External power for hard drive - USB3 or eSATA
 

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.

Re: External power for hard drive - USB3 or eSATA
 

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.

Re: External power for hard drive - USB3 or eSATA
 

Many thanks for the advice.