Just got my "free battery" rebate - question about this LARGE Anton Bauer battery.

Deuceofspades

Deuceofspades

Veteran
Just got my "free battery" rebate - question about this LARGE Anton Bauer battery.

It took forever but I finally got my promotional free battery which was offered when I bought my HVX200. I expected a normal battery, like the ones I already have, but got this LARGE Anton Bauer battery instead. It is heavy and bulky, so my gutt feeling is that it lasts longer?

Who is using it and how many hours of HVX operation are you able to get (more or less) with it?

Not sure why they made a mount that attaches to the bottom of camera... Not my fave way to go. That means when battery dies I have to unscrew my Sachtler plate from battery and then rescrew it to camera... Too much hassle.

Any tips on attaching this mammoth in a more convenient spot? The cable to the camera is real SHORT so looks like the battery would have to be mounted right behind the battery compartment on HVX... Since I use support rails (I have a 35mm adapter), mounting the battery to the end of rails might work...

Any tips and feedback welcome.
 
Hmm. Based on the form factor, my tips for using this battery would be to put in on Ebay to see how much you can get for it and then buying a proper battery.
 
I've heard of some people using a Noga arm or better yet, the Zacuto arm.

Best regards,

Andrew Hoffman
 
that elipz battery is just about the GOOFIEST thing ive ever seen. add a 6 foot cable to and then MAYBE it gets logical
 
wgzn said:
that elipz battery is just about the GOOFIEST thing ive ever seen. add a 6 foot cable to and then MAYBE it gets logical
Click to expand...

Now why are you all hatin' on the AB battery?

1. It was free
2. My HVX runs for about 7 hours on it
3. It mounts on my rods and stays out of the way

Where's the love?

1194662410.jpg


Dan
 
It's also a good counterweight to a front heavy Letus setup. I have always loved AB batteries, this thing works well, it's just their mounting system that is lame so I changed it. Perfect for event shooters or people who shoot long interviews for docs as I often do.

Best,

Dan
 
I sold mine. It's just too big and heavy for me and I'd rather have (2) reg sized long lasting batteries.
 
I love it, lasts forever and charges quickly.

As for mounting, I attach it to the handle. Looks like I have sonar on my camera.

I'll post a pic soon.
 
puredrifting said:
Now why are you all hatin' on the AB battery?

1. It was free
2. My HVX runs for about 7 hours on it
3. It mounts on my rods and stays out of the way

Where's the love?

1194662410.jpg


Dan
Click to expand...

Above looks like a good option, so how exactely is it attached to your rails? I have cavision rails.
 
Deuceofspades said:
Above looks like a good option, so how exactely is it attached to your rails? I have cavision rails.
Click to expand...

Hi Faith:

It's just an extra Cavision rails mount that I had laying around. If you look, it's identical to the one ahead of it that the camera is sitting on. It's just the base, not the vertical extension.

Dan
 
The whole mount this battery under your camera is a joke. With its loose flimsy plastic quick release. and its super short cable.

This is a really good battery through, and has a very nice battery life.

What I did, and I think its the best solution. Is to cut and splice in about 3 feet of extra power cable. so now I can easily attach it to my tripod leg or the back of my dv multirig.
 
Anton Bauer batteries can't be beat. Those guys darned near invented portable power for production. We have the Elipz and it runs a long time. We also have a couple of their other batteries as well.
We mount ours under the camera as designed, but Dan has a great option there for using rails. :thumbsup:
 
Bill, how do you have it mounted? I know there is a hole there on the handle, I sometimes use it for my monitor though... I am thinking I would use the battery for the monitor and figure a way to attach it to it and save my other 4 batteries for the camera. My hotrodder friends can probably make a custom braket for me :)...
 
Not sure about your battery in particular, but I have the AB Dionic 90 setup, and will swear by Anton Bauer. Got a problem? Call them, and a real person answers the phone by the second ring! And they speak English (The kind you actually understand!)! I had an issue with my recently out of warranty setup, and they asked me to send it in. They fixed it, up graded it, and sent it back quickly- all for free!

I wish more places were like them.
 
Deuceofspades said:
Bill, how do you have it mounted? I know there is a hole there on the handle, I sometimes use it for my monitor though... I am thinking I would use the battery for the monitor and figure a way to attach it to it and save my other 4 batteries for the camera. My hotrodder friends can probably make a custom braket for me :)...
Click to expand...

Simple, I screwed the quick release to the battery into the Panasonic handle and clipped the battery into the QR.

I've used it w/ the Marshall as well. I gaffed it to my homemade hoodman:
2294613729_7bb1603b26.jpg
 
Yea I got the same deal that you did, and I love my AB battery, it lasts forever and it's a great backup battery, as expected it makes hand-held work harder cause it adds weight, and other than that my only complaint is the fact that is wobbles a bit when on a tripod, nothing too bad, you just have to keep the screws tight. It also came with some sticky foam friction pads to put on it to help stabilize it, but those fell off.

Overall for a free battery it's super sweet, fits in my camera case, and I was able to shoot the Santa Barbara international film festival red carpet for a week straight without needing to re-charge it.

It's nice never needing to worry about running out of batteries.
 
I dont want to seem ingrateful, but...
It doesn't come with any way to plug it in to your HVX, or anything else.
Its not like I have one of their proprietary cables laying about, so it's not exactly free.
Right now, its main purpose is keeping my books from tumbling over to one side on my bookshelf.
That being said, it certainly can be useful and I certainly would take it rather than not take it.
cheers!
Mike
 
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