Another way to power the camera??

[filmmaker77]

Thanks everyone for all the info. Now it's just going to be a matter of trying them all out and seeing which way wins. Unfortunate that simply plugging it in is such a possibly 'risky' choice for a machine in the modern age. Kooky.
Onward and upward.

 

[HybridCreations]

Using mains (AC) to run a camera can be a bit of a risk if the camera is connected to any other device (computer, monitor, etc) as you now have created a path through the camera for a conducted event. Granted, that in normal circumstances, this isn't and issue, but if any connected device has excessive leakage current or if there are any faults, then the camera is most certainly at risk.

If you must run the camera from the mains, then if at all possible, avoid any other connections which are mains powered to avoid any possible issues.

... I thought Silm's problem was because he completed a circuit....from having the camera plugged in and then running firewire to a DVD player that was plugged in on the same circuit. Simply plugging the camera in should not have anywhere near the same effect. This is just what I got from KHMuse's explanation in both threads.

It's not risky to simply run power to your camera. You will be fine just shooting with it. I went back and reread this thread and I have to ask, you don't have 2 batteries for each camera? Why not just charge them from the wall and switch as needed? You're going to have to change tapes anyway, no? This is not because of any risk to the camera, just so you're not tethered to a wall wherever you go.

-Ryan

 

[filmmaker77]

I'm sure I'll end up going with batteries. It's just...one more thing to intrupt the flow. I know I can't get around tape changes (yet...Firestore) but anything technical that might interrupt a take, not unlike the loading/changing headache of film, enabling the actors to stay in the moment and keep the flow going, I'm trying to eliminate. I'm ultimately trying to tighten up the process so that all we need to worry about is what we're capturing on 'film'.

I love this board and I'm glad I joined.
Now I'm off to try and raise some cash for the project. Ooh fun.