After selling my trusty FS-4HD on Ebay I ordered a new FS-H200 from the VideoGuys. I originally wanted a new JVC HM-700 that uses the SDHC memory cards but my budget could not afford selling my HD100U camera for the newer one. No more tape jams or spinning hard drives for me. I have had great success with my FS-4HD and am looking forward to the new unit.

Hey Mark would you please post back when you have the H200 please. Tel us what you think about it i mean eveything that you know expect and unexpect please. I'm looking to get one too. I'm currently have the sony MRC1 and the DR-HD110 for JVC wich co-brand wit JVC. I'm very fustrated with the Sony for the fact that it keep go into computer mode and it pissed me off. thank you Mark

I will post my feedback. Since JVC and Focus Enhancements have worked so well togther with my FS-4HD I expect the FS-H200 will work as well or better for me. I also will be testing it on the Canon XHA1 as well.

Very interested in seeing how this works too. I have a similar setup. JVC HD100au and the DR HD100 Firestore.

A year and a half ago I had the opportunity to purchase a FS-4HD at a good price and since then I have become a big fan of the DTE technology. Now it was time for me to upgrade and I wanted a new JVC HM-700 but could not afford the price. My wish was soon answered when Focus Enhancements announced the new FS-H200 Portable Compact Flash DTE Recorder.

My FS-H200 has finally arrived, this was to replace FS-4HD on my JVC GY-HD 100 (I sold the FS4-HD on Ebay for $450). After researching the various prices I made my purchase from the VIDEOGUYS.COM website (with the DVinfo members discount and the combo package that included a Sandisk 32gb flash card they have the best price): Videoguys.com - Focus FS-H200 with Sandisk 32GB Extreme III CompactFlash (http://www.videoguys.com/Bundle/Focus+FS-H200+with+Sandisk+32GB+Extreme+III+CompactFlash/256.aspx)

Out of the box the unit worked (already familiar with the FS-4HD operation) after shooting footage in m2t HDV and following the easy instructions I hooked up a USB cable and downloaded the footage into my Mac using Streamclip to convert the files into a Quicktime format. The controls are easier than the FS-4HD and as soon as the unit powered up it was ready to work.

Next after shooting footage in native Quicktime I noticed the file was blank after downloading to the Mac. Calling the Focus Enhancements tech line they informed me that I needed to use the latest Final Cut Pro and upgrade my OP system to Leopard and that my Final Cut Pro Lite was not compatible.

My final solution was to stick with shooting in m2t and use Streamclip to convert to Quicktime.

Next I will be hooking the FS-H200 to my Canon XHA1.

Mark,

Thanks for taking the time to post. Please let me know how it goes with the XHA1 and which frame rates it supports.

Thanks again.

Thank you Mark for taking time post back the result. Can you please let me know how long does it take to power it up? You haven't got time to do a full battery run yet but just wondering if you notice any improvement on the battery Focus enhancements seem to bee really suck at battery i have DR-HD100 recorder and the battery not that good i have to plug into my idx and danm it can run 2 day with one idx.

Did you use cached recording on the unit yet does it give you trouble. I mean if you record a clip and then hit stop and hit record right away will the unit confuse or will it it do the job right away.

Question about Streamclip. How fast does the Streamclip convert the M2T to MOV. Have you ever use clipwrap does it any better between the two.

Hey Paul

From what i know. If you use the unit with the A1 you can only record MOV file under 60i only. If you do 30f or 24f you have to use M2T

Thank again Mark

I haven't tested the battery life, I plan on ordering an extra battery soon, I always have a backup.

The cached recording works well and I did not notice any problems.

Streamclip converts a 30 minutes m2t file to Quicktime in about 5 minutes on my Mac and you can select only a portion and pre edit the video before converting.

The unit records: m2t HDV (720p 24/25/30/50/60, 1080i 50/60/24F/25F/30F)
QuickTime HDV (720p 30, 1080i 50/60)

Hi Mark,
Thanks for the info. I saw the FS-H200 announcement and immediately went to the Focus Enhancement site where their camera compatibility chart only shows the DR-100 and the MR-11 for the GY-HD100. Are their any features you give up by using it for the HD-100 or 110. Does FE support the unit if you use it with these cameras?
Thanks,
Ed

Never mind. I read your other thread about its compatibility. Let's keep it in one thread if we can.
Ed

There is no viewfinder information when you use the FS-H200 and the JVC GY-HD 100/110 cameras (just the same as it was with the FS-4HD)

Hey Mark,
And new information on your FS-200? How's it working out for you, any gotchas
or helpful info?
Thanks,
Ed

Everything works as well on the FS-H200 as my older FS-4HD. So far flawless operatiion. Maybe this next weekend I will get a chance to test it on my Canon XHA1.

