Click Here to read the article  

Thanks for the review, Jarred!

One question: did you notice if the P2 Store was very sensitive regarding physical movement while doing a copy? In other words, could you pick up and carry the unit while it was copying a card, or would that result in a copy error, and require you to start over again? I've heard from some users that any movement at all would result in an error, and was wondering if that was your experience as well...

yes in deed a good review, thanks Jarred.

...and to ad to the previous and the end of the review, maybe the reason there are no straps or mounts on this thing is becuase they want you to set it somewhere to do it thing, and not have it trying to copy while slung over your shoulder as you run down the sidelines. - Of course there's still the transposrting issue, but me me that forced aditional security would at least be justified, if not desirable by some.

- Mikko

Isn't it so that it doesn't matter how full the card is( 10% or 100%), it always takes the same amount of time to copy? Like it copies a whole disk-image( ok, 'card'-image') byte for byte, instead of a file-based copy, even if a part of the card only contains a lot of zero's?

This would explain the slighty slower time for a nearly full card using the Store instead of a laptop. It would also mean that it is best to get the P2-cards as full as possible before copying to minimize waste: After copying 15 cards with only 1 minute of footage, the disk is full.

the motion sensor block would suggest that you probally are more on the money then you may know.

two of the little rubber feet have already came off mine... kind of ridiculas to have a 1600 dollar device with 25 cent feet.

Gracias for overview, Jarred.

Q: How does the P2 Store let you know that you've already copied the card? A cascade of angry flashing lights? (I know I could find out for myself but it's on loan and I'm impatient).

Is it then safe to assume that the capacity of the P2 Store is not actually 60Gb, but rather 15 x 4Gb cards (regardless of how full they are when copied over)? In which case every Gb of card space counts?

This is such a helpful review, and well timed. I am trying to figure out what to get. My laptop has produced some "user error"--I copied the same card twice, and missed copying the third. Ouch--lost that footage forever.

Good observation, although that's still alot of actual footage.

But, would three 16GB cards, each with one minute on them leave me with only three minutes of footage on the P2 Store?

Thanks, Jarred, for the review.

The P2Store simply cannot be moved while copying data without interrupting the disk plater. I think Panasonic might've struggled with how to case this device as it is indeed surrounded on all sides by a heat sink - that makes a hard or soft case solution somewhat troublesome.

Tabs for suspending the unit might "suggest" that you should put a nice PortaBrace style strap on it. I don't think that Panasonic wants the interrupt mode disabled, so any hanging mechanism is effectively out.

I like the operation of the P2Store, but was really frustrated with having to eject the cards prior to formatting them after each copy. The power button trick has aleviated this annoyance.

I think two P2Stores set to Verify and three 4GB cards constitutes the perfect shooting package for almost any situation. Fill one Store and then continue shooting to the second until the end of the day.

Otherwise, you'll need a clapper-loader position created for each camera under almost any serious shooting scenario. For documentary and reality, the "creation" of this unique camera crew position is a necessity.

e

great review.

but why only 60 GB...? With the current rinky dink storage size of the P2 cards it would be nice to have at least 120+GB..