If you own the BlackMagic URSA cameras or the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, then you know how expensive it is right now to get enough storage.
These two cameras use the latest tech in portable storage: the CFast 2.0 cards. Usually, whatever is the newest is also the most expensive. But don’t worry. There is a way to cheat your camera into thinking you are using expensive CFast 2.0 cards, but, in fact, record to affordable SSDs (solid state drive).
Below is a video I did that shows how you can do it yourself for less than $100 (plus the cost of your SSD). Also, I provide links where you can buy the necessary part to build this.
If you are going to use this with the URSA and URSA Mini 4K / 4.6K cameras, like I do, then here is the SSD I recommend getting:
Samsung 850 EVO 500GB SSD on Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, eBay
So, please note that I am not recommending using the SanDisk drives I show in the video. One of those two SanDisk models is discontinued (and was expensive when I bought it) and the other is not as good as the Samsung SSD I recommend. With the EVO 850, you will spend less and get better performance than what I got from the SanDisks.
StarTech eSATAp 2.5-Inch SATA III SSD Enclosure on Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, eBay
CFAST eSATA DATA Breakout Cable on Amazon, eBay
External USB battery on Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, BH Photo Video, eBay
LanParte V-mount Battery Back Plate for URSA Mini on Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, BH Photo Video, eBay
Here is the battery I used which you can get from Amazon, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany
Quick question. Do you need to shutdown the camera to eject the SSD?
hey Tom, thanks for this video! love the work around. Was wondering what the capacity of the drive you were using was.
I got my drives all in 512GB but I also tested out the smaller drives and one larger at 1 terabyte and they all performed the same. So I don’t think size of the drive will make a difference in the speed.
This solution works great with my Ursa Mini 4.6k, but do you know if it will also work with the 1dx mark II?
Bought all the supplies and it doesn’t work. Ugh.
would it work to install a “Samsung 960 EVO Series PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD” into the “Sabrent M.2 SSD to 2.5-Inch SATA III Adapter” and use it in either this rig or the BMD SSD Recorder? The 960 EVO has Write Speeds of 1900MB/s and you can buy 1TB for $435. That should be fast enough for 4.6K Lossless RAW 60fps on the URSA Mini Pro right?
Hey Tom – thanks for the excellent post. I have an older Atomos Ninja Star that does FHD, and with the 500GB drive you recommended above, I’m not getting 4x+ the storage in Prores HQ (about 5.5 hours). So excited!