What can I dump P2 card footage to in the field with no power?

S

Steve55

Active member
About to buy HVX200, but am not about to spend a fortune on P2 cards (they are not readily available in the UK anyway). So, for shooting in the field with just one 4 Gig P2 card, what is the best hardware device to take along so I can keep dumping the card content so I can keep re-using the P2 card on the same day. Will be in the field with no power either.

I'm UK based so UK shops would be cool if anyone has any recommendations for hardware and retailers.
 
Great article Jarred, but the price seems too much, especially when you can buy an Apple laptop for less money. So, will the Apple laptop do the same thing? only with a whole bunch more features ;)
 
keian

keian

someone else asked me the same thing, here's a copy of my post.....

...........................

in case you're looking for a non-firewire option, I really enjoy a USB OTG case I picked up. You put a 5400 2.5 inch hard drive inside and you're ready to go. It comes with a battery holder that accepts 4 x AA batteries. It lets you know if you get a copy error, and the only time this happened to me was when I unplugged it while it was still going. (I just plugged it back in, started the transfer again, and it worked fine)

so far, it's been great.

I can film for 10 minutes in 24PN, then a dump from camera to the device takes 8 minutes. I use this downtime for rehearsal, rearranging, thinking about blocking, adjusting lighting, talking to your actors, whatever. I don't think I've ever just sat around idle during this shooting time.

It is really close to a film workflow (if you're used to shooting without an asst.) but instead of a film change it's a P2 download to a disk.

here's the link
http://www.keian.co.jp/new_pro/kotg-25/kotg-25.html

and some pictures

kotg-25b.gif


kotg-25bcb.gif


kotg-25fb.gif


kotg-25pb.gif
 
D-MAC

How to you set up the drive (how do you format to FAT32?) and what is the step-by-step procedure to transfer to this drive. I can't get the USB to work right.

Thanks
 
Hey tourneestudio (and anyone else interested in this drive),

it's pretty easy, just put the drive/case together. Then format it in FAT-32 format. (OSX disk utility can do this easily). Change your HVX settings to USB dump (it's default is firewire) in the setup menu. Then, switch into PC - DUB mode on the HVX (press the MCR/VCR button once to get into that mode, then HOLD IT in that mode to get into PC - DUB mode. You should have a blue screen that says 'USB DISCONNECTED' on it. Press the copy button on the Keian OTG and it'll change to 'USB CONNECTED' and start copying. The Keian will also say 'copying', and when it says 'Copy OK' you're all set.
 
I much prefer firewire to USB... The dump is way faster... Other than the ipod, are there any other portable battery operated firewire drives that dont power from the port? I've been using my ipod to dump semi-successfully... The problems are on my end: A) using an 2G ipod with batteries that wont hold a charge very well.. B) however i formatted my ipod, i lost the OS and therefore cannot power it down so it never shuts off and dies rapidly (esp with the battery charge problem) I know the new video ipods dont support firewire and are USB only, right? (Can anyone confirm?) I'd like to buy another ipod and use it solely as my go-between from P2 to Mac (killing its ipod function).. just wondering if anyone else uses an ipod successfully or unsuccessfully...? If anyone has i'd like to hear a report on how you have it set up and how well it works...

I do understand that using an ipod in this manner will kill its ipod functions turning it into a just a hard drive and i'm fine with that.... Until someone finds another portable firewire solution (battery op)... PLEASE LET ME KNOW.. I like that an ipod can fit in my back pocket and is light.

When my ipod does hold its charge, it works really well and P2 dumps to it fast via firewire..
 
Hey AbstracTheory,

The firewire dumps are around the same time as USB....about 8 minutes for a 4GB card. (Remember, we're talking firewire 400 vs. USB 2.0 here)
I've only used firewire to transfer to my comp though, so please correct if i'm wrong.

Yeah, all the new iPods are usb only. (also, you can reformat your iPod and regain your iPod functions, so you don't really lose it)

The one positive thing firewire has is a verify function, due to the fact that the camera can act as a host. In USB mode, it has no control capabilities. BUT, firewire is limited to 60G per hard drive, I use a 100GB drive in my USB OTG device with no problems.

the USB OTG is the cheapest way to go, definitely, and nicely portable as well. Also, the battery pack pictured with the Keian is 5V, perfect to power a portable Lacie Porsche Firewire hard drive if need be.
 
Cam-Ra says he got one (in another thread). Here's his post...maybe try PM'ing him? That webpage is just the manufacturer's page, so there is no checkout button, have to buy from a reseller. I picked up mine in the 'Akihabara' part of Tokyo.

try google searching for keian otg and you'll probably find some resellers I imagine.

good luck!
-david
 
Steve, fwiw, I would definitly get another p2 card. you will pull your hair out if you have to wait for downloads for 1 card. If you have the right conditions, just get a powerbook with a external hard drive and download to that. I use a g-tech mini and a 1st generation fw 400 ipod. works great.
 
I would recommend everyone put some redundancy into their workflows - if you dump to a drive only and then woops - drop the drive - you are out of luck.

On our feature every card is unloaded to 2 hard drives and then burned to 2 dvds. Overkill - maybe - but we cannot afford a reshoot so we need to be sure. To accomplish this we have a loader to take care of it (among other responsibilities).
 
Drives are so cheap, and the transfer is so fast that you can transfer to two simultaneously so it doesn't even cost you much (if any) additional time... I agree with SMelni, that's how we do it as well.
 
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