Firestore update does Thumbnails

Jarred Land

Jarred Land

President/Founder
Staff member
Focus is pleased to announce a major new release for FS-100. As
promised with delivery we are now able to add two significant new
features to the product.

FS-100 firmware version 2.0 is now available as a free download
from the Focus Enhancements website. The new version adds:

1. P2 thumbnail support and

2. DV/DVCPRO, DVCPRO 50 and DVCPRO HD autostream detect

P2 thumbnail support adds the ability to view a thumbnail of
each clip in the import or viewer window on supported NLE systems and
the P2 Viewer software. Unfortunately, thumbnails are not viewable on
the Panasonic AG-HVX200 as thumbnails over FireWire is not a supported
feature of the camera. However, if you would like to view clips back on
the HVX200, simply switch the camera to VTR mode, press the thumbnail
button on the top of the camcorder and then use FS-100's controls for
playback.

Autostream Detect will automatically switch FS-100 between
DV/DVCPRO, DVCPRO 50 and DVCPRO HD as these modes are switched on the
AG-HVX200.

Earlier patches that fixed the drop-out issue and missing clips
in Avid are included in this version. If you are updating your FS-100 to
fix the drop-out issue, please remember to do a System Reset for the
changes to take effect.

The new version as well as an updated User Guide can be
downloaded from: http://www.focusinfo.com/solutions/catalog.asp?id=150
<http://www.focusinfo.com/solutions/catalog.asp?id=150>
​

​
 
Good to see they are coming out with updates fairly regularly.

Still looking forward to 24pn though!

Btw, for anyone sitting on the fence with this product, it has worked flawlessly for us so far. Definitely pricey, but it does what we need it to.
 
Here is the full list of fixes so far:

version 2.0.0.04061606:
- Auto Stream Detect
- The thumbnails displayed correctly from P2 Viewer and FCP
- When in EXT TC mode, Non Drop is correctly detected
- Added the unlock (UNLK) front panel confirmation screen
- Support 999 clip limit properly
- Various disk performance improvements
- Enabled a timer to update TC/UB DISP screen every second
- Fixed the thumbnail's aspect ratio for HD clips

version 1.0.0.04061906:
- Fixed Avid Import Clip issue when powering down between recordings.

version 1.0.0.04052606:
- Oxford Semiconductor 1394 Bridge chips configuration updated upon System Reset.
 
I used one for a shoot a week ago and was VERY unimpressed with the usability. I "fixed" one at a rental house that they couldn't get to work because of the pathetically bad UI and setup.

Also, there is no simple obvious "lock buttons" mechnism - I ended up accidentally stopping it once when I leaned against the stage.

The "organize P2" proxy filesystem stuff is an absolute joke as well -

however:

it works.

--

But I sure as H*LL won't be paying $1700 for one. If it was $600 - sure. $1700? you've got to be kidding me. The thing feels chincey and it is.

_a
 
Our FS-100 has saved the day for us several times when the P2 workflow bogged down (full P2 store, buggy cards, long interviews etc) I know I wish the GUI was more intuitive, but it has performed beautifully when long, uniterrupted takes are necessary. We paid over 2K for it and another couple of hundred for an extended battery and never looked back. We will not go out on a shoot without it. Let necessity dictate the purchase. If you are using the HVX200 as a daily camera in a variety of workflow situations, we feel the Firestore is a must.
 
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