I've got a Focus FS-5 that I love - when it works. For the second time in two years of light use it has crapped out on me. The first time Focus didn't even want to cover it under warranty because I had a strip of velcro stuck to the back (they eventually did). This time they want $395 plus shipping to repair it.

So do I fix it and take my chances on better service in the future or trash it and get something more reliable. I'm just trying to get a general sense of others' reliability experience with the FS-5.

I have a FS DR-HD100 which is shoddy quality. The LCD is in really bad shape after 2 years of use, and there are odd bugs. When I am filming important things, I always run a tape as well.

My feeling is that it's not worth sending it in. I'll use it as long as I can read the LCD, then throw several thousand dollars worth out...

Poor quality.

I've had an FS-5 for a few years, they never did fix the bug that corrupts any files over 1h 21m even the two replacements had exactly the same problem so it was obviously built into it but they never acknowledged that. The whole point of buying it was to record conferences straight to QT!

Using small length files I've only had one corrupt file but as I don't trust it I always run a tape/disc at the same time.

I wouldn't fix it if it went wrong nor would I buy another Focus product.

Focus Enhancements (http://www.focusinfo.com/solutions/video_production.asp)

I quite fancy the Sound Devices PIX 240 which has had good reviews

PIX Video Recorders | Sound Devices, LLC (http://www.sounddevices.com/products/pix.htm)