Epson P-2000

[lomond]

I shoot mostly RAW and therefore need some sort of portable storage unit.
The one I'm considering is the Epson P-2000. I think it mostly fits my needs
in that it saves and displays RAW fies as well as mpeg4 and MP3. Also it
has an excellent display.

My concern is the fact that it has a maximum file size for jpeg of 8.9 megapixels.
Now when Epson say a jpeg of 8.9 megapixels do they mean a CCD or CMOS of 8.9
megapixels, thereby excluding cameras such as the 1Ds or any future cameras with
a CMOS above 8.9 megapixels. If so this seems very short sighted.
I would be grateful for any info on this unit.

An alternative might be the Jobo Giga Vu Pro, anybody used this?

Thanks in advance.

[iwatkins]

I haven't tried it on mine (I only have a 10D) but I understand that it can display a larger than 8.9 mega pixel just not at 100% view, I.e. if you put in a bigger image it just zooms in a little to 8.9mega worth of pixels and you then scroll about. As I said, that is what I was told, don't know if true or not etc.

It can certainly store much larger files than that though, I've had it transfer large graphics files from a CF card to its disk, no problem.

I'm guessing if you are using a 1Ds MKII or similar you would be shooting RAW anyway with a smaller JPEG. As long as the JPEG was below 8.9 MP you would still be able to view it.

Anyway, I guess this issue would be resolved via a firmware upgrade if you shouted loud enough. :)

If you find anyone in the UK that has stock, let me know. A friend is after one after seeing mine but cannot find anywhere that has them in stock. She'll be after one even more when she gets back from her trip around the Western Isles as I've loaned her mine for the two weeks she is away. She has phoned me twice this week asking if I've found one yet. I think her words were "If you don't find me one, I'm keeping yours" :)

Cheers

Ian

[Mogwyth]

I would guess that the software that allows veiwing the images can only handle up to this size image, and so unless they do a software upgrade it does appear to limit it's usefulness. Although you can apparently store any size image on it, just not view it.

Ian have you tried WarehouseExpress.co.uk. What do you think of it, something like this is on my to get list.

[lomond]

Thanks for the reply Ian.
It was a review on the DPREVIEW websight that made me wonder.

I've made some enquiries as to availability in the UK and the best guess is 1 to 2 weeks.
I would like it for Easter so I'm in no rush just yet.:rolleyes:

[iwatkins]

I've added more to my original post...

[lomond]

I would guess that the software that allows veiwing the images can only handle up to this size image, and so unless they do a software upgrade it does appear to limit it's usefulness. Although you can apparently store any size image on it, just not view it.

Thanks for that Mogwyth, that's kind of what I feared.
I have a 10D at the moment but if I upgrade, lets say next year, to a
30D :smile: or a 1DMK III :D:;) I'll be stuffed for viewing.

[Mogwyth]

Thanks for that Mogwyth, that's kind of what I feared.
I have a 10D at the moment but if I upgrade, lets say next year, to a
30D :smile: or a 1DMK III :D:;) I'll be stuffed for viewing.

Well my plan is not to change for 2 or 3 years so it will do for now.

Why not get it and when you change, sell it with your 10D as a package, if they don't upgrade the image size.

[lomond]

I'm guessing if you are using a 1Ds MKII or similar you would be shooting RAW anyway with a smaller JPEG. As long as the JPEG was below 8.9 MP you would still be able to view it.

Ian, this is my point. Jpegs are not measured in megapixels CCD's are or CMOS in this case.
Both the Epson and DPREVIEW websights refer to megapixels.

[pcasciola]

You can view larger files but cannot zoom in. This has been confirmed by 1Ds Mk II owners on other forums. Until a firmware upgrade is released, the workaround they are using is to shoot RAW+small JPEG, and zooming on the small JPEG to check focus, etc.


I wouldn't downgrade from the P-2000s 640x480 display to the Jobo's 320x240 display just on the off chance I might upgrade to a 9MB+ camera someday, although I like the sound of a 1D Mk III :D

[iwatkins]

Ian, this is my point. Jpegs are not measured in megapixels CCD's are or CMOS in this case.
Both the Epson and DPREVIEW websights refer to megapixels.

Yeah, I can see where you are coming from.

I guess in this case they do mean a JPEG that contains 8.9 million pixels, or "a very large JPEG" rather than an image (of whatever size) produced by a camera with 8.9 mega pixels or more.

Wish I had mine here, I could try it.

Cheers

Ian

[lomond]

You can view larger files but cannot zoom in. This has been confirmed by 1Ds Mk II owners on other forums. Until a firmware upgrade is released, the workaround they are using is to shoot RAW+small JPEG, and zooming on the small JPEG to check focus, etc.


