batteries

[smelni]

does the camera come with a battery - and what type of battery do you purchase to add on more?

thanks

[mcgeedigital]

It does not come with a battery.

It takes the standard Anton Bauer mount batteries.

[Terry_Lasater]

I think you could put your choice of battery design-mounts on the camera with Anton Bauer probably being the longest-lasting battery solution.

[Spec-Comm]

We've been selling a good bit of these Switronix (http://www.spec-comm.com/store/index.php?manufacturers_id=16&zenid=4fc96b01d90d472979825500884a94dd&main_page=index) AB and V-Mount batteries. They even have IDX style packs.

Best regards,

Andrew Hoffman
Senior Operations Manager
Specialized Communications Corp.
20940 Twin Springs Dr.
Smithsburg, MD 21783-1510 USA
800-359-1858
301-790-0103
Fax: 301-790-0173
andrewh@spec-comm.com
www.spec-comm.com

Please visit our new online store at ( http://www.spec-comm.com/store ). New products being added daily!

[xianchi]

What kind of recording time would expect from an AB Dionic 90 on the HPX500??

[smelni]

Ive been told just over 3 hours

[eclaire]

I think you could put your choice of battery design-mounts on the camera with Anton Bauer probably being the longest-lasting battery solution.

Could Jan or someone from Panasonic comment on this? I have Sony V-mount batteries and chargers now that I presume are spec-ed power wise to work and that I would like to use to keep down acquisition costs.

Does the camera come with a choice of mounts or is the Anton Bauer standard?

If the latter, are any dealers offering a V-mount replacement or converter plate at no extra cost?

If not, what is the best/cheapest way to convert for V mount power?

[monkeyking]

Remove the AB mount from camera, screw on the Sony V mount plate, and add your batteries.

[eclaire]

Remove the AB mount from camera, screw on the Sony V mount plate, and add your batteries.

Thanks, moneyking. I've never even looked at the battery mount closely on my DSR-300 and so I wasn't sure if battery mounts are integral to cameras and you have to add an accessory or whether they're totally swappable, as you suggest.

Question though: Does the 500 come with a CHOICE of batter mounts or will you have to buy a V-mount plate and replace the gold mount yourself?

[monkeyking]

I'm pretty sure there is no choice in battery mount. panasonic includes the same AB mount on their LCD camera monitors as well. No other options are listed on their brochures. AB is the default battery mount. I guess Panny would not offer a Sony V mount product in thier catalog.
I've used other batts. in the past - Sony, IDX, Switek, etc and they're all fine, but AB seems to have more market share. I guess the networks have some sway there.
Any way, it's not hard to swap out the battery plate.
Maybe you can sell the AB plate on E-Bay : )

[mule ferguson]

I get around 90 min with the AB 90 shooting with the HPX2000
Mule

[Spec-Comm]

Here is a 3-stud (Anton Bauer) to V-Mount conversion adapter.

http://www.spec-comm.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=26_51&products_id=263

Best regards,

Andrew Hoffman
Senior Operations Manager
Specialized Communications Corp.
20940 Twin Springs Dr.
Smithsburg, MD 21783-1510 USA
800-359-1858
301-790-0103
Fax: 301-790-0173
andrewh@spec-comm.com
www.spec-comm.com

Please visit our new online store at ( http://www.spec-comm.com/store ). New products being added daily!

[N. Adam Smith]

Are there any thoughts on using Lithium-Ion batteries for pro (large) cameras?

My knowledge of LIon batteries for laptops, cell phones, music players and the like says that high draw, high heat, and full discharge/recharge cycles are all bad for the battery, shortening its useful life.

I do like the fact that LIon have no memory issues, and you can charge them any time with no worries... but the high-draw thing bothers me.

[monkeyking]

No problem using AB Dionic 90's on broadcast cameras.

[N. Adam Smith]

Did some searches, this is the sort of issue I was wondering about. Guess I'll stay away from Li-Ion for now. Now just gotta decide NiCad (older tech, less run time) or NiMH (less reuseable cycles). :\

http://www.digitaltelevision.com/articles/article_943.shtml


For instance, nickel cadmium (NiCad) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries are heavy cells that can deliver a lot of long-term power, and have the flexibility to support the extra wattage demanded by camera lights. These are the sort of batteries you want on your camera.

"For backup power, you want to tuck a lithium ion (Li-Ion) battery into your pocket," he continued.
"Although it doesn't have the same wattage flexibility and takes longer to charge than nickel, Li-Ion batteries weigh 50 percent or less than comparable NiCads and NiMH batteries."

<snip>

In contrast to NiCads and NiMH batteries, Li-Ion batteries are lightweight and compact. The downside is that they don't have the same ability to support a wide range of loads. In other words, if you ask a 90 watt Li-Ion battery for 120 watts of power, it won't be able to do it.

Li-Ion batteries were originally developed for laptop computers, a sector where a constant power supply built into a small package is top priority. Because laptop users rarely mount camera lights on their computers, Li-Ion batteries aren't designed to handle such extra loads on demand.

"The primary advantage of lithium ion is its power-to-weight ratio," said Barry Rubin, general manager of IDX. "To get 90 watt-hours, you can use a 1.5-pound Li-Ion battery, or a 4 to 5-pound NiCad/NiMH battery." Anton/Bauer's DeSorbo agreed: "If weight is your top priority, then you should choose lithium ion."

[monkeyking]

I'd take NiMH over NiCad anyday. With it's inherent memory problems, NiCad is what gave rechargables a bad name. Follow your source's advice - choose LiOn AND NiMH batts depending what your needs are. Lightest weight handheld - LiON
camera, sungun,monitor off same on-board batt - NiMH.

[ktivideo]

Hey folks, I just purchased 2 HPX-500’s and love them, although I still getting used to the fact I have no tape as a back up, still building my trust in the work flow... I’m use Batteries 4 Broadcast 90Wh batteries. I’ve gotten 4 hours on the batteries using just the viewfinder, in that mode the camera is drawing only 19Watts. Even with the LCD on the draw is only 23 Watts and should get in the high 3 hours. The batteries only weigh 1.5 pounds, and that’s nice. True you can only put a 55 Watt load on these batteries, but I use a LED camera light that draws only 9.5 watts so it’s not an issue with me. Also these batteries have a built-in power-tap (DTap) connector that allows me to use an adapter cable with a spare battery to power both my P2 Store units. And in the "full disclosure" department, I run Batteries 4 Broadcast, so as this is a slight sales pitch, I do use the products I sell :) I am a shooter first, battery guy second.

Here is a link to the packages we have.
Batteries4Broadcast (http://www.batteries4broadcast.com/hpx500.htm)

[dregenthal]

I can second all that . . . have been using his B4B batteries with my FLYER for more than a year with nothing but happy experiences, and I have certainly enjoyed the savings (over branded AB batteries).

[mule ferguson]

http://store.batteryspecialists.com/bli29266b.html

I have 2 ea 90. and can be charged with the Anton B chargers
Mule