970 battery dual charger options

[davidwinters]

I travel a lot in documentary filmmaking mode. When shooting FS100, I love 970 batteries as I can shoot all day with 1 to 3 batts. One for camera, two for a TV Logic 5.6. Currently I'm using the cheap third party trickle chargers, as they pack small. Example But, it takes more than 12 hours to charge a 970 battery, and I have to wiggle the connection to get a "Red" charge light, often the charger will loose connection mid-charge. When on the road, shooting multiple days, I get into capacity deficit after 2 shoot days.

1. Will either of these chargers yield a close to full charge, for 2 batteries, in 12 hours or less?

Pearstone
Sony


I'm inclined to purchase the Sony, as I'm confident I will not have any contact mating issues, with extended use on the road. However, the Pearstone is a dual parallel charger vs the Sony's sequential. Yet, the Sony states "70%" faster charge, does this yield two nearly full batteries in 12 hours?

2. Or, abandon the NP-F battery format and use Anton Bauer Dionic 90 batteries. I own Dionics and chargers, I just don't like the added weight and bulkiness on camera. I haven't located a simple rod free method to mount a Gold Mount plate to the FS.

I need to travel light and fast when shooting docs. Here is a photo from last week, current doc project, shooting in Alaska.

Thanks in advance

 

[matteo1]

Hey,

I've shot in some tough places with the FS100 where light and fast are the golden tickets. Last year, I spent a great amount of time in Tanzania chasing a hunter gatherer group, and I can't imagine having to carry a battery that ways as much as the camera body.

And I just got back from filming in the infield of the Preakness running from area to area. You can probably guess which battery type I favor......

I wouldn't trade the 970s for AB 90s. As you already know the 90s are beasts, big, heavy, and expensive, and you'll have to build a rig of some kind to to mount them.

As far as the dual charger goes, I've only used the Sony and love it. It will definitely charge two batteries completely in 12 hours.

 

[capt chuck]

I can't speak for the two chargers you mention. I've had very good results with Dolgin (if you search for that on b&h you will find a bevy of chargers). I have a 4 position charger 3 for panasonic and one for sony. The connections for both brands are very solid and I have no doubt it would meet your recharge time needs. The Dolgin are more expensive than the ones you listed but thought I'd mention them. By the way, Dolgin has very good support as well, I've never had any trouble with the charger, but just had some general battery application questions and they promptly answered.