Advice please about external drives to which to capture HD (from dSLR) or HDV and then to edit directly from (mostly single-stream cutting). I've always assumed eSATA is a better option than USB, even USB3, but here in Kabul the mains power supply goes down at least every other day, plus it would be useful to take the drive-plus-laptop into the field.

It doesn't seem that an external eSATA can recieve bus power from the laptop. Is this correct?

Would USB3 be adequate for up to long-form editing with (mostly) single stream footage, file-based or HDV, plus audio?

Is it possible to have an eSATA data connection with a USB power connection to the laptop? Or is that crazy?

Any thoughts / experience gratefully recieved.

USB3 should be sufficient. Some pocket drives that have eSATA and USB ports come with a USB to power connector adapter for people who want to use the eSATA port. You plus the USB side into the computer and the power connector into the drive.

Many thanks for the advice.