Has anyone tried connecting the Firestore FS 4 or 4 Pro to a Sony Z1 to see if it works? If the hard drive captures HDV???

I've seen it advertised at least in one web site claiming that Firestore now supports HDV and can capture HDV from the Z1 to a Firestore hard drive.

If so that's great news! It means no logging from tape to computer with the 2-3 second lag time I've seen in Final Cut Pro when logging and capturing HDV .

Wouldn't that also make the Sony Z1 as good as Panasonic's soon to come HVX 200 which can only record HD on 4 minute P2 cards that cost $1,700 each? Firestore FS 4 costs $1,449 from B&H photo video in New York and already comes in 40Gig and 80Gig sizes.

Awaiting feedback. Thanks in advance,

- Nicholas

I saw it advertized on this web page from Videoguys:

"http://www.videoguys.com/blog/index.php?p=255"

The standard FS-4 and FS-4 Pro do not work with HDV, you have to get the $299 HDV upgrade in order to make it compatible. You can't just use any FS-4, it has to be upgraded.

Looks like Focus was giving away the HDV upgrade until the end of last month, now it's $300.

And no, adding a FireStore doesn't make a Z1 anything like an HVX200. Remember you could use a FireStore on the HVX200 as well. There will still be many significant differences between the two cameras.