2004Video Assist and Video Accessories forum
Evaluation of solid-state onboard video recorders for camera mounting
22 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- The FFV Mini DVR Pro operates with simple controls (power on, press record) and automatically segments recordings into individual QuickTime clips for easy review
- The FFV Mini DVR Pro uses CompactFlash cards for storage and can achieve approximately 11 hours of recording time with two 4GB cards
- The FFV Mini DVR Pro lacks a built-in screen and has controls positioned on the end of the unit that are difficult to reach, though an external remote button box can address this limitation
- The FFV Mini DVR Pro operates silently with no fan noise or button feedback sounds
- The FFV Mini DVR Pro is compatible with four AA batteries or 12-volt external power sources
- The FFV Mini DVR Pro costs approximately 2500 dollars, which observers considered prohibitively expensive compared to alternative options available at lower price points
- The Chasecam PDR100-H costs around 600 dollars and can be upgraded with supercapacitors to replace AA batteries and reduce noise issues
- The Chasecam PDR100-H uses an MPEG2 codec that may cause audio to separate from video during export and can exhibit significant motion artifacts
- The Chasecam PDR100-H experienced reliability issues in demanding racing environments, with multiple units requiring replacement during racing weekends
- The Supercircuits MDVR-18 requires navigating file menus to switch between record and playback modes
- A potential workaround for frame edge cutoff issues on certain recorders involves recording at 18 frames per second, though this approach has its own limitations
Depends on
- The FFV Mini DVR Pro review is based on usage approximately 4 years prior to the discussion, making current availability and relevance uncertain
- The FFV Mini DVR Pro requires specific cables matched to individual camera systems, with configuration details available in technical documentation
- The Chasecam PDR100-H performance assessment comes from professional racing use, which subjects equipment to stresses exceeding typical steadicam operation
- Disagreement exists regarding Chasecam PDR100-H reliability and audio codec performance, with some users reporting success while others experienced extensive failures
- The frame edge cutoff issue and 18 fps workaround apply to specific models under certain lens configurations but represent a compromise solution