Hi there

I'm still unsure of the functionality of the FS-100 and the HVX. Reading the various forums I've heard a lot of people are having problems with the Firestore and I'm still unsure if this unit will delivery what it says it can.

Is anyone out there with the FS-100 with the latest firmware using it with success with the HVX?
In 24p?
Variable frame rates?
25p?
50p?

It would be great to hear some positive news about this product.

Is anyone using P2 Log ( http://www.imagineproducts.com/P2log.htm ) successfully with the firestore?

Its seems the using P2 Log is the only why to get 25p & 50p footage into FCP.


Many thanks
Rory

Hi Rory,

Maybe this might help you:

http://www.dv.com/reviews/reviews_item.jhtml?articleId=192203376

I have an FS-100 and love it! It came to me after the 2.0 update had been released. I used it without the update and did have a corrupted clip in FCP only. It played in the P2 Viewer on my PC. The FS-100 has a Repair Clip and Repair Disk feature that very likely would have fixed the issue. My conclusion is operateor error for that corruption. After the update it handled smoother and operation in was more stable. There is another update out this week. I have the extra 180 minute battery, which I strongly recommend. I am sure I will eventually need the additional charger, which I will purchase using my 20% discount (up to $100) for registering my FS-100.

Results from my testing:

Total record time is 110 minutes!

12fps VFR recording capable

48fps and 60fps capable (I recorded to the FS-100 with the camera set to those frame rates. When played back through camera motion was normal speed. After ingesting into FCP and using Panasonic Frame Rate converter plug-in for FCP, those clips were slomo. I did not winess the footage after the conversion, but I trust the editor. I need to test it with normal frame rate setting on the HVX to confirm that the FS-100 is allowing slomo recording capability. If that proves true the added benefit is that the FS-100 records the frame rate at normal disk storage space. Unlike the P2 cards, which double the space needed and cut record time in half. Now I realize this may mean the FS-100 is not recording true slomo frame rate, but if the motion is smooth and it looks like 48 and 60 then I am satisfied!)

The FS-100 only accepts Free-Run time code in external input mode

You will lose you total record time on the FS-100 when it is taken out of Record-Pause. (The clock resets, however the total minutes remaining on the disk is always displayed but can not be used as an specific amount of recorded time i.e. 24 minutes instead of 23:38:12

Be sure to use Ferrite Choke Cores on all AC and Firewire cables attached to the FS-100. I utilize a PCMIA to Firewire adapter for offload onto an external drive to use seperate buses.

Hope that helps and good luck!

David