(8GB & 8GB) vs. (8GB & 16GB)

S

spikeman256

Active member
I currently have my free 8GB card. When I'm ready to buy a 2nd card, should I buy another 8GB card or get a 16GB card?

Please ignore the cost factor...I'm just wondering if it's gonna cause any confusion/workflow issues by having two cards of different sizes...it seems logical that having two 8GBs might be easier to deal with than an 8GB and a 16GB.

Any thoughts?



-shannon
 
It will not make any difference to the camera (and shouldn't to your NLE). I just bought four 8 GB cards...think I got the last two Spec-Comm had in stock (a week and a half ago), then 2 more from B&H (should hit my door today).

Once I make a decision I really don't like an indefinate wait . . . as I did with my HVX, M2, Edius "free" upgrade (last year), etc., etc. I am very interested in the HPX500 too but will wait until they arrive and I can go down for a look.

(back to your question): The thing I like about the 8 GB cards, other than the fact that you can actually acquire them, is that you can archive an entire card on a dual layer DVD. You can also (in my case anyhow) use them with the P2Store. I have yet to hear if that will be possible with the 16 GB cards. I'm also hoping that someone will rise to the challange of replacing the drive in the P2Store with something larger as its evident Panasonic is not interested (or if they are they are doing a spledid job of keeping it a secret).
 
I think it's okay to span a p2 card over a dvd when backing up, about to try this myself actually.

I'd go a 16GB card as they're only a couple hundred more than the 8GB from what I've seen. Also, in most cases you'd probably be able to dump the entire 16GB card by the time you're finished filling up the 8.
 
I think the only plus of havinf 2x 8gb cards option is for continuous recording. Why? Dump speed. If you have a 8gb and a 16gb, when swapping cards, the dumping footage process of the 16gb would take a longer time than the running time of the 8gb (in 1080p or 720p50/60.)

Which means that, if you have a laptop and a FW800 drive, with 2 8gb cards you can continuously shoot at the best resolution. If you have a 8gb and a 16gb, you'll have to stop for the image dumping to HDD process.
 
SPZ, that's kind of what I was talking about...since I'm still just learning the camera, I don't exactly have a workflow set up yet.

I was just looking at it as, "OK, which card was the 8GB? Which card was the 16GB? On this scene, I can only record 8 minutes, this one 16, etc.". You know, keeping track of two sizes.

I guess the better question would be, "wouldn't it be awkward to film using two different sizes during the same shoot?" Apparently, yes.

- The dump time process that SPZ mentioned is a good point.
- I also like the tip from DREGENTHAL about being able to easily backup an entire 8GB card on one dual DVD. Although I'd never trust a backup onto a CD or DVD unless I had at least two burned copies.

I know the Blu Ray can handle larger sizes, but they aren't financially feasible yet.
 
I just shot a short 1080/24pa short and man, that 8GB card fills up fast. I'd consider a 16GB card as it will future proof you just a little bit.
 
No question, get the 16 gig card if you can afford it. The worry over dumping the 16 taking too long while recording to the 8 is not a valid concern. If you find it is taking too long to dump, simply stop recording to the 16 when it is 1/2 way full. You don't have to fill the whole card - you can just use it as an 8 gig card. But then when you need it, you have 24 gigs in the camera.

If you find you don't like this setup, I'll gladly trade you one of my 8 gig cards for your 16 - free of charge...

Aloha,
Cmus
 
cmus said:
No question, get the 16 gig card if you can afford it. The worry over dumping the 16 taking too long while recording to the 8 is not a valid concern. If you find it is taking too long to dump, simply stop recording to the 16 when it is 1/2 way full. You don't have to fill the whole card - you can just use it as an 8 gig card. But then when you need it, you have 24 gigs in the camera.

If you find you don't like this setup, I'll gladly trade you one of my 8 gig cards for your 16 - free of charge...

Aloha,
Cmus
Click to expand...

Doing this could disable the HVX's seemless recording option from card to card.

But get the 16 anyways...eventually you will buy a third card and if you get a 16 your problem will be solved.

D.L.
 
I don't think the HVX will care whether there's different sized p2 cards, I would be surprised if it's not the case.
 
unless youre shooting continuous, get the larger card. if youre a narritive/commercial/corporate/musicvideo shooter get the 16gig. if youre doing event coverage, sell the 8gig and buy 2 16gigs.
 
tmnt said:
I don't think the HVX will care whether there's different sized p2 cards, I would be surprised if it's not the case.
Click to expand...

Clarification - If you stopped the recording to eject the card at half full then you would not get the seamless recording option from card to card. It would be like having one card to shoot on and another waiting in your hand. Depends on your project. For live shoots this wouldn't work for me.

Do like TimurCivan said...sell the 8 gig card.

D.L.
 
For people who are still shooting as we speak it doesn't seem viable to sell off the 8's cause the 16's aren't in yet, and neither is the firmware. That's why the 8's still cost so much.
 
D.L. said:
Clarification - If you stopped the recording to eject the card at half full then you would not get the seamless recording option from card to card. It would be like having one card to shoot on and another waiting in your hand. Depends on your project. For live shoots this wouldn't work for me.

Do like TimurCivan said...sell the 8 gig card.

D.L.
Click to expand...
There a simple cheat to get continuous recording -- simply use up half the P2 card capacity by putting a placeholder file on it. The camera will use the remaining space on the card for recording and then switch to the other slot.
 
unless you have a p2 store, I dont think it matters, as you'll still have to stop recording to reformat your card, I don't believe you can format it properly with a powerbook. if I'm wrong please tell me, as I've been waisting time other wise,

sort of opening each file and deleting the contents, which would be more time consuming. as each folder has to be on the card and in place for it to work properly.

Jason Miller
 
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