How do you mount the Firestore FSC on the Canon A1?
 

I'm looking into the FSC drive... How do you mount your FSC to your A1? Use a Beebob box, or something else? Does this drive give you an indicator in the viewfinder/viewscreen that it is recording?

What's the best file format to record to the FSC if you're shooting 30f and editing in Final Cut Pro?

Recently received an FS-C
 

Bill,

I just received the FS-C Friday and I'm not certain there is a way. If you find out, please advise. The FS-C actually comes with documentation on how to mount it to an XL-H1. My plan is to get a small articulating arm from Zacuto for 15 mm rods. Other than that, I'm not certain.

To your question regarding the viewfinder/viewscreen, I haven't seen any indicators. The actual LCD on the FS-C blinks. I typically verify with the counter. With the "DV Out" functionality enabled within the camera, I didn't find any issue. And for what it's worth, it recognized 1080i 24f without a hitch.

Just FYI from a fellow A1 owner who thought a LONG while over getting the FS-C.

If the firewire cable becomes disconnected from the Firestore, is there some sort of indication or *anything* to let you know it has happened? I can't fathom having to constantly look at the FS's LCD readout all the time just to make sure its recording.

I'll look into it.
 

Bill,

I'm not sure. When I get a chance to play with it a bit more today, I'll be sure to let you know. I try and peek at the counter at the start of every record session. I agree that having to check is not close to ideal. I recall seeing a function called "repair drive" in the instructions in the event of losing sync, but I haven't tested it yet. I'll let you know what I find out today.

Thanks,

--Brandon

As far as mounting it, I saw someone that was using a Sony HD camera that had it mounted to the hot shoe on top of the camera. There is a hot shoe attachment, but I can't seem to find it anywhere.

Here's a picture of it mounted on the Sony camera via the hot shoe:
http://www.videoguys.com/prodimages/fs4hdfieldkit.jpg

THe image is from the Videoguys website, but they don't seem to sell the kit by itself that I can find.

use this from b & H
 

I found this at b and h and looks the same as in my picture for the FS-C just different angle.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Ball_Head.html

I have the FS-C and the A1 and there is no easy way to mount one to the other, though the micro-ball mount with flash shoe connector looks intersting.

The FS-C does show that it's recording... there are various icons which display its status. However, and this is something I've written to FE about, it would be really nice if the FS-C displayed an error message if the video output from the camera was not what the FS-C was expecting as its input. As it stands now, if the camera is set up for HDV and the FS-C is set up to record SD, it'll show it's recording, but NOTHING will be saved to the FS-C's drive. I've switched the FS-C to SD to record time-lapse footage and forgotten to switch it back to HDV... only to find I've not recorded anything!


I don't use FCP, but the FS-C will record to disk in QuickTime mode, so I'm assuming that would probably be best for you (I don't think FCP can use M2T files, right?).

about the mount
 

I mean actually when I bought mine I thought it came with the hot shoe mount as it shows in the picture and it only came with the belt clip and the case. I purchased the item in my last post so it can mount to the hot shoe.

FS-C and A-1
 

In a pinch I use the belt clip to clip the FS-C to the camcorder grip strap and it works. With the recording indicator on the LCD, this works pretty well. It's about the only thing that strap is good for.

O.C.

Fig Rig
 

Bill
I use a fig rig most of the time, and the FS-C mounts right on it very easily. I drop the whole thing on a tripod for static shots, and if I need something really smooth like a shot on the Steadicam Merlin, i bite the bullet and just use tape.

Fig rig is here.

http://services.manfrotto.com/figrig/

Hi Bill,

I'm actually going to be purchasing my FSC at NAB. I've done quite a bit of research as to mounting them. I think I'm going with the Bebob system for now:

http://www.bebob.de/international/box-firestore_e.html

I'm not totally sure how I want to set it all up once I get my rail system and matte box kit in the near future, but I'm considering this and having it mount off the back upright on the rails:

http://geardear.com/Cage.html

I've also seen people using a Noga arm off of a rail system and it looks like it would work as well:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Accessory.html

I'm hoping to be able to use the Bebob below my rail mounting system and still be able to use a shoulder brace once I have it all in place. It would all work in theory, but I want to test the comfort/performance factor...

