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Activity Forums Panasonic Cameras Transferring device

  • Transferring device

    Posted by Neilgowan on December 11, 2006 at 1:44 pm

    I’ve been looking around at the options for a “transferring device” for the P2 HD format…I’m shooting a low-budget, full-length feature…so, any suggestions on a VERY CHEAP, but effective enough device/method so that on the set, we can tranfer the footage efficiently? I know that the G4 laptops have a PCMCIA slot built in….if I can get my hands on a G4, how efficient would it be to download through that slot, onto an external harddrive connected to that laptop?
    If I got my hands on a G5 laptop, what kind of external slot should I look for to transfer the data efficiently?

    Any thoughts?

    Thanks in advance.

    Uli Plank replied 19 years, 5 months ago 6 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • Shane Ross

    December 11, 2006 at 3:24 pm

    It is VERY effective. But a cheaper option is a PC laptop with a PCMCIA slot. Works just as well.

    https://lfhd.blogspot.com/2006/09/panasonic-p2-workflow-part-1.html

    https://lfhd.blogspot.com/2006/09/panasonic-p2-workflow-part-2.html

    Shane

    FCP Preferences set to UNCONTROLLED ADVICE
    Littlefrog Post
    http://www.lfhd.net

  • Noah Kadner

    December 11, 2006 at 7:36 pm

    No such thing as a G5 laptop. You want a G4 Powerbook with the PCMCIA slot- get at least 1Ghz processor. Should set you back $1,000+. Along with FCP 5.1.2. it makes the ideal on set ingest and playback workstation.

    -Noah

    Noah’s DVX100/FCP DVD:
    http://www.callboxlive.com

  • Barry Green

    December 12, 2006 at 6:38 am

    Skip the G4, get a PC laptop. Cheaper and more reliable with card transfers.

    —————–
    Get the most from your DVX camera. The DVX Book and DVX DVD are now available on ebay and at Amazon (https://www.fiftv.com/db)

  • Izoneguy

    December 12, 2006 at 8:41 pm

    If you are going to edit with FCP I would suggest,
    A used Powerbook with the PCMCIA slot.
    Get P2 log and install FCP 5.1.2….
    As suggested you could use a cheap PC….
    But if you have any desire to do even the roughest editing
    then the MAC set-up is the way to go….
    With either system you will still want to
    transfer the cards to an external harddrive.
    If you go the PC route you can only view
    footage with the Panasonic P2 viewer….
    It is OK for logging but the window
    is so small it is hard to view.
    With the MAC and P2 log you can view footage
    full-screen right from the P2 cards…
    Do a check and transfer the P2 card and
    off you go……
    If you have an editor doing the transfers they
    could do some rough edits while you shoot the next
    scene….
    I have done this for spots and left the shoot
    at the end of the day with almost a finished edit!!
    You could also do that on PC but then you are limited
    to Edius or Avid Xpress.

  • Neilgowan

    December 12, 2006 at 9:41 pm

    Thank you all for your advice…..I’ll see if I can get my hands on a Powerbook.

  • Uli Plank

    December 13, 2006 at 7:10 am

    Don’t!

    I’m a die-hard Mac user, switched years ago to FCP for editing and never regretted it.

    BUT a PC laptop is more reliable and faster in PCMCIA transfer. Until Apple has solved the issue with PCMCIA transfer I would go for a PC.

    There’s one more advantage: You can use HDV-Rack on it for quality monitoring on set, which doesn’t run on a PowerBook (check the reviews here at the Cow).

    You can always use PC drive to copy your cards content directly to a Mac formatted disk and use it right away on a Mac.

    We bought an Acer Aspire 5652, which has a bright screen to display 1280×720 pixel by pixel

  • Uli Plank

    December 13, 2006 at 7:24 am

    Sorry, the product to use Mac drives on a PC is called Mac drive (of course) and is from Media Four.

    Regards,

    Uli

    Author of “DVDs gestalten und produzieren”, a book on professional DVD-authoring in German.

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