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EX1 v using tapes on Z7U – which is more practical…
Hi there,
I’m shooting a corporate project in a fairly remote location. It will be for 2 days, and I’m estimating we’ll shoot maybe 6 hours of footage. I would potentially have time to load the material onto a laptop at the end of each day (or maybe once at lunch, depending how far from the camp we are). However, I don’t have a MBP and would probably have to find somewhere to rent one.
I’m trying to decide whether to rent a EX1 or Z7U (using tapes). The tapes would obviously give me the longest recording time. However, I would prefer the better image produced by the EX1, and it would be nice to avoid the hassle of capturing from tapes (I have never used the EX1 before).
Given the type of project, what route do you think would be the most practical? I’m doing this project at very short notice – flying up on Monday, and needing to rent today or tomorrow – so any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks.
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14 Replies
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[Shane O’Brien] “The tapes would obviously give me the longest recording time.”
No. 32GB card is nearly two hours. You can have two in the camera giving you nearly four straight hours.
With four 32GB cards that 8 hours can cover you for the shoot.BTW if you’re renting I’ve found renting SxS is very inexpensive (IMHO). You could buy 32GB Transcend and Mx/Hoodman adaptor but I’d want to test the cards before going on a shoot. Since you’re renting anyway, renting 32GB SxS is probably a good way to go.
I think the above makes much more sense than tape. You’re not going to get a surprise head clog or dropout. If you run out of tape uh oh. Run out of SxS you can dump the card in laptop. I recommend making a back up to optical disk as well. A good laptop can handle DVD-DL but with only 8 GB per disk it’ll mean some swapping. Now if only more laptop had Blu-ray disks built in.
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For me it starts with three little letters: HDV. Bleah.
After that, it’s the tape dropouts. I will never go back to tape, especially those silly little DV/HDV cassettes. Nothing but nightmares. When the tape manufacturers changed their DV tape formulation for HDV (tighter particles but also different dry lubricants) we found our DV/DVCAM stuff clogging up constantly.
Cf
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That’s great. My other concern is what to how to load the footage onto a laptop / MP once I’ve shot it.
First, for the sake of bringing along a laptop, what would I need in order to be able to transfer the material onto a hard drive for backup (or if more recording is required). I’m wondering whether I could get away with using a Windows laptop from my office here and just buying a firewire/USB drive. I would just need an express card slot and the drive – is that right?
My G5 died about 6 months ago, and my old MB died about 2 months ago – so this project has prompted me to at least replace G5 with a new MP (and to upgrade FCP). However, as I’m leaving in a few days, I doubt I will have the machine by the time I get back. So I guess then my concern is what to do with the rented SxS cards once I get back. If I brought along a drive, could the VAR/post house transfer the footage to the drive?
Sorry, I know these are probably rather basic questions.
Thanks.
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Laptop with Express port is best if using SxS cards. Do test if possible because there has been reports of flaky ports. You’d need to download the Sony driver as well.
SxS is PCIe based so 3rd party Express card readers don’t work. You’d need Sony’s SxS reader to USB if your laptop doesn’t have the port built in.
One reason why some like SDHC cards (besides the price) is that a standard SDHC to USB reader works you can get in any electronics or office supply store and even drug stores.
You’d really want a known reliable portable hard drive. These for example
https://www.g-technology.com/ -
I think I’m going to rule out having a laptop with me – I won’t be able to get a SxS reader to USB prior to leaving and won’t have much time to test. Any thoughts on my other question about what options I might have when I get back in terms of loading the footage onto a hard drive (before getting the new MP)?
Thanks! -
I have just downloaded the BPAV files from two S X S cards directly from my EX1 into my MacBook Pro using the lead supplied with the camera. I then dragged and dropped the BPAV files onto an external drive as back up. I often do this on location too. Be aware that you must not interfere with these files in any way, keep the whole BPAV and in your label for any folders include the letters BPAV in your title.
Michael Slowe
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Do you know what kind of lead that was? Looks like I can rent an older Macbook Pro… just want to make sure it has the required connections.
Cheers! -
You can hook camera to copy data from USB port to USB port on laptop. It’s kinda awkward to use the camera that way but it works.
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Yes, it is USB but the camera end has to be the small connection, not the usual big one. Don’t know how easy they are to come by, mine was with the camera on purchase.
Michael Slowe
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Yeah, I’d agree – if your renting, not owning, certainly EX1 for tapeless workflow. I rented a Z1 outta Jakarta once when all my other cameras were i the field and I got royally screwed – the only way to play back the footage properly was through that particular camera. How ferked up is that? Anyway, tapeless for sure. I’ve got an EX3 and it rocks.
Joe Yaggi
Creative Supervisor, Director, DP
Jungle Run Productions
http://www.jungle-run.com
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