FS7: 3rd party batteries

It is a concern that the S-8U62 has been discontinued. Presented with the FS7 SWIT may bring that model back, or come out with a newer one that solves FS7 compatibility.

I would tell folks that the FS7 battery slot is very deep, and I think it might render the placement of the USB and DTap connections on the S-8U63 essentially worthless. The DTap really needs to be on the rear like the S-8U62
 
Lenilenapi said:
Josh,
Maybe i'm missing something , but I don't understand the big deal about getting chipped batteries. Just get a pig tail battery with D tap then D tap, then just get D tap cable out for your other items, you can get them split 2 3 or even 4 ways. Your using the same amount of battery power. Its just one extra wire and more ultimate flexibility.
Click to expand...

Just preference. If I'm going to put the battery into the camera, it would be nice to eliminate an extra cable that can be pinched/broken, lost, forgotten, etc. as well as the D-tap splitter. I have a V-mount plate, so I can run cables from that and shoot all day from one battery if I need to. If I bought Sony or SWIT batteries, I'd prefer them to work natively for simplicity (and the battery level readout is a plus, too.)

Viddovation said:
It is a concern that the S-8U62 has been discontinued. Presented with the FS7 SWIT may bring that model back, or come out with a newer one that solves FS7 compatibility.

I would tell folks that the FS7 battery slot is very deep, and I think it might render the placement of the USB and DTap connections on the S-8U63 essentially worthless. The DTap really needs to be on the rear like the S-8U62
Click to expand...
That was another reason for sending my S-8U63's back. The D-tap is on top and I don't think I could get a cable into it. I would need either a rear D-tap or a longer batter (like an 85wh or so)
 
Viddovation said:
It is a concern that the S-8U62 has been discontinued. Presented with the FS7 SWIT may bring that model back, or come out with a newer one that solves FS7 compatibility.

I would tell folks that the FS7 battery slot is very deep, and I think it might render the placement of the USB and DTap connections on the S-8U63 essentially worthless. The DTap really needs to be on the rear like the S-8U62
Click to expand...

Putting my tinfoil hat on makes me think that Sony made the recess deep enough so you wouldn't use the d-tap connector batteries and stick with Sony's own.

With that being said, I bought the Sony bp-u90 battery with my FS7 and it lasts forever. But it is a shame that there isn't an external power socket for other bits.
 
epicdream said:
Putting my tinfoil hat on makes me think that Sony made the recess deep enough so you wouldn't use the d-tap connector batteries and stick with Sony's own.

With that being said, I bought the Sony bp-u90 battery with my FS7 and it lasts forever. But it is a shame that there isn't an external power socket for other bits.
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I thought about picking up two BP-U90s but I'm just going to use my existing Tilta v-mount plate until I see what the third-party battery situation looks like.

Do the BP-U90s stick out from the back of the camera much? It would be great to see a pic if you have one!
 
jshbckr said:
I thought about picking up two BP-U90s but I'm just going to use my existing Tilta v-mount plate until I see what the third-party battery situation looks like.

Do the BP-U90s stick out from the back of the camera much? It would be great to see a pic if you have one!
Click to expand...

Funnily enough, thanks to the huge chasm that is the battery slot, the 90 sticks out, perhaps an inch or so!

I'll get a pic of it in the morning!
 
Now you guys have me worried as well. Can anyone post a pic of the battery slot and preferably also one with one of these batteries in it. How deep is it? How far away is the external power plug and is that a Sony plug or 4 pin XLR .
Have you looked at the Swintronix EX-L96?
I have 3 of those. 4 of the S-8U62. It looks like those are available on Amazon.
I thought I saw a photo somewhere of the Swits working on an FS7
 
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I have two of the original Switronix Series 7 EX-L96 with pigtail. Any indication of whether these work?

Ned
 
Not sure about your Switronix, but as they provide the pigtail, they should work.

As I 'll use the FS7 soon, I ordered 2 of the Swit S-8U62 batteries with pigtail and
D-Tap out. If they work as described by some users already I'll get 2 more and
be happy with a very low price battery solution.

As these are already discontinued, they are hard to get though!
 
OK, here are some pictures for you to get an idea.

The first is showing how far the U90 Sony battery sticks out.

IMG_8930.jpg

The next is showing the Swit 62 battery with the fly lead connected and the D-Tap plug exposed.

IMG_8936.jpg

The final on is with no battery
IMG_8937.jpg

Hope this helps!
 
So does the BP-U60 come close to flush with the back?

While we're talking batteries, I suspect that when it is available, many of us will get the $2000 back, use V-mount batteries, and never look back. I suspect that once the back goes on, and we get used to the Prores it supplies, it will almost never come off.
 
I intend to use V mounts for the most part but will still want to be able to go for a day on standard batteries for more run n gun jobs where I can't lug too much stuff around
 
Jim Ritscher said:
While we're talking batteries, I suspect that when it is available, many of us will get the $2000 back, use V-mount batteries, and never look back. I suspect that once the back goes on, and we get used to the Prores it supplies, it will almost never come off.
Click to expand...

I think I won't get that additional back. It does ProRes - but "only" HD.
It makes the camera so much larger, which I don't like for handheld
doco work.

I ordered two of the already discontinued Swit S-8U62 shown above and
may order two more if they work nice. I got a very good deal from some
demo units used a few times at my dealers office.
4 of the Swits cost me as much as 1 of the new Sony BP-U60T batteries.
I loose the "fuel gauge" in the display but this isn't rally an issue for me
as I always like to have a 2nd batterie with me.

Case closed for me.
 
Update on the Swit S-8U62:

I have them here and they work. The included D-Tap out is a little on
the short side and I fear that the cable won't live that long.

Nevertheless: They are a good and cheap alternative to the Sony BP-Us.
 
There are still some available.

The last batch so to say.

If anybody is interested I have a dealer here in germany that sells used but in
good condition for €75 each.
That might not be the ideal solution for the future, but you can start and wait for the
manufacturers to develop something that works without D-Tap in our FS7.
 
Not sure if it's been mentioned, but how many BP-U 60 batteries do you need for a days shoot? Like 12 hours or so?

I believe Sony mentioned about 3 hours for each battery? But on paper is usually shorter than real life shoots as the camera is sometimes off and on.

I'm hoping to not have to buy more than three BP-U 60s + the small 30 that comes with the camera.
 
Eric, do you know how used they are?
I have plenty - 6 60's and 3 90's but also use them to run V mt LED's with an adapter. might consider a few more.
 
gene_can_sing said:
Not sure if it's been mentioned, but how many BP-U 60 batteries do you need for a days shoot? Like 12 hours or so?

I believe Sony mentioned about 3 hours for each battery? But on paper is usually shorter than real life shoots as the camera is sometimes off and on.

I'm hoping to not have to buy more than three BP-U 60s + the small 30 that comes with the camera.
Click to expand...
I have 3 60's and the 30. I feel I need 1 more 60 for filming events all day. There are times I leave the camera on just so I'm ready as action happens. Right now I have to turn the cam off to keep the batts going. This is shooting in 1080 Intra. Haven't shot 4K all day yet which I would imagine would use more battery.
 
Anyone here have the BP-U90's? The 60's seem way more popular, but 90's would be nice for less battery changes. But damn... the 90's are expensive!

I have a Watt Hour question.

The BP-U60's are listed at 56 WH. The Bp-U90's are listed at 85 WH. 85-56 = 29, so does that mean in THEORY the 90's should last about 1/3 longer than the 60's?
 
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