Can anyone post or do you know of a place that has clips up of m2t files from a firestore recorded from a JVC ProHD camera in 24p? I want to do a test import into Avid to check my workflow before I buy one of these...

Can anyone comment on .m2t files into Avid on a PC?

I just spoke with Focus Enhancements and the informed me that all of the units they sell that record in Quicktime HD will only work with Apples Finalcut Pro 6.0 due to a new codec in the program.

I just ordered my H200. B&H dropped the price yesterday to $899 and I bought three Sandisk 32GB cards, because with their promotional rebate of $200 for three identical cards, you'd be stupid not to.

I think it should be easy enough to get the footage into Avid. I'll figure it out.

I'd be surprised if QuickTime files didn't go into Avid, even though Focus says "only FCP." I've found a lot of stuff that they say "only Apple" is not always true. Apple and its partners, whether evident or not, put out a lot of misinformation... I'll check it out and report back.

I'll also report back about how m2t files work within Avid and any problems I have in importing the footage.

Hi,

This app seems to allow you to playback QuickTime HDV clips (amongst others) in QT player without Final Cut Pro loaded on your system.

Calibrated{Q} XD Decode (http://www.calibratedsoftware.com/QXD.asp)

Not sure if this helps your issue or not.

Matt McEwen
Focus Enhancements, Inc.

Hi,

The M2T files that are recorded by FS-H200 are the same as those recorded by other FS models. These files should import fine into Avid. One advantage you have on FS-H200 (over FS-4HD) is the ability to record using the UDF disk format which gets around the 2GB file size limitation.

Hope that helps,

Matt

Matt,

It doesn't directly answer issues that I have read about on other forums, but it seems most people are having good luck with the firestore. I like it that finally someone has come out with a flash card video recorder. I have been waiting for this for quite a while and kept wondering why no one made one. I am an American documentary filmmaker (living in Belgium) and just didn't like a lot of footage relying on a regular hard drive in the field. Now that B&H dropped the price and with Sandisk's rebates, I can get close to 100 GB with three 32 cards for about the same price as an FS-5 100, which I think is perfect.

My question to you is are you planning an update in the future with the same recording capabilities as the FS-5, mainly recording in MXF format?

This is a great upgrade and the only thing I think could make it PERFECT is MXF HDV 24p format, so that it could go directly into Avid. That is my only wish for a firmware upgrade. Although I see that the FS-5 doesn't have that either, so maybe you can let us in on the reasoning there.

Thanks for trying to address my questions. I should get it next week and I will shoot some test video. If I have any questions or concerns at that point, I guess I can address them to you.

Taylor

Hi Taylor,

Unfortunately, none of our recorders currently support MXF HDV 720p24 or 1080i24F. As you may know, FS-5 does record MXF, but only in 1080i-50/60 and 720p30 modes. But, I will certainly add this to our ever evolving new feature list.

Thanks,

Matt

Hi Matt,
Could you elaborate on the FS-H200 and the JVC HD-110? Does it work (except for the viewfinder info being displayed), does it not work with FCP7 (will it ever?)?
I'd love to go tape and spinning hard-drive free (as long as it's painless!)
Thanks,
Ed

Hi Ed,

FS-H200 will work with the JVC GYHD110 in all DV frame rates with a variety of DTE formats, all HD frame rates in M2T mode (essentially the raw transport stream off the camera) and QuickTime HDV 720p30 or 720p25 (market dependent) mode. The HDV QuickTime files will import into FCP.

If you require QuickTime HDV 720p24, 720p25, 720p30, 720p60 or 720p60 support, our current MR-HD100 and DR-HD100 models support these frame rates (note that 50Hz and 60Hz models are market dependent).

Hope that helps,

Matt

Thanks again Matt,
A little more clarification please.
You say that the FS-H200 will deliver QT 720P30 files right into FCP, but then say if I need
QT 720P30, that the MR-HD100 and DR-HD100 support those frame rates. Does the FS-H200 support QT 720P30, and does FCP7 accept them? Someone previously said the latest version of FCP wouldn't accept QT 720P30. I have FCS3 (with FCP7), and I shoot 720P30. I would like to work directly with QT files in FCP, without having to wrap M2T files in QT first.
Thanks,
Ed

Hi Ed,

FS-H200 will work with the JVC GYHD110 in all DV frame rates with a variety of DTE formats, all HD frame rates in M2T mode (essentially the raw transport stream off the camera) and QuickTime HDV 720p30 or 720p25 (market dependent) mode. The HDV QuickTime files will import into FCP.

