HVX200 / P2 Card Question: two 16g vs. one 32g card?

C

crlong

New member
I'm in the market to purchase some P2 cards for my HVX200. I was thinking about purchasing two 16g cards instead of a single 32g card. My thinking is that if one of the 16g cards were to malfunction, then I still would have a back-up. Does this sound like good reasoning, or should I look into a 32g card?

My other big question is the following: If I'm shooting with two 16g cards, can I pull out "card A" once it is full and the camera has switched over to "card B"? (to transfer the footage seamlessly for long shoots so I always have an empty card).


Also is the DuelAdaptor still my best option for a card reader if I don't want to pay $2000+ for the panasonic 5-card reader? I would love to know if there is something in-between that might be more reliable out on a shoot. I have access to a Macbook Pro running 10.4.11 if that helps with this question.

Thanks a lot for the help- really appreciate your time!
 
You can hot swap cards to your heart's content, yes. That's one of the advantages of P2.

The Duel Adaptor is pretty much your only option for the money you're looking for, unless you want to find a used G4 or Windows laptop with a PCMCIA slot.
 
P2 Workflow's a tricky son-of-a-snake! But remember, two heads are generally greater than one.

I would prefer two 8gig Cards to keep a constant rolling situation on hand as opposed to having to stop and offload one 16gb card. The same thing goes for 2 x 16 vs 1 x 32.

Unless you're in a concert situation, then the 32 and 64gb cards are a real treat as you NEVER have to stop rolling.

Yes, if you are switching cards or you have two cards in the shot rolls over to the second card. When you import via FCP (not sure about Avid or Edius) the clips combine for a seamless clip once more.

Make sure to order two to three duel adapters. Unless they've improved their manufacturing quality, those things will give out from a "bent" cord way too early. Otherwise, they're pretty reliable as long as you're careful with them.
 
Yea.. im currently in the same boat... however buying 2 16 gig cards works out $300 USD more than buying 1 32... due to the parts etc..

however.. that still isnt going to stop me buying 2 16s, just so much easier to work with.
 
just one more way to reinforce what the other folks said. one 32 gig card at the highest bit rate (1080i) = about 32 minutes continuous shooting. two 16 gig cards at the same bit rate and offloading as you go = continuous shooting (until you fill your hard drive ;) )
 
crlong said:
Also is the DuelAdaptor still my best option for a card reader if I don't want to pay $2000+ for the panasonic 5-card reader?
Click to expand...
The best offloading solution is a Windows laptop with a PCMCIA slot. Think of it like a giant super ultra P2 Store with interchangeable external hard drives. Pick one up on sale for $399, you can't go wrong.
 
Barry_Green said:
The best offloading solution is a Windows laptop with a PCMCIA slot. Think of it like a giant super ultra P2 Store with interchangeable external hard drives. Pick one up on sale for $399, you can't go wrong.
Click to expand...

Add to that to make sure that it has a Firewire connection or at least an extra PCMCIA slot for a firewire card.

I still use a Dell Laptop to offload although it could be a little quicker, I have no problem with it.
 
having TWO of any size card (even and 8 gig) will be WAY more flexible on set than a single card of ANY size - aside from maybe a 64. and id even debate that.
 
though not really apples to apples - id debate that windows laptop thing. i have an old 1.0 ghz mac 17" powerbook (with an external fw800 drive) that is even good enough for editing dvcproHD in the field via newest version of final cut pro. you can find them on ebay for about $800

- seems im just in a debating mood this evening... ; )
 
Kholi said:
P2 Workflow's a tricky son-of-a-snake! But remember, two heads are generally greater than one.

I would prefer two 8gig Cards to keep a constant rolling situation on hand as opposed to having to stop and offload one 16gb card. The same thing goes for 2 x 16 vs 1 x 32.

Unless you're in a concert situation, then the 32 and 64gb cards are a real treat as you NEVER have to stop rolling.

Yes, if you are switching cards or you have two cards in the shot rolls over to the second card. When you import via FCP (not sure about Avid or Edius) the clips combine for a seamless clip once more.

Make sure to order two to three duel adapters. Unless they've improved their manufacturing quality, those things will give out from a "bent" cord way too early. Otherwise, they're pretty reliable as long as you're careful with them.
Click to expand...

Uh oh, now you tell me this? Yikes... I only have one and we're going on a mission critical road trip for a series of corporate projects. I was already nervous about this situation because I realized my DP (who owns an HVX) doesn't have a Duel Adapter yet, which I was hoping to borrow his as backup, and we only have one. Everything else is redundant for us, two HVX200s, 6 batteries, two MacBook Pros even to capture just in case, but only one Duel Adapter. The weakest link.

Any ideas where I could get an extra in Los Angeles or online shipped to me by next Wednesday??
 
wgzn said:
though not really apples to apples - id debate that windows laptop thing. i have an old 1.0 ghz mac 17" powerbook (with an external fw800 drive) that is even good enough for editing dvcproHD in the field via newest version of final cut pro. you can find them on ebay for about $800
Click to expand...

Really? Wow, lol. I guess I'm spoiled, I thought our two laptops are just not good enough for editing, too slow for my tastes, and they're almost new, 2.4 Ghz Dual Core and 2.6 Ghz Dual Core, both 4 gigs of RAM. Just way too slow in my opinion. That's why I got this 3.2 Ghz 8-core Mac Pro, just got tired of all the waiting and software crashes associated with it not being able to handle the footage well enough. I can't imagine anything slower than those laptops even, lol.
 
Not sure where you can get another Duel ADapter in time. MAybe have it shipped overnight? I know a few people that've lost one to a bent cable. Not good.
 
Kholi said:
Not sure where you can get another Duel ADapter in time. MAybe have it shipped overnight? I know a few people that've lost one to a bent cable. Not good.
Click to expand...


That's rediculous...cables were made to bend. It's like saying I had to bend my firewire cable to hook up my hard drive and it broke.. These guys need to fix that and quick, or come up with an adapter that doesn't have a cable (seems pointless.) I tried it once and couldn't get it to work...Well it worked for the first day and the next it was broken. Now that I think about it when I transported it I put it in a bag with the cable bent like a "U". I ordered another one cause I just can't not see my macbook pro put to work. Hope it works out better this time around.
 
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Many of our clients have ordered two or more 16GB cards rather than one 32GB card. That is why we usually keep more of the 16GB cards than the 32GB's.

Best regards,

Andrew Hoffman
 
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