(2) 16GB cards vs (1) 32GB card?

MisterCat

MisterCat

Well-known member
I'm about to make the jump from DVX100a to HPX170 and was wondering about workflow with P2 cards. With one card coming with the camera, any thoughts on buying two additional 16GB cards rather than one 32GB card? I know the price is not exactly double, but would having 3 cards to swap in and out vs only 2 be an advantage at any time?

The 32 seems like a no-brainer but not having experienced the workflow personally, I just wonder...

thx
 
I'd get the 32.

But unless you are recording conferences at 1080p I don't see the benefit of 3 cards at this time.
 
I prefer to have 2 16gb cards. Even though the chances of something going wrong with a P2 card are pretty slim, I prefer to not have all my footage on one large card, that would really make me nervous. My reasoning may be dumb, but it makes me feel better to have my footage split up.
 
DM_rider said:
I prefer to have 2 16gb cards. Even though the chances of something going wrong with a P2 card are pretty slim, I prefer to not have all my footage on one large card, that would really make me nervous. My reasoning may be dumb, but it makes me feel better to have my footage split up.
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But at the same time, now you have 2 cards that can go bad. :D
 
The advantage of having two cards over one is on a busy shooting day you can unload one card and still shoot on the second card. This will allow you continuous shooting. With only one card you will have to stop shooting and wait for the card to unload (of course taking time checking to make sure the backup is 100% there).

I recently finished a feature and we had 2 16gb cards and this workflow worked great for us (we ended up having 92 reels total).

Todd
 
DCP said:
The advantage of having two cards over one is on a busy shooting day you can unload one card and still shoot on the second card. This will allow you continuous shooting. With only one card you will have to stop shooting and wait for the card to unload (of course taking time checking to make sure the backup is 100% there).
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Agreed. I chose to go with two 16gb cards for exactly that reason.

Plus if you need to get some quick cash sometime, you can always sell a single card and still have one to shoot with.
 
Thanks for the responses. Just to be clear though, I'd have the card that comes with the camera, but then would purchase additional either 1 32GB card or 2 16GB cards. Sounds like everyone agrees that a total of 2 cards would do the trick, so maybe I'll end up with a 16 and 32.
 
Hey dude,

No one can answer your question correctly until you tell us what your situation is, movies or run & gun fast paste stuff, music video's etc???

It makes a huge difference.
 
Personally, I like having my footage in smaller chunks. It makes it easier for me for organization and when I try to dig up old clips. I've kept my 4 gigers and wish they'd bring those damn things back because they keep me organized and are so easy to back up to DVD. I'd be much happier paying $200 a pop for a few more 4 gig card instead of $800 for a 16 gig.
 
I do run and gun outdoor stuff and could never stop to download a 4 gig card. I shoot 1080 60i so thats 4 minutes for me...
 
having 2 of ANY size beats having 1 of the next gen up larger simply because you can shoot to one card while transferring the other
 
If you can hold out, I'd wait until the 64 is released.

At that point the price of the 32 should drop dramatically. From all accounts the 64 should be along "soonish" (on Panasonic time).

When I bought my HVX200, I got by with the 8 Gb it came with briefly because I knew the 16's were due for release that month. I backordered 2 x 16 so I got in on the first batch of those, knowing availability would be constrained. When they arrived I tested them for a few days then lickety-split sold the original 8 while it still had full value because the 16's were still impossible to get at that point unless you had backordered them.

I've been doing this sort of juggling with tech gear for a long time, and timing is everything. If (and it's the critical if) you can survive with just the 16 for a little while you will be rewarded with a much better deal on that 32 when the 64 is released. Hopefully close to the price you would have paid for the 16 if purchased now.

Ideally, if you have the budget for it, puchasing that shiny new 64 would give you great recording time with your 16 as backup, and you could get through many shoots without ever having to offload a card. That's what I'm hoping to do, pending the announcement of the 64 price... dreaming of 2 x 128 and leaving the laptop at home...
 
Steve Smull said:
If you can hold out, I'd wait until the 64 is released.

At that point the price of the 32 should drop dramatically. From all accounts the 64 should be along "soonish" (on Panasonic time).
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Yeah, that's the second question I was going to ask. Supposedly the new cards are out in November, correct? In the past has the timeline been on target? All of this has to go on this year's budget so I'm hoping the timing does work out to get the price drop. Maybe if it drops enough I can pull off two 32's and be really happy!
 
Even with the introduction of the new 64GB P2 cards (supposedly later this year), it remains to be seen whether there will be any significant price reduction in the other sizes, and if so, how long it will take before that reduction occurs. It most likely will not be right away.
 
I shot a boxing fightnight about a week ago and would have been screwed with only 1 32GB card, my trusty 16 and 8 did the job.
 
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