If you require QuickTime HDV 720p24, 720p25, 720p30, 720p60 or 720p60 support, our current MR-HD100 and DR-HD100 models support these frame rates (note that 50Hz and 60Hz models are market dependent).

Hope that helps,

Matt

Hi,

Yes, sorry for the confusion. FS-H200, MR-HD100 and DR-HD100 all support 720p30 QT specifically (FS-H200 just does not support other 720p QT frame rates). I am not aware of any issues between our HDV QT files and FCP7. If someone is seeing problems, we would like to know more details.

Thanks,
Matt

That's good news.
I just checked about the FCP thing, and I may have misspoken. Mark said this earlier in this thread:

"I just spoke with Focus Enhancements and the informed me that all of the units they sell that record in Quicktime HD will only work with Apples Finalcut Pro 6.0 due to a new codec in the program."

I interpreted that to mean that it would work with FCP6, but *not* with FCP7. I now think Mark probably meant you need at least v6 for it to work.
Ed

Matt,
I shoot SD using a Sony DSR-570 in PAL. It has a six pin firewire out. My question is...

Would this work with my setup?

Ben

Hi Ed,

QuickTime HDV DTE recordings should work with any version of Final Cut that supports native HDV editing in the frame rate you shot the content in (e.g. 720p30). I cannot remember what version of FCP it was that most of the HDV formats were added, but it was prior to v6.

We get many questions from customers asking why QT HDV recordings will not playback in QT Player when FCP is not loaded on the system. The answer is that the particular HDV codec is loaded on the system when you load FCP and I suspect that is what support is referring to.

Hope that helps.

Matt

Hi Ben,

All our current DTE recorders will record in DV25 mode in a variety of file wrappers including those for Avid, FCP, Adobe, Canopus/GV, Matrox, etc. Just make sure you get a PAL/50Hz version for use in Oz.

Matt

Based on Matt's information, I've pretty much decided to get the FS-H200, but I'd like to hear from Taylor and Mark about your experiences so far. Any tidbits you can post? How's it working out for you both?
Ed

I love mine... I just ordered a spare battery (to go with the extra memory card) I haven't had time to use it with my Canon yet.

I have been meaning to write up my review.

The H200 seems to be great. I just put it on quicktime or m2t and it automatically reads the timecode and adjusts perfectly. The interface is simple to use and straightforward, but I'm sure you will find it easy if you have ever used any other firestore recorders. (I hadn't, but it looks like the same as the others...)

Importing into Avid Media Composer 3.1 was my main issue, but it works beautifully. It fast imports in the original format, just re-wrapping it as an MFX file. My test QuickTime file took FOREVER to import, but then all I got was a white screen. No problem for me, but I was just testing how it worked with Avid.

I will never capture again from tape using Avid. Avid works really sloppy with the JVC ProHD GY-1xx and 2xx series cameras, but the firestore even read a hard to capture tape and recorded it perfectly. I was so elated - I wish I had bought this thing before I ingested about 15 tapes the month before!

I bought a cable to take advantage of the Anton Bauer power tap, but to my disappointment, my power tap is not working... Never used it, but it's dead... Called JVC in Belgium and their tech is out for the month. So convenient... So Belgium...

I also bought a Anton Bauer side mount because I find the included handle mount makes the handle impossible to use. Other people may have more luck with it, but in my shooting my docs, I do a lot of ENG run-and-gun stuff and I have to have the handle to hold the camera. The handle clamp screws off so you can just use the cradle if you want to mount it somewhere else like me. that part works great, so no complaints (Except that Anton Bauer charges ridiculously high prices for their parts...)

I don't go out in the field for a long period until next week, so I suppose I am gong to use the firestore until the battery dies and then shoot tape. Fortunately I know I can ingest it easily if I have to do that. I turned down the brightness for the screen and the buttons, turned the backlight to automatically go off, so hopefully I won't have to use tape. I'll comment about the battery life at that point, but the short things I have done, the battery seems to be a winner.

If you are going to buy this any time soon, get your CF cards now, since Sandisk is running an insane rebate. Basically, if you buy three cards, you get one and a portion of another free. It's pretty good, and now I have over 7 1/2 hours of recording time on three cards. I bought the small Pelican case for the CF cards and it hold them wonderfully. It also has a lanyard attachment, so you can clip them to something or wear them, so you don't lose them.