Doh!!
 

Hmmm... I bought it too... (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Ball_Head.html) only to find that it can't attach to the FS-C!! I should have checked first! There's no 3/8" thread on the FS-! Oh well, now I have a hotshoe/ball mount, I guess I now have an excuse to buy a monitor to put on it! :-)

i bought mine from b and h
 

I bought mine from B & H and as the other guye mentioned it came with the belt clip and case. That case has the screw on the back of it that the ball mount goes into and on the hot shoe. Works great. I quted the post orig. that the FS-C came with the case and belt clip but no mount. I attached 2 pictures of the mounted FS-C

Disregard my last message!
 

Ah, yes, the plastic carrying bracket! I'd totally forgotten it came with that! I initially removed the belt clip and found the tiny mounting hole it left... no way to lock the mini-ball mount to that! :-) Thanks for reminding me about the included bracket. Now everything mounts as it should.

I just made a mount that sits on the A1 handle. It is just a piece of 1" aluminum bent into roughly an A shape. Velcro straps hold it on the A1's handle. The thumb screw that came with the mount sits through a hole in the aluminum bar. That holds the FS-C. Real simple and works well.

I want to get the firestore, however I don't want the mount to be big and bulky and distracting since I shoot weddings and want to keep the rig as tight as possible, any way to get the firestore to mount flush against the camera laying on the top of the camera and not sicking straight up?

I know what you mean about bulky and being less obtrusive.

If I am putting the FS-C on a tripod, the top mount is OK. Infact seeing the data on the screen is important....... so that's a good place for the device.

For handheld work the FS-C also comes with a belt clip so you can hang it off your belt rather than mount it on the camera. Just plug the firewire cable from the FS-C into the video camera. You're usually too busy framing and shooting to need to look at the FS-C's screen anyway.

I also use the FS-C for capturing from tape. Then menu's are straightforword and capturing from tape then transfering to your hard drive is a simple operation. So if I am using the Merlin and my DVC 30 I just capture the footage to my FS-C and then transfer the files to my computer.

I like your style, Guy. Nicely done. Not pretty, but super functional.

I havent tried to mount a firestore on the A1 - but on my Gl2 I mounted it right on the handle. I put industrial strength velcro on my handle (I did have to velcro the flap for the controls on the handle shut - but no biggie) - I then placed velcro on the sides of the fs4 not covering the vents and also on all my batteries. The fs4 just sat on the handle using the velcro as the main grip and then a velcro strapped wrapped around sticking to the velcro under the handle and also the velcro on the sides of the fs4 - pull it tight and it didnt move...it looks clean, low profile and easy to swap batteries out.

I have no tried it on the A1 and I know the A1's handle is different, but I did sit my fs4 on my A1 out of curiosity awhile back and it looked like it would probably work...

I actually have a better way to mount it more flush
 

I actually have a better way to mount it more flush, from the last time I posted. I purchased this shoe mount from b & h and it mounts much more flush than I had it previous. It also balances it better. Testrite | Shoe Adapter | FSA-8 | B&H Photo Video

I have attached photos as well of how it looks mounted.

Does anyone know a supplier in the UK for this type of mount?

Is there an issue with shorting out the flash connections in the shoe with this mount?

TIA
Ian
Festival Video and Audio Previews - Festival Previews Ltd

That looks great! Too bad I am giving up the FS-4s in anticipation for the new sony drives that are coming out - but that mount could come in handy for that!

Your local high-street camera store should have something like that, or try Keene Electronics near Derby.

I used something very similar with my mic shock-mount for a few years and never had any problems with the hot-shoe.

thanks for the link. They do have one: HAMA SCREW IN SHOE MOUNT ADAPTOR

Thanks

Ian
Festival Video and Audio Previews - Festival Previews Ltd