A couple of my stage event video jobs each year require DVD production at the venue. So, a quick work flow is important but not at the expense of quality. I'm buying all new gear for 2016 and I can't figure out the last piece of the puzzle.

I'm looking for a fairly portable recorder that has the capability of recording standard definition when needed. I'll be coming out of a Panasonic HS50 switcher with SD/SDI.

I found the Ninja 2 for $295 US but I'd need a SDI to HDMI converter. Would this work?

Blackmagic Design Video Assist HDMI/6G-SDI looks even better in that it can record to inexpensive SDHC cards. BlackMagic lists 525/59.94i NTSC as one of the recording formats but a salesman told me he thinks BM listed that spec in error. He contends BM Video Assist will not record in standard definition.

Does anyone know if the BM video assist really can record in a standard definition format?

Does anyone have a better idea for a recorder: SDI in - Standard Def recording capability - not too crazy expensive.

Or maybe a DataVideo HDR-70 HDD recorder. It says it records "SD Long GOP 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 i-frame: 8-bit 4:2:2

Datavideo HDR-70 HDD Recorder for SD/HD-SDI with Removable HDR70