I have to say I'm very happy with the H200 and if you shoot DV or HDV, I encourage you to buy one. It makes it so much easier - wish they had put it out there before.

One last thing - I usually pine and debate over buying expensive gear, but with this, I jumped on it. I have been waiting for someone to make an affordable flash recorder for over a year now. I wasn't disappointed. Now I'm just trying to rig some kind of case up...

Hope this helps.

That's good news, thanks for the review.
Ed

We've been getting great feedback from our customers with the FSH200. I think it really hits the sweet spot for what you guys have been looking for. While the CF cards are expensive today, I have no doubt in my mind we'll be buying 128, then 256 GB cards for under $100 in the not so distant future.

We've put together some nice bundles with the FSH200 and emeory cards and some of our editing packages Videoguys Focus DTE Bundles (http://www.videoguys.com/VideoguysSpecials/Specials.aspx?sb=28)

Gary

Power Tap is working now, it was just a blown fuse, and I am running power off of the Anton Bauer Gold Mount Power Tap using the same cable labeled for the FS-4. I took a gamble that it was the same and it is.

I might recommend getting a right angle firewire cable for this, as the one that comes with it sticks out considerably.

Anton Bauer | PT-FS4 Power Tap to Firestore - Power | PTFSR (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/409393-REG/Anton_Bauer_PTFSR_PT_FS4_Power_Tap_to.html)

anyone using this on a JVC GY-DV5000U and import into avid media composer 3.5
thanks

Update for everyone. If you using Canon XHA1s the remaining minute of the card will show up in your viewfinder. I think it will work with any camcorder that had 6pin Firewire. I have not tested with my JVC HD110 yet don't know if anyone did. the time remaining did not show up in my XHA1 because it have 4pin firewire. It sweet to know. Now it they can make a firmware that will show the battery information of the FS that would be awsome i don't think that will be hard to add will it???

There is no viewfinder information when you use the FS-H200 and the JVC GY-HD 100/110 cameras (just the same as it was with the FS-4HD)

When you say there is no viewfinder information does the red recording light come on??

regards
Ian Skurrie

Hey Mark,

How did the Canon XH A1 test go with FS-H200?

can anyone say whether the FS-H200 will record through a tape change on the XHA1 (not s), or would I need to record with no tape in order to have uninterrupted video on the FS-h200 (e.g. for long recordings past 1 tape).

any frames dropped in the tape change / how many?
is any audio / video sync lost?

thanks....

Hi,

Just wondered if anyone knows if you can use the FS-H200 without a tape in a JVC GY-HD111 and if the FS will create timecode? Is it possible to trigger via the camera's record buttons or do you have to use the unit rec button to record in this way?

I am using the cheaper (but very good) DSM batteries so would need to look at a mounting option that is either on top the camera (pref with a hot shoe on top so I can still mount my LCD monitor) or maybe a tripod mount. Anyone know what fittings are on the unit and where I might see a list of accessories?

Alex

I use it with an HD-110U, and yes, it records TC and you can use the camera's record button.
I set up the CF cards as UDF format (rather than Fat32). You have an option for how you want to control the recording. The 3 options are Normal (the FSH-200 buttons control the unit), External (for newer camera control), and Syncro (for older camera control). I found that I couldn't get camera recording control by using the External setting, but it works fine using Synchro.
Ed

Thanks Ed,

Mine arrived yesterday but still waiting for my media card to turn up - how frustrating is that.

I shall give it a test to see what works best. So just to get this straight do you use 'Syncro' mode for hard drive only recording using the cameras record button? Can you also use this mode for doing a dual record?

I use Synchro mode for recording to card *and* tape. The instructions say that External mode works for cameras that don't need a tape inserted and Synchro mode is for "older" cameras that need a tape inserted. It only works in Synchro mode with my camera (if I want camera recording control), but that's OK with me since I want a tape backup.
Ed

Anyone maybe "Matt",

Using a JVC HD200. Like Ed said the camera controls will only work in the Synchro mode.

I only see the counter moving in the TC but not the Absolute, Counter, Remaining , or UB. Is that normal?

The TC also seems to be behind a few frames from the TC on the camera. Is that normal?

And while I don't mind having the tape in the camera as a backup while I record, I'm guessing you have to stop recording to change the tape which means the FSH200 also has to stop recording. That's kind of counter productive to why I went to tapeless since it always seems that what I'm shooting always goes over that 60 minute mark. Or am I missing something? Can it continue to record while a tape is being changed?

Thanks,

Carlos