Why SONY FX1 could be better than JVC GY-HD201E

[David Bruckner]

I am considering buying either the HD200 or a Sony EX1. I’ve had an HD200 for a couple of days to demo. The image is great and I prefer a shoulder mount camera so I’m leaning towards the HD200. However I’ve run into several major dropouts during playback. I’m guessing I’m using a different brand of tape than previous users. Can you depend on tape, or are most users using a Firestore and avoiding the dropout problem? How reliable are the newer Firestores? Thanks!

[David Timar]

Make sure you use JVC HD Pro tapes only. never put sony in a JVC camera. those dropouts can come from old firmware or dirty heads. get a cleaning tape and make sure you have the latest firmware. go to your jvc dealership and get them to update your camera to the latest firmware. be prepared that your camera might crash and would have to be sent for repair, but it should be fine after that. 🙂

firestores are great, but if there are problems generated by the camera, they WILL make it to the firestore files.
Also, make sure that you use something like Total Commander to copy split files from the firestore, onto your harddrive. the firestore splits long movies automatically, but it’s stupid enough so that the only way you get your movie back into a single file, is if you write to Focus and ask their support on how to combine 2 files….

Also, I STRONGLY suggest that get to know MPEG Streamclip and MPEG2Repair. Google them and get them!

Streamclip will allow you to chop up an m2t file without any re-compressing. 🙂

MPEG2Repair, will test and repair your m2t files. This small little things has save my life many times. Our JVC had a period when it was recording some really nasty errors onto the files on the Firestore. You run this little program, and it tells you exactly what’s wrong with it, and tries to fix it. Works 90% of the time. 🙂

If you get errors in your files and this little utility tells you about it, then first reset your firestore completely. if the error still remains, change the firewire cable. if it still comes up, call your dealership and pray to God… 🙂

David

[David Bruckner]

David,
Thanks for the info! At work I’ve mostly shot with large and small Sony cameras, and now full size Hitachi’s with hard drives. Each camera has its idiosyncracies but I’ve always been able to depend on the camera to record properly. Though the JVC is exactly what I want for shooting with, it seems unsettling to always wonder if you’re accurately recording what you’re shooting. Maybe I’m exagerating the problem but when you’re on a tight schedule for a client it seems risky. Hmmmmm, I may have to take another look at the EX1. Thanks for your input! This forum has been extremely valuable!