Blog

What is an SSD and what are its benefits

While SD cards are fine for storing smaller amounts of data, you usually need a more powerful calibre when shooting videos. And that's an SSD that can store large amounts of data quickly. What is it, what are its benefits and when is it worth choosing?

What is an SSD?

An SSD - solid-state drive - is a modern storage device that is the successor to magnetic hard disk drives (HDDs) that contain mechanical moving parts. However, SSD drives are nothing new, you would even find the first one back in 1976. But it's only in recent years that they've become so affordable that their use has spread massively among mainstream consumers; until then, only the military or space projects could reach them.

SSDs don't contain any moving parts, which makes them very resistant to mechanical influences and you don't have to worry about taking them out in the field. Instead, SSD cards have memory chips in them that make it easy and fast to write and erase data.

SSD benefits

That being said, SSDs don't have mechanical moving parts that could be damaged by being carried around, so they're very durable. Another indisputable advantage is the fast transfer, read and write speeds, typically 550 MB/s, so you can work with 4k video without any worries. SSDs also don't have a motor and are up to three times more energy efficient than platter drives.

When to choose SD and when to choose SSD?

When considering external storage for video recording, you need to consider the following:

- Speed: External SSDs generally offer faster read and write speeds compared to SD cards, resulting in smoother writes and faster downloads.

- Capacity: External SSDs generally have a larger capacity compared to SD cards, so you can store more video footage without having to constantly replace memory cards.

- Cost: The main disadvantage of SSDs is their high price. However, if you require reliable, high-speed storage, they are worth investing in.

- Power consumption: SSDs can require more power compared to SD cards, which can have a negative effect on battery life, especially for longer recording sessions.

- Compatibility: Last but not least, it's also important to make sure your recording device is compatible with your chosen external storage device.

In conclusion, the choice between an external SSD and an SD card mainly depends on your specific needs and video recording requirements.

What is an SD card and what are its types

Need to choose a memory card and don't know how to do it? Let's navigate through SD cards so that you make the right choice. Find out the difference between SDHC vs SDXC, as well as what write speed to choose to get the best results.

What is an SD card?

The acronym SD stands for Secure Digital and under this name you will find memory cards for phones, laptops, digital cameras and camcorders. With a memory card, you can expand the capacity of your device by up to hundreds of GB, as well as transfer data from one device to another.

SD card size distribution

You will commonly come across classic SD cards and the smaller microSD size, which is, however, perfectly full-size. The choice between a classic and a micro card depends on what slot your camera/camcorder has and what slot your computer has. So often a microSD and a reduction to a large SD are sold together.

Distribution of SD cards by capacity

While there used to be multiple types of memory cards on the market, today SD cards (and their smaller microSD variants) are virtually synonymous with memory for most devices. This is despite the fact that the original SD cards had a relatively small capacity and are virtually unused.

What types of SD cards are there?

- SD & microSD cards, which have a capacity of 8 MB to 2 GB, which is quite inadequate for today's needs.

- SDHC & microSDHC (SD High Capacity) cards, which have a capacity of 4 GB to 32 GB and are the successors to SD cards. You will find the minimum write speed markings already on them, which we will discuss later in the article.

- SDXC & microSDXC (SD eXtended Capacity) cards are the next generation of memory cards and have capacities of 64 GB to 2 TB.

So the fundamental difference between SDHC vs. SDXC and microSDHC vs. microSDXC is in their capacity as well as write speed.

Distribution of SD cards by speed

To choose the right card, it depends on what you'll be using it for. Shooting video in 4K resolution and above (or even RAW) is the most demanding and requires the fastest cards. Shooting is less demanding, although even there you shouldn't skimp on the card. It's always better to choose a slightly faster and larger card than you think you'll use.

You'll find several indications on SD cards that give an indication of their speed. Let's break them down one by one.

Class

For clarity, memory cards are divided into speed classes (Class). The class number lets you know the minimum guaranteed write speed. In terms of transfer speed, this is equal to or higher than the write speed on SD cards. For taking high-resolution photos, you should always get a card with a higher write speed to avoid delays.

UHS

The speed class doesn't stop there, you'll also find the UHS (Ultra High Speed) designation on the cards, which indicates that the card is suitable for cameras and camcorders with a USH bus. These cards are also compatible with cameras and camcorders without UHS, just not at their full speed.

What are the differences between them?

- SD without UHS can handle a maximum speed of 25 MB/s.

- UHS-I has a theoretical maximum speed of up to 104 MB/s.

- UHS-II supports a theoretical maximum speed of up to 312 MB/s.