I wouldn't downgrade from the P-2000s 640x480 display to the Jobo's 320x240 display just on the off chance I might upgrade to a 9MB+ camera someday, although I like the sound of a 1D Mk III :D

Thanks for that, Philip.
I'm glad to here it, although I was under the impression the RAW embedded JPEG cannot be zoomed in this unit. :confused:

[pcasciola]

Not the RAW embedded JPEG, the RAW+JPEG mode, where two files are created for each exposure.

[lomond]

Not the RAW embedded JPEG, the RAW+JPEG mode, where two files are created for each exposure.

Sorry Philip, I'm with you now. :)

[lomond]

Any info on the Jobo Giga Vu Pro if I can't get my hands on the Epson P-2000 before Easter. :(

( Aaaghh, this country, if it's new and any good it's out of stock, and when it's in stock it's double the price of the US. :evil: )

[Mogwyth]

There is a review on www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/gigavupro.html (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/gigavupro.html)

Does not say a lot realy, but it seems that the Epson is cheaper and has a much better screen.

[quickben]

Has anyone ordered this item from warehousexpress.com ? I ordered but got an email saying it was out of stock and that they had ordered one in for me. They didn't say how long it would take though.

Any ideas ?

Gary.

[iwatkins]

Gary,

I spoke to them end of the week. I was told that they "Warehouse Express" had spoken to Epson UK. Epson UK didn't know but hoped the by the end of this week (4th Feb) they would be fulfilling WE's order.

But if in doubt, give them a bell.

I'm in the same boat, got an order in with Amazon for a second one. That order has been in place since the 23rd Decemeber.

Cheers

Ian

[quickben]

Cheers Ian, hopefully I've just got in on that order, then :-)

Typical scenario, isn't it ? When something good is released in the UK, the retailers never get enough of them in stock. Even though consumers, generally, have been waiting for them for a few months due to reports from US/Japan and forums like this.

And then we get to pay way over the top for the privelage :-(

Bugger.

Gary.

[alan sh]

Look at the SmartTrax as an alternative. Andy Rouse gives it a good review - and it's cheaper.

[iwatkins]

Look at the SmartTrax as an alternative. Andy Rouse gives it a good review - and it's cheaper.

The SmartTrax is a great device and I've been close, several times to buying one. However, I really wanted quality viewing and the SmartTrax doesn't come close to the Epson.

Even so, if you don't need a good screen, there are many other devices that work just as well.

Cheers

Ian

[Bruce Watson]

I just ordered one after spending a week or so researching all the possiblities.

I would rather have a bunch of 512 cards and dump them into the Epson then risk having a really large card go south. I will then empty the Epson into my notebook or desktop once per day.

Yes, I know there is still risk that the hard drive could crash, but I figure if my shots are divided up into several different storage options, losing one will not wipe out all.

[alan sh]

The SmartTrax is a great device and I've been close, several times to buying one. However, I really wanted quality viewing and the SmartTrax doesn't come close to the Epson.

Even so, if you don't need a good screen, there are many other devices that work just as well.

Cheers

Ian

So, the epson has a better screen resolution ? I thought the Smartrax was 640 x 480 as well - am I wrong ?

[iwatkins]

The SmartDisk FlashTrax (to give it its proper name) is a 3.5 inch screen against Epson's 3.8 inch screen. Might not sound much, but it really does.

The SmartDisk FlashTrax screen is only 320 x 240 or similar IIRC. Well, put it this way, it isn't explicity spelled out on the SmarkDisk site, hence it isn't going to be mind blowing. When I've looked at them I reckon the resolution is better on the LCD on the back of my 10D. I spoke to the SmarkDisk guys at FOI last year and they agreed it was the only thing holding the unit back and that it was "being worked on".

The Epson on the other hand is useful as you can easily check focus the screen is so good. At 212 pixels an inch, it is approaching a good quality print out. Everyone who has seen my P-2000 all go "Wow!". In fact, I still do. :)

A friend has just returned today from the Western Isles of Scotland after using mine for two weeks. The photos look brilliant on screen and she said she was using it as a talking point with people she met, i.e. she would chat to locals in the pub, street, fishing boat (!) and show them where she had been with pictures. Apparantly it was a real ice breaker and she got lots of good shots as these people would help her get to these locations she might never have found/heard about using maps/tourist guides alone.

