Firestore or 3rd 8gb P2 card

hraheem72

Active member
I wanted to get some feedback from other users on whether have 3 8gb P2's are the way to go vs having a firestore. I've read every post possible and still can't decide if the firestore fs 100 is dependable enough to trust over getting a 3rd P2 card. Please advise and I'm very interested to hear from FS 100 owners to relate your experiences with the firestore, both good and bad things. Thanks
 
FYI, I've not used a Firestore, but I'm going into a 5-day corporate shoot next week with my HVX and 3 8GB cards, a P2 Store and a Macbook with a 320GB HDD. I'm comfy with the setup...
 
I find the Firestore very dependable and Focus stands behind the product both in terms of support as well as continued product refinement. The downsides of the Firestore are its bulk (not heavy but big) and battery life. I have the extended battery and that does seem to power it much longer than the standard battery. Other options include the Power Bag Junior (www.powerbagjunior.com), but that is a bulky and heavy sealed lead acid battery. The Tekkeon MP3400 seems like a good option and I am trying to get hold of one to evaluate. As a "run and gun" shooter, the Firestore works well within my style and workflow. If you are in a more controlled environment with an assistant, rotating 3 P2 cards would definitely work. Even if you are solo, 3 P2 cards and a P2 store on your belt would work. When you consider the price of the Firestore (100 gb) is less than 2x8gb P2 cards, it gives you lower cost per meg. Bottom line here is I think you have to think of your shooting style, environment, crew, and budget. There is really no right or wrong answer.

Ned Soltz
 
Why not rent a firestore for a day or two and try the setup.
I think it's a personal call if the quirks of the firestore are too much.
 
Anders

That's a good idea to rent one. I just need to find a place in my area that rents them. I'm in the DC metro area and will look for a rental facility.
 
I'll chime in on the FS-100 being tough and reliable! I've beat the s*** out of mine and it still runs fine.
 
Hey, I'm also in the DC metro area and I just rented a 8 GB P2 car from them. $85 per week. Not bad. I think the FireStore FS-100 was about $150 per week. That company is AValive based in North Carolina. 910-202-0102 or www.avalive.com

Good luck!
 
I have both......and in my opinion Firestore is outstanding too....and soon, with the 3.0 upgrade, it will support 720 Native mode.....Firestore is a winner!!! At the beggining I was affraid about, and I was thinking that I had could wait for cinestore....but I was wrong....It works like a charm....just follow carefully the instructions and voilá
 
Alex 3D said:
Hey, I'm also in the DC metro area and I just rented a 8 GB P2 car from them. $85 per week. Not bad. I think the FireStore FS-100 was about $150 per week. That company is AValive based in North Carolina. 910-202-0102 or www.avalive.com

Good luck!

$85.00/week for an 8GB P2 card? Wow! In Boston I think it's at least $50.00/day
and even at a weekly rate well beyond $85.00!
 
Anders Holck said:
Why not rent a firestore for a day or two and try the setup.
I think it's a personal call if the quirks of the firestore are too much.

What are the "quirks" of the Firestore? Also, really dumb here, what is the difference
between a P2 store and the Firestore? Just about to but the camera...Thanks!
 
I think he means the issues of dealing with the firewire connection. If you get an FS-100, get firewire cables that have the 4-pin side at a right angle. I got several, 3ft, 6ft, 10ft. Forget where I got them, but they work great. I've never had the problems other users have with the firewire connection.

You'll also want to get the Bebob Box-FS, as it's about the best mounting for it I've found. I also use the belt clip when I'm running my HVX on my CineSaddle.
 
filmtovideo said:
Also, really dumb here, what is the difference
between a P2 store and the Firestore?
FireStore is a live streaming recorder that captures footage from the HVX as you record it, so it's an alternative to the P2 cards.

P2 Store is a companion to the P2 cards; it's a 60gb "data vault" that you put the cards into so you can offload them and then erase them and use them again.
 
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