- UHS-III supports a theoretical maximum speed of up to 624 MB/s.

Video Class

When purchasing an SD card for camcorders, then also look at the video class (Video Speed Class), which is indicated from the lowest V6 to the highest V90.

To get a clearer picture, check out the table where you'll find all the information lined up side by side.

HOLLYLAND MARS 4K REVIEW

Are you filming with a drone, camera arms on your car, or just want to watch the camera feed remotely without the need for cables? Then the HollyLand Mars 4K is for you.

Today we're taking a look at a new wireless transmitter from HollyLand called Mars 4K.

This range has a long history, but what's different? You've probably noticed that we have a design that takes another step forward, but still feels similar to its predecessors.

The receiver and transmitter have an almost identical design, but the transmitter has a red 4K emblem on it and the receiver has a blue 4K emblem on it. Let's take a look at what's in the box! After unpacking, the first thing we see is of course the manual; then the receiver and transmitter, the Cold Shoe, i.e. the sled, the spare antenna and the USB A to USB C adapter. We also have a power adapter with a reduction to a European socket.

TheHollyLand Mars 4K has a very solid construction with an all-metal shell and typical HollyLand style design. The Mars 4K has new antennas that other Hollyland devices don't have yet. Compared to previous antennas, they are shorter and stronger. The transmitter has an HDMI input, an SDI input and a cable power input on it. On the receiver we have one HDMI output, an SDI output and also an input for power over cable. We only get one charger in the box, and it's for the receiver, since you're supposed to keep the transmitter on batteries. Fortunately, the Mars 4K can also be powered by NP-F or USB-C batteries. On the other side, we have a color LCD display for easy parameter settings, a button to move around the display, an on/off button, and a USB-C charging port. Mars 4K has three modes namely: balance mode, speed mode and HD mode. At first, when you see the display, it looks like black and white, but when you press the button to control the display, you go to the color menu with the fact that the display is in high resolution and therefore, it doesn't matter that it is a little smaller than the Mars 400s, which is the previous model. From the bottom we have a thread to screw on a cold shoe, a sled that comes in the package, which can also be attached to the front with another accessory so you can mount the transmitter horizontally.

Using the Mars 4K is really easy. Just connect both devices to power either via battery or charger, and then connect either an HDMI or SDI cable to both the receiver and transmitter. Then turn both devices on. The receiver and transmitter should automatically pair. The time to turn on, pair and begin video transmission is around 35 seconds.

The HollyLand Mars 4K has a smart channel search function, so it will automatically help you select the channel that is most appropriate. Of course, channel selection can also be manually up to you, and what's great about these products is that when you change the channel on one device, the other will adjust itself within seconds. HollyLand lists a maximum transmission distance of 150 meters, which is 30 meters more than the previous model. However, this distance can vary indoors with obstacles or walls. The Mars 4K is compatible with the HollyView app as well as the new Mars M1 monitor. This app is very simple, clear and you can use it as a monitor.

This device can also connect to one hardware receiver and up to two smart devices simultaneously. Or it also goes to four smart devices at the same time. The HollyLand Mars 4K has an ultra low latency of 60 milliseconds. The SDI input has different video resolutions ranging from 720p to 4K and the frame rate here can be up to 60 frames per second. For 4K we can reach up to 30 frames per second. It's no wonder they are called Mars 4K because this is the first video transmitter from HollyLand that can handle 4K. HDMI is capable of transmitting at 4K and 25 or 30 frames per second. SDI only in fullhd, but taken at 50 or 60 frames per second. There's an exception though, and that is that if you have an HDMI input with 4K and an SDI output on the receiver, you'll unfortunately get 1080p out of it, because you simply and easily won't get 4K out of this device via an SDI cable.

For us, the HollyLand Mars 4K is a great video transmitter that is suitable for small production and offers some great improvements over earlier lines. The biggest improvement is definitely 4K, which is not yet present in the other lines and in this day and age where almost everything is in 4K this is already a necessity for all similar products. I'm sure you're wondering about the price too.

You can get this set starting from 18 900 CZK HERE.

REVIEW SmallRig RC350 & RC450

These SmallRig RC350B and RC450B lights are professional lights for video makers, but also photographers who are serious about their work.

In the last article we showed the SmallRig Control panel 3980 for controlling these lights, and today we're going to show just the lights that relate to the previous article.

Today we're actually going to look at the Smallrig RC350B and RC450B.

These lights have COB LED in the name, but not everyone knows what that means. COB diodes are LED chips encased in a layer of phosphor. This allows the LED strip to shine not spot by spot with individual diodes, but all over with the same intensity.