One fisherman took her out to a small island to photograph seals and sea otter (I think) and brought her back again. When she tried to pay him, he said "No, glad I could help someone who is really interested". She insists that the P-2000 improved her trip ;)

As a little report, she was putting approx. 4Gb of images onto it a day plus she reckons about an hour or so of viewing during the day. Battery was still good by nigthfall. She charged it up every night after viewing for another hour or so where she would cycle through the days images deleting those images not worth keeping etc. At the one place she stayed for several days, it was a nightly ritual to sit in the bar, going through her images with the bar man and some locals looking at the images and giving them them thumbs up or thumbs down. :D

It then took me close to an hour to get it back from her, but she has ordered one for herself now. :)

Cheers

Ian

[lomond]

Ian, have you tried video on your P-2000.
The reason ask is video would be a useful extra for me however I read this review in Computer Buyer;

"As a media player, though, it's a failure. The problem is it's too picky about the files it'll play. All portable media players have certain format limitations, but the P-2000's are vague (the manual says it plays MPEG-4 files without specifying which of the subtypes it means). We tried a dozen movie files which should have been supported, and even tried to encode our own video. Most of them just elicited a long pause and then an error message. We even had problems with some perfectly good MP3s! Unlike its competitors, Epson doesn't provide software to convert video files into a format that's guaranteed to work."

What do you think.? :confused:

[iwatkins]

Ian, have you tried video on your P-2000.
The reason ask is video would be a useful extra for me however I read this review in Computer Buyer;

"As a media player, though, it's a failure. The problem is it's too picky about the files it'll play. All portable media players have certain format limitations, but the P-2000's are vague (the manual says it plays MPEG-4 files without specifying which of the subtypes it means). We tried a dozen movie files which should have been supported, and even tried to encode our own video. Most of them just elicited a long pause and then an error message. We even had problems with some perfectly good MP3s! Unlike its competitors, Epson doesn't provide software to convert video files into a format that's guaranteed to work."

What do you think.? :confused:

Video or MP3 isn't something I've tried, nor of interest to me really. I bought it purely for holding images from my CF cards while on the road.

If it doesn't do video well, and it sounds like it doesn't, then I wouldn't buy the Epson if that is important to you. If there is one company on this planet who doesn't listen to complaints about software/hardware issues I would have to say it was Epson. :(

So if it does have problems I wouldn't hold my breath for them to release a firmware patch to resolve the issue. Mind you, I'm willing to be proven wrong on this one. :)

Cheers

Ian

[blackviolet]

once you realise that it will not play videos encoded with a bitrate under about 1000, then it's no problem. i've now encoded dozens of movies for it. i'm in san francisco at the moment, and with my homemade battery pack, i was able to watch my own choice of movies the whole way over (much better than united's crap choices in business class :p - boy i sure hope sq manages to get the oz-states route...). i have no problems with divx, xvid, and ms mpeg4.

also, it will not play videos which are over about 1.1 gigs, either. so if you are encoding them, i highly recommend using mp3 audio instead of pcm

[lomond]

once you realise that it will not play videos encoded with a bitrate under about 1000, then it's no problem. i've now encoded dozens of movies for it. i'm in san francisco at the moment, and with my homemade battery pack, i was able to watch my own choice of movies the whole way over (much better than united's crap choices in business class :p - boy i sure hope sq manages to get the oz-states route...). i have no problems with divx, xvid, and ms mpeg4.

also, it will not play videos which are over about 1.1 gigs, either. so if you are encoding them, i highly recommend using mp3 audio instead of pcm
Thanks for the reply.

I was thinking more along the lines of home movies.
Can I askwhat software use for encoding.

[lomond]

Thanks for the reply Ian.
The video feature isn't imperative, but it would be nice to have. :)

[sjprg]

I still haven't found one for sale in the States. Are they not released to the USA?

[lomond]

I still haven't found one for sale in the States. Are they not released to the USA?
You may be right.

I notice B&H show out of stock and Amazon (USA) say not released yet.
A bit strange since the pecking order tends to be Japan and/or USA followed by Europe.
Obviously from the above posts some people in the UK have bought them.

[lomond]

Has anyone ordered this item from warehousexpress.com ? I ordered but got an email saying it was out of stock and that they had ordered one in for me. They didn't say how long it would take though.

Any ideas ?

Gary.


I ordered it last week from Warehousexpress and they said end of January.
Last night the Warehousexpress website said out of stock due to Epson UK not being able to deliver until end of February and orders taken now will have priority.
Strange thing is this morning that information has been removed, doesn't even say out of stock. :confused:

[blackviolet]

i encode my own videos - the kids, etc. - using ulead video studio.

if i'm re-encoding videos, i'll use any combination of flask, virtualdub, asftools and dvdx for ripping.

if you have any specific questions about them - pm me

[mvonditter]

Ecost.com has them,er.....will have them by 2/11/05. Call them quick as there are a ton of them on back order.

[Johnny V]

A friend of mine ordered yesterday the Epson P-2000 from Ritz Camera.

[Khai]

I saw a whole pile of them at Yodobashi Camera in Shinjuku. They're in stock at all the big camera stores here. How much are they in the UK?

[lomond]

I saw a whole pile of them at Yodobashi Camera in Shinjuku. They're in stock at all the big camera stores here. How much are they in the UK?

£330 at Warehouse Express.
£350 at Jessops.

It looks like it'll be another month before they're in stock here. :(