Looking to buy a DTE recorder and was looking for opinions on either the FS-5 or the JVC HD100. Price favors the FS-5 but didn't notice to much difference between both of them. Also it appears that neither one of them can record in 720/60. Is that right? Not to big of a deal as I don't use that setting often except when I film sports.

Also mounting options. Looking to buy one for my HD100 and HD 200.

Hate to change subjects but has anyone found a good "on camera" monitor (around 7") that is as clear as the camera's LCD display. Bought a $450 monitor a year ago and not even close.

Thanks in advance.

Carlos

Forgot to add I use FCP.

Carlos

Carlos

Do you mean the DR-HD100 (equivalent in design to Focus FS-4) or the MR-HD100 (equivalent in design to the Focus FS-5) ?

Either way the "ProHD" branded version will give you more compatibility with the JVC cameras, including EVF readouts of the DTE status and remaining record time. I think this is a must when you are shooting handheld.

Hi Tim,

I was originally comparing the MR-HD100 to the Focus FS-5. I forgot about the DR-HD100. For obvious reasons I respect your opinion so if Pro HD gets your vote then OK. But I'm looking to buy two of them and it looks like I could get into the DR's for $1200 less then if I buy two MR's. Is there a big enough difference to move up to the MR.

In regards to the monitor a few posts steered me to that Small HD DP1 monitor. Have you by chance seen it in action? Or do you have any suggestion on camera mounted monitors?

Thanks

Carlos

If you use FCP then I think the DRHD100 is better because you record in QT and can go straight to your timeline. If you have a PC, save yourself the money and get the generic version.

That's also a good point Brian. I'm not sure how far Focus supports pulldown removal within HDV Quicktime streams on the vanilla versions (FS-4 or FS-5)

However, if Carlos went with the cheaper Focus FS-4HD or FS5 and recorded in m2t then he could simply use the inexpensive ClipWrap (http://www.clipwrap.com/) to wrap the m2t into Quicktime MOV during the copy process from DTE to computer hard drive.

Just to add more options, the FSH-200 also works with those cameras, and records to QT. I'm editing a 2 camera shoot right now with clips from the FSH-200. No hard drive, it uses CF cards (I have 3 32 gig cards and can record all day). No moving parts and the clips load directly into FCP without log & capture. I still put a tape in the camera for backup.
Ed

Ed, on a side note, does the FSH-200 split the files the same way as the DR-HD100, with "d01.MOV","d02.MOV", etc ?

Thanks for your help. Tim

Not sure how the HD-100 does it (not sure if you mean that files are labeled sequentially,
or if you mean that a constant recorded stream is broken up into multiple clips).
On the shoot I just did, the cameras rolled for about an hour at a time. The .mov clips had long names like P130054801.mov, then P17395008.mov (meaning that the numbering wasn't sequential). I format the CF cards as UDF rather than Fat32, so I was getting something like 20 gig files (I'm not at that computer, so I'm remembering the best I can, and the file numbers are made up, but give you the idea of how they're named).
Ed

That makes sense if you are allowed to use UDF and not forced to use FAT-32 like on the DR-HD100. I was curious because I just wrote a piece of software that will string a bunch of split MOV files back together.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Ed, I think you've convinced me to go with the FSH200. I have an HD 100 and 200. Does the mount that comes with the FSH 200 mount to those cameras? Not sure which camera you have. Is there a better mount?

It appears it uses the Scan Disk Extreme III CF card. Do you use a regular card reader to copy them to your hard drive then drag them into your FCP browser?

Carlos

I have the 110U. The mount that comes with the unit is for the camera handle (which gets in the way of carrying the camera), but I have an IDX battery system, and its mounting plate includes a side bracket with holes drilled that I attached the unit to. The bracket also includes a powertap for the FS-H200, but the plug I have was in the way of the unit mounting, so I cut a little off the FS-H200 mounting plate and it works fine now. There's probably a different powertap plug that doesn't get in the way, but my solution works fine.
I have a CF card reader (USB), but I usually use the unit itself, which comes with a USB connector for off-loading to a computer.
Ed

Thanks Ed,

I'll try your suggestions on mounting.

I have my 200's now so just a couple of questions about setup.

For the record and DTE format do you recommend the HDV and Quicktime format. I edit on FCP.
And for the UDF FS Perm setup did you go with the read-only setting or the read-write setting. They seem to recommend the read-write for Mac, but then say it takes a long time to mount the drive in this setting.

Thanks,

Carlos

Yes, I use HDV and QT (MOV).
I set it to Read/Write. Mounting hasn't been an issue. I haven't timed it,
but I haven't ever felt it took too long to mount.

Hi Ed,

Having some problems. The FSH 200 doesn't seem to respond to the camera in External mode. I saw one of your other post and switched it to Syncro. When I press play on the camera the 200 seems to be recording but the TC doesn't seem to move. Also in External the display reads 720/30P TC (which is what the camera is set to) but when I switch it to Syncro the display goes to 1080/60i TC.

Am I missing something here?

Carlos

What do you have the FS-H200 TC set to? Operation/Timecode/EXT TC is the menu choice I'm using.
Ed

Hi Ed,

Here are the settings that I'm at:
Mode - Rec/Play
Control - Synchro
Rec Mode - Normal
Rec Format - HDV
DTE Format - Quicktime
Timecode - EXT TC

I'm using a JVC HD200 camera

At the Home screen my F2 button is set to DISP. If I cycle through the F2 button I get the following:
Absolute, Counter, Remaining, 1080/60i TC, 1080/60i UB

In the upper left I have a (red) record symbol, pause symbol, and REC

This shows up as well as the 1080/60i every time I set the control to Synchro. If the Control is set to Normal or External the (red) record is replaced with the white Stop and the TC goes back to 720/30p.

Very strange, any suggestions???

Did you have to update any firmware? I went on the website but I didn't see any updates available.

Carlos

I don't know why you're getting that. When I use either Normal or Synchro, the display options (F2) show Absolute, Counter, Remaining, 720/30P TC, and 720/30P UB.

Maybe post in the Focus Enhancements Forum, there's a lot more activity specific to these units over there.
Ed

HI Ed,

I think it's a bad firewire plug on the unit. I pulled out my second FSH 200 out of the box set it up and it seems to be working. If the unit is not connected to the camera and is in Synchro the TC reads 1080/60i. But if I connect it to the camera and reboot the unit it boots up in Synchro with the TC in 720/30p. But I can never get the first unit to do this. I've tried reformatting, system reset, and pulling the battery. Nothing seems to work. I'll send it back for an exchange.

One last question then I'll redirect to the FS forum. The unit that seems to be working... Only in the TC do I see the counter moving. Zero's in the Absolute, Counter, Remaining, and UB. Is that what you get? Also the TC counter seems a few frames off from what the camera TC reads. Do you get that as well?

Thanks,

Carlos