Let's start right away with the boxes! Both contain a 55-degree hyper-reflector, protective cap, manual in eight languages, power cord, power adapter, and the RC350B and RC450B lights themselves. The bag is not only a quality material at first touch, but it's also sturdy, nice and the lights won't get hurt in it.

Both of these lights can be controlled remotely with both the app and the SmallRig 3980 control panel that you get free with these lights. Both the RC350B and RC450B have a Kelvin range from 2,700K to 6,500K, plus nine different lighting effects with the ability to change speed via the frequency button. The interface and controls are simple but work very effectively. The two most important knobs we have here are located on the back of the light. We can turn the CCT knob to adjust the color temperature with a very subtle transition. With the INT knob, the intensity knob, we can in turn adjust the brightness.

The effects here have a dedicated button for selecting them, and what's cool is that even when you have the effects on, you can manually change both the brightness intensity and the color temperature using the aforementioned buttons. Both lights operate at 50 and 60 Hz with an input voltage of 100-240 volts from the adapter.

The great thing is that there's a standard Bowens bayonet for mounting third party accessories such as umbrellas and diffusers, which are available from many manufacturers. Like any SmallRig light, these lights can be controlled remotely via SmallRig's SmallGoGo app, which has a range of up to 100m from the light. Both lights are of high quality construction and not just because they are partly made of lightweight but strong aluminium.

The housing feels sturdy even though the top is made of plastic. There are grilles on the top and bottom to give the lights enough room to ventilate and not heat up. The volume for both lights does hover around 30dB at a distance of one metre. The mounting adapter for the light is completely made of aluminum, which is a plus because very often this is the weakest point of many low-budget lights and softboxes that have a plastic adapter and handle. The tightening handle is strong, but at the same time it can be easily loosened for quick adjustment of the light angle, as well as the screw for mounting it on the stand. The CRI, or Color Rendering Index, is 96 on a scale of zero to one hundred, which is very good. And for those who don't know, the standard is around 80.

Now let's quickly tell you the differences. Total weight including accessories and bag for the RC350B is 7.9Kg, while for the RC450B it's 8.5Kg. The noise level of the integrated fan at a distance of 1m is only about 28dB for the RC350B which may sound like noise in an empty room with no people, while for the RC450B it is about 32dB which is roughly like whispering. At 5600K, the maximum intensity at 1m distance for the RC350B is 115,000 lux with the reflector installed, while for the RC450B with the same conditions it is 121,000 lux. S

probably the biggest difference here is in power, because the three hundred and fifty is the smaller brother of the more powerful four hundred and fifty despite the same dimensions.

The last thing in which these two lights differ is the prices.

You can buy theRC350B starting from 24 800 CZK HERE.

RC450B from 30 300 CZK HERE.

REVIEW SMALLRIG CONTROL PANEL FOR RC 350 / RC 450 COB LED VIDEO LIGHT (3980)

Do you have RC 350 and RC 450 professional lights at home and you are missing a control panel to control them? No problem!

We have one for you today, so let's take a look! This is the Smallrig Control Panel for RC lights. The SmallRig 3980 is an alternative way to control the RC 350 and RC 450 LED lights.

In addition to the many switches with which you can control a lot of functions, it features a two-inch LCD display that shows parameters and status in real time to help you adjust brightness, color temperature, built-in special effects, special effects frequency, and reset Bluetooth.

And what's in the box? Of course, there we find the control panel, the Magic arm for mounting the light on a tripod and the user manual can't be missing. A three-meter anti-shutdown cable ensures safe, reliable and efficient control of the lighting in case the light switch control is inconvenient.

For example, when the light is placed at height on a tripod or ceiling mount. The control panel is also equipped with a clamp that belongs to the Magic Arm. On the back we find a magnet for convenient dropping directly onto the light via the Magic Arm. This control panel from SmallRig meets the makers' requirements for simple, practical and efficient lighting control on location or in the studio.

Therefore, if you have your own studio or you are just starting out as a photographer or filmmaker, the panel is definitely worth it because, with quality lighting, you can achieve amazing results even with an older camera or mobile phone. And how does this panel connect to the light? You unpack the panel from the box and attach the arm to the tripod of the light first. Next, you connect the panel to the control panel connecting port on the light and place the magnetic wheel on the back of the arm.

The panel will automatically turn on and you can immediately start controlling the light you bought it for. Simple, right? This panel is not an expensive affair at all, which is why anyone can afford it.

You can buy it from just 2 000 CZK HERE.