Content area
Full text
i recently tested the NextoDI NVS2500 (Figure 1), a speedy, compact backup solution for those who are shooting with various compact flash media cameras (still or video) and need to quickly back up their cards on location and use them again. For those of us who do long shoots with HD cameras that capture to relatively lowcapacity cards (such as the Canon 5D Mark ?, the Sony EX3, or the Panasonic HVX line), being able to offload our cards quickly and confidently is a critical part of a successful shoot.
Does the NextoDI NVS2500 offer something special that makes it a good choice for pros? I think it does. Key advantages of the NVS2500 include an internal battery for use without external power, an integrated ExpressCard slot for SxS and P2 ingest, an integrated eSATA port for speedy transfer to a computer, internal playback of pro formats such as XDCAM and DVCPRO HD, and a handy integrated USB backup synchronize feature.
Let's take a closer look at what makes this a real "pro" device.
IN THE BOX
The NVS2500 is packaged well; it's well protected from anything that might damage it during shipping.. As an added bonus, it comes with rubber bumpers that you can slide onto the ends of the device to protect it from minor drops and to keep it from sliding off a table.
It comes with FireWire 400, USB, and eSATA cables. It also includes a PCMCIA -to-ExpressCard converter for importing your P2 cards. NextoDI promises transfer speeds up to 80MB/sec- that's megabytes, not megabitsso if this device performs up to spec, that's fast. I did verify that the NVS2500 can basically go as fast as the media you feed it, though much of my media is slower.
The NextoDI comes with an AC adapter that turns out to be more important than I originally imagined. The NVS2500 will not connect with a computer via eSATA while operating from a battery. It will work with 6-pin FireWire 400 and USB (Figure 2), but I was very disappointed by the eSATA restriction. If you want eSATA transfer speed, you need A/C power.
FORMAT COMPATIBILITY
When I received the unit, the accompanying print material touted playback compatibility for an array of shooting formats:...