Firestore impressions... and worry...

Iskandar

Iskandar

Active member
Hello. Long time no post here...

I bought a lot of things for my 100B and also a FireStore FS4.

It seems a great and revolutionary toy but it seems to me that the footage is a bit choppy respect of that made on traditional tape. I tried different types of recording...

Anybody with same impressions?

Any help?
 
Tks for links above. I studied them and all them resources (PDF etc) but still no find an answer for my worries...


OK, here are some further feelings about my FS4.

I use DVX100B without tape, using camera REC button to record on the FS4 and it works.

I tryed the following file type on FS4:

RAW DV: awful choppy video quality
AVI TYPE2: acceptable video quality but NOT the quality I was expecting and much lower than actual footage taken on traditional TAPE!
QUICK TIME Normal: choppy as hell
QT24: Choppy with a final multicolor chessboxed noise.

As I edit on Sony VEGAS 6 all the types above should work but it seems I can only have success with AVI TYPE 2, which is actually the best result achieved so far but as I told you not that clean...

Any additional help?

Firestore FS4 users!
Get out and help this Iskandar even saying "For me it works fine! Good luck!" ^_^

I just need to know if it is worth going to the temple close to my home and pray for luck or if I have to throw away this 100.000 JPY out of my window!
 
A couple of thoughts...: Have you done a 'Factory Reset', as well as formatting of the drive via the Utilities menu? If so, and you have the same result, check your firmware version. If it's older than the one listed on the Focus website, download the firmware from Focusinfo.com and install it on your FS-4.

... and a couple of questions: Is the video choppy when played back directly through the camera from the Firestore, or is it choppy only on your PC? If it's choppy only on your PC, are the files being played back directly from the FS-4 or have they been downloaded onto the PC's hard drive?
 
[SIZE=+0]I have used the FS4 for over 100 hours shooting 60i and editing on PPro 1.5 and now 2.0 I have not experienced the issues you describe. I record using AVI type 2 setting and off load the files from the FS4 to my 7200 rpm hard drive (Maxtor Terabyte External). Recently I began shooting in 24pn virtually exclusively as I have practiced to a point where I feel comfortable with smooth camera moves. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=+0]In 24p I do not use the AVI 24p mode available as the FS4 clearly does not handle pulldown in this mode. I have inquired about this and have received a e-mail from Firestore support asking for my phone # so they would speak with me regarding the issue and that was 4 mo's ago and no follow-up.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+0]When I move up to the HVX 200 it won't be their recorder that I buy just based on the lack of support they offer. This and other user forums are full of the same story from other users frustrated by the poor Firestore support.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+0]As to 24p I now record in AVI type 2 normal on the FS4 and again off load the files to my PC drive. I have run tests recording from tape and the FS4 footage and I see no difference. If I panned to fast the tape footage stutters as well as the FS4 footage. If I move slow and smooth footage on both looks good.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+0]Mark Whalen points out key info. Make sure you have the latest firmware. Also you need a 7200 rpm hd to insure smooth playback and adequate memory to buffer the full size footage or you will see choppy playback.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+0][/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0]SCannon[/SIZE]
 
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Thanks everybody for your replies and experience sharing!

I m still in TEST mode and I think i ll proceed in firmware update, just to have a cleaner start base for my tech refinements and test.

Another issue is HOW to have the FS4 NOT mounted on the DVX handle (as I need to have a wireless mic) but mounted anyway on the camera main body...



I tried this way and it s hanfy enough only that the camera gravity center gets a bit uncorrect.... and it wld be useful to have a steady camera in the hands rather than a camera going left or right...

The point is that i dont want cables between ME and the camera. I wld like the camera and the FS4 being a unique piece on the tripod or on hand...
 
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