To panasonic (P2 store)

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dolph2000

Well-known member
It would be great if you could read the p2 store through the HVX. That you always could watch your stuff back whenever you want. So not only read back the card with thumbnails but also the store.
Would this be an idea?
 
Another great idea: since 100 Gig, 7200 rpm 2.5 inch drives are commonly available, it would be nice if you actually built them in to the P2 Store. 100 minutes of HD footage is a lot preferable to 60 minutes...especially for $1600!
 
Sadly, the 60gb limitation can't be overcome, at least if you're using 4gb P2 cards. The camera is limited (for some unknown reason) to copying only 15 times to the same hard drive before a re-format. With 4gb cards, this gives you a maximum usable drive size of 60gb. Obviously the limit is much bigger with 8gb cards, so hopefully we will be seeing a 120gb P2 store in the future. Just keep in mind it is silly to pay more for one if you're using 4gb cards.
 
Cam-Ra said:
The camera is limited (for some unknown reason) to copying only 15 times to the same hard drive before a re-format.
Click to expand...
The reason is that each P2 card is seen as a separate disk. So each card you dump on the P2-store must be seen as a separate disk also. For this, the hard drive is partitioned into 15 separate partitions, so your OS ( XP or OSX) thinks it sees 15 separate disks.

Partitioning is limited to 15 partitions per drive in the Master Boot Record.
 
The only nice thing would be to watch your footage back via the HVX. Now its impossible without a computer. Now you can never check your footage once you have dumped your card. I find that strange that panasonic haven't thought about such a user friendly thing. I had a couple of times when it would be necassary if you can watch some shots back in the field.
That would be a consideration before buying a P2 store with having a mac. Espacially for mac because it stull has no P2 viewing tool. Than you could have your labtop (on battery) and view things in the field.
 
Since there is a 15partition limit, how bout dropping the price to a reasonable level like $800 for the p2 store.
 
eLeventy said:
The reason is that each P2 card is seen as a separate disk. So each card you dump on the P2-store must be seen as a separate disk also. For this, the hard drive is partitioned into 15 separate partitions, so your OS ( XP or OSX) thinks it sees 15 separate disks.

Partitioning is limited to 15 partitions per drive in the Master Boot Record.
Click to expand...

So if I were using 8 gig cards, then I could benifit from putting a 120 gig hard drive in the P2 store. I believe they now make 160 gig hard drives in the laptop size (I think that is the size the P2 store uses). That way hopefully I can get the full 120 gig usage. I would hate to get the 120 gig, and then only be able to download 14 cards.

What is the opinion of trying this?
Maybe Jan can throw some light on this possibility.
Would we have to do any pre formatting on the drive, or maybe acronis the drive from the p2 store.

That would be well worth it to me to put in a larger drive, even if Panasonic doesn't do it. Before I try, I just want to be sure it is possible by simply swapping it out.

I am getting about 20 minutes on my 8 gig P2 cards, so that would be 300 minutes plus 40 more on the cards. That is a days shooting for me, and I can do it by myself (although more often than not, I would have someone doing that).
That makes more sense than the extra cords, hauling around, and the MUST HAVEs of another person, that a laptop transfer would need.
 
Guys... I'm in need of a p2store review.. How do you like it? Too big to wear on your body and do a run and gun? How long does it take to copy the whole drive over to like a G4 1ghz or faster computer.

I think it's not such a bad piece of gear.. now the real world scenerio of shooting has entered. Being dependent upon a laptop is now not an option..


Thanks for any and all info and advice also on batteries and all that.
 
P2 store is a good piece of gear but not for run and gun. You can not offload when you are walking or running of even moving a little bit. It must be on a solid underground otherwise it's erroring because of shakyness. Offload time depends on the verification mode. If it's on then it takes longer but it is wise to use so you surely know the offloading went ok. It is a little button at the back of the store behind the battery where you can switch it on or off.
For me the store it's not very convenient because I do a lot ENG and that's run and gun a lot. But for commercials and documentaries it is I think a good solution. Especially commercials where you don't want dropped frames, pixel things and other tape related problems.
BTW I did a documentary with P2 and that worked great.
For me the biggest advantage of using P2 is DVCPRO50. Compared to dv what I used before it's a major difference. If I should film dv I think I would prefer tape. That's because once you affload the card to the store you can never play it back and that's awkward at least when you you don't use laptop to view it. And when you do commercials you defenately want to see things back.
But this review is based on 4 gig P2 cards. When you have 16 gig cards I never would use tape again.
 
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well darn.. Part of the appeal was to be able to be doing it run and gun and have it as a tool on the side. Sounds like it's still going to require some more planning.

So what's all this belt loop business ? hmmmm
 
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