drive.

It's about 3x more expensive than a viable laptop, too.

It has its place, but it's not a real alternative to either of those things.

[blando3]

What do people use it for? It sounds like it serves a purpose very similar to that of a laptop, although more expensive. I realize it's very different from the FS, but I've heard about a lot of issues with the FS (although some people rave about it, too).

[David Saraceno]

People used it to transfer footage to its internal HDD when only 4 GB cards were available.

I thought it was slow, overpriced, etc., but it served its need back then.

[Erik Olson]

I still use mine for very remote work in the field where the P2Genie laptop / external HDD won't do the job.

The P2Store was well-designed for this type of work with the smaller P2 cards, but Panasonic apparently never intended to support it (as they thankfully do every other P2 product) as the cards move toward larger capacities.

Unless you shoot to 4GB or 8GB cards, do not purchase a P2Store. Frankly, I'm surprised that Panasonic is still selling them as a tool in the larger P2HD product family.

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[Justyn]

I love my p2store. I had hopped that there would be a way to upgrade the harddrive size.. I thought that was something they were going to do. I still prefer this over a laptop as it will run all day off one battery... with format the cards in one shot.. and it's not going to be beat up like a laptop would. I still use mine since the macbook doesn't have a cardbus.


If you could pick up one used it's still a sweet device.

[pmark23]

It's completely useless. I've never used mine successfully -- it either didn't store the footage (fortunately I didn't trust it), and the other time it just wouldn't transfer in a moving car which made it useless during that shoot.

Panasonic's own documentation tells you not to trust it to store footage -- so what's the freakin' point!

Laptop and USB drive is the way to go.

[electricpig]

I've 2 P2stores. And 4 8GB cards. (plus 2 4's for backup, but they've been a waste of money in the circumstances)

This will cover me, without fail, for a full days shooting on my own, whatever anyone throws at me, 1080 or 720, and has never screwed me. It's my 'lowest common denominator' P2 solution.
I wouldn't want a laptop when I'm that stretched. Too much human error.

That's like having a data handler, free, on-set. No food or rest complaints.

Which is, quite frankly invaluable.

[Justyn]

well yes.. it doesn't like bumps and vibrations... but it's been absolutely rock solid for me and when I see people struggling with a laptop I do have to chuckle. You just can't be a one man show as easily as you can with this P2store... and a laptop on battery will maybe last you 3 or so hours.

I hope someone hacks it and can get the info on how to upgrade the harddrive. I like having it as a redundent storage too. I copy it's contents to the comp at the end of the day.. and leav it on the p2store till I have to wipe it off.

[pmark23]

It's a good idea, but badly executed. I have 4 16-gig cards, so only run out of space if I'm doing many interviews -- and then I have time to dump to the laptop.

Someone should hack it to handle a 320gig drive, and do two copies or store the parity bit for error correction.

[Justyn]

I'm down for that brother. I do also use it for interface with my powerbook. You might want to do that for long interviews. Just offload it through the device.. erase card and reinsert.

[jetaddiction@mac.com]

the p2 store worked for me when 8gb card was $1000. and the biggest card. i found it hard to use untill you get use to it. being on the beach alot it worked . but sold it for more big cards .60 gb was a mistake ,if they had made it 200 gb then it would have kept it around . with the new 64gb card coming it is now a bit of a joke. panasonic should have known. if panasonic had made the hole p2 thing - mac easy- in design ,they would have got a lot more people to jump into the p2 world.

[Sneakle]

> if panasonic had made the hole p2 thing - mac easy- in design ,they would have got a lot more people to jump into the p2 world.

Amen

[Justyn]

they have totally over-looked Mac users in every facet and I believe that over 50 percent of all HVX users are Mac users. Been so larely disappointed in this area. I wonder if it's because Panny makes their own line of PC laptops... similar to what Sony does too.

[Sneakle]

>they have totally over-looked Mac users in every facet and I believe that over 50 percent of all HVX users are Mac users.

Tell me about it. Everyone I know uses FCP. Even the Cohen brothers. But I don't know them.

[David Saraceno]

I also wish Panasonic would step to the plate a little more often for Mac users.

The market is there.

[rhett]

Excuse the ignorance, but how is P2 Mac unfriendly? Seems like FCP handles MXF files just fine in their Quicktime container, and firewire streaming is easier on Mac than it is on the PC, no? That and you can bring P2 cards in the same ways you can on a PC, and I'm wondering why we're not saying Mac users actually have it better off considering us Vegas users have to buy Raylight just to see the damn things.

[David Saraceno]

Go here:

http://panasonic.sixbullets.net/

Compare the availability and features of Windows versus Mac for some utilities, etc.

Also note that Mac versions are generally delivered later than PC versions.

It's just a little disappointing and I feel that Apple is as much to blame as anyone.

[David Jimerson]

Yes. Apple hasn't exactly been friendly to P2 users.


firewire streaming is easier on Mac than it is on the PC, no?

Streaming? No. You get just as good a live feed over firewire in Windows as you do on a Mac.

When accessing the P2 cards in the camera, firewire is guaranteed on the Mac and not on the PC, but by design the way you're supposed to connect a PC is over USB 2.0. USB 2.0 isn't guaranteed for the Mac, so operationally, it's a wash.

[2wheelfilms]

Count me as a happy P2 store owner. Also have used it exclusively in a Mac environment without issue (knock on wood). Across the country, wet, dry, bumps, smooth, in a car. No issues. Love it. Also agree that the advent of larger cards has made the P2 store less relevant. Still, I have 2 8Gb cards and a 4 Gb card, which together with the P2 store keeps me in the field an entire day without worries about dealing with a laptop and another HDD.

[snpx]

love my p2 store. works fine with macosx. 3x 8gb p2 and 56 gb p2store.
the p2 store works even with my macbook for offloading p2 cards directly to hdd(s)

[Justyn]

I am feel the same. I love it.. and hoped that they would allow us.. or if they themselves.. would offer a harddrive upgrade. Could you imagine how cool it would be with a 250 gig drive in there. I still prefer it to a comp.

[electricpig]

I'd also love a 250gig upgrade hack, but I'd guess there's a firmware issue too. it will still influence me into getting a pair of 32gb cards for longer form stuff when the prices drop, instead of 64's, as coupled with my 4* 8gb cards and 2 stores, would allow me about 7 hours shooting @720 pn in a day. (cards can be filled up again once the stores are full). found recently you can mount 2 stores at the same time. so with the 32gb cards in store aswell, I could mount all my no-names at the same time and transfer all at the same time while sleeping at the end of a long days shoot. (with an automated backup too).

[Justyn]

I also wish that someone was able to hack the P2 cards like they have with the EX line of cards. One guy has gotten the series 6 - SD cards to work on that camera. That means the media is 1/10th of the cost. I have really been disappointed by Panasonics reluctancy in making the media more affordable. I mean that 64 gig card will probably be 2k or so... I love tapeless but there's a real cost involved.

[wgzn]

for me its capacity is WAY too small to justify its price. just get a laptop. faster, cheaper, WAY more space