Premium Members Charles Papert Posted August 20, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 20, 2008 Well, file this one under "you get what you pay for" both in the onboard recorder and battery threads. In post#22 I referenced a $175 recorder that I got from a Chinese importer. I had tested it out a few times and overall it seemed to get the job done with the usual quibbles about bouncing through menus etc. I pulled it out the other day as I was starting to think about getting a custom cable built for it and it looked like a wild animal had gone after it. Took me a while to figure out that the battery pack seems to have pulled a Hulk and if not actually blown up, at least expanded and forced the case open (there is evidence that it heated up significantly and melted the plastic, too). The amazing thing is that it works, powers up fine but of course it is pretty suspect and I wouldn't want to risk further meltdown. Not quite sure when this would have happened so I can't say that it was due to being left out in the sun etc. but obviously it's not good. The search continues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Anderson Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Glenn: Perhaps I am missing something, but at more than twice the cost of FFV's Mini DVR Pro and more than twice the weight, what would be the advantage of your version for us? (I do see that yours is slightly smaller). Charles, a better comparison would the the FFV Field PRO at the same price. The DVR Mini has a far easier user interface. - Pull down menus for Shot and Take lists to save time finding shots, with alphanumeric shot names to match slates. - Pull down menus for setup. See the screen shots on the web site. www.synccine.com - Auto record on camera run, with camera speed sensing, for auto playback at projection speed. - No multi button pressing. Very simple to use. -Solid mounted connectors. The time saved on set add up. Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Anderson Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Glenn: Perhaps I am missing something, but at more than twice the cost of FFV's Mini DVR Pro and more than twice the weight, what would be the advantage of your version for us? (I do see that yours is slightly smaller). Charles, a better comparison would the the FFV Field PRO at the same price. The DVR Mini has a far easier user interface. - Pull down menus for Shot and Take lists to save time finding shots, with alphanumeric shot names to match slates. - Pull down menus for setup. See the screen shots on the web site. www.synccine.com - Auto record on camera run, with camera speed sensing, for auto playback at projection speed. - No multi button pressing. Very simple to use. -Solid mounted connectors. The time saved on set add up. Glenn Thinking it through further, could do a cut down steadycam version with no hard disk option or mixer and recase it to 1.2 " high , 4" wide and 6.5 " long Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted August 21, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 I'm sure there a lot of varying opinions on what should or shouldn't go into the ideal onboard recorder for Steadicam. For me, something that as closely duplicates the simplicity of tape deck functionality with the convenience of immediate access is ideal: for controls, play, stop, record, variable cue and review, frame advance in both directions. Ability to immediately drop into record from any status (mid-playback, for instance). Playback quality preferably around DV, certainly better than MPG-4. Small footprint. Remote trigger for record (I'm intrigued by the auto record for camera run, but then again on an HD show that wouldn't be much good). Since the Mini DVR Pro provides most of that for around $2500, I think it would only be logical for a competitive unit to be somewhat less to make sense. Quite a few operators like having an integrated screen a la the Archos; I myself would rather bury the unit wherever is ideal on the rig and have a wired remote strip with the transport controls that I can mount in an ideal spot, with playback purely through the Steadicam monitor. I think I may be in the minority on this though. As they say, opinions are like a**holes, everyone's got one. Although these days, I might modify that to read: opinions are like Steadicams , everyone's got one. Harumph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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