F55: Battery Choice - F5/F55

H

HD Gear Guru

Well-known member
Battery power for these cameras is a question with some due to limited power output options, especially when using the R5 recorder - only 1 Hirose output. How have you decided to power you cameras, and provide external power options as well?

Are the Switronix XP-L130S or similar batteries with built in D-Tap a product that people like using? In general how have they held up over time (on other cameras of course)?

Anton Bauer Gold Mount is an option with the added V-Lock to Gold Mount plate.

Do you have other options that you have chosen to work with.

Thanks for any input.
 
I bought the Sony batteries so I could stay small with the camera on some jobs. Jobs where it stays on the dolly/sticks all day AND working with R5 will probably use some bigger batts from another kit.

I was pleasantly surprised that the Sony batts charge FAST.

For accy power I'll likely be getting the Solid Camera top dovetail plate that gives 3 2-pin 12V Lemos.
 
As Nate mentioned, our Doveplate has 3 12v 2-pin Lemo's with the wiring integrated into the plates to keep thing clean. If you add the Scatter Box on the back you get some new features that solve some problems that kept me frustrated on set for years.

The Scatter Box (subject to a better name) attaches to the V-lock on the camera and has either a v-lock or AB plate on the back for battery operation. The power is presented on 2 12v lemos and 2 12v P-Taps that can feed any of the usual suspects including our top plate. There is a remote input from the cameras 4-pin Hirose that automatically switches the accessories on/off with the camera switch. That way you have one switch for the entire system. If you prefer, you can overide the automatic function and lock all outputs to ON as well. There is also a 4-pin XLR input so you can use a power supply without losing your power distro as you would if you plugged directly into the camera itself. The 4-pin XLR is on a slide so it physically retracts into the body of the box to keep the camera nice a tidy. We also have a 24v option for those that want to properly power C-motion or Preston systems that will replace one of the 12V Lemo's with a 3-pin Fischer. It will keep things very streamlined and easy, providing self resetting outputs in convenient places without taking up any space on the bottom of the camera that can and should be used for LWS, shoulder pads, studio bridge plates, etc....


Scatter Box.4.jpg2013-02-26 15.42.39.jpg
 
I worked with Switronix to create a version of the JetPack for use on the F5/F55. Actually it can work on any V-mount camera, and can be used with Anton Bauer or V-mount batteries. Three ARRI Alexa-standard outputs in 12v (2x Fischer-2 and one Lemo-2), two P-Taps and even one 5v USB (power a Paralinx, a downconverter or charge your phone). Interesting timing for this thread -- my blog video for it just went live today.

http://blog.abelcine.com/2013/03/06/at-the-bench-switronix-jetpack-breakout-box/
 
Somewhere close to 3 hours, on an F55 shooting 1080p. Every time I put a new batt on, the battery info display says something like 220 minutes, then goes down to 194 after less than 26 minutes on the camera.

In the specs, its says the camera draws 24 or 25W shooting 4K. But it looks like it might be less if you're shooting 1080p and not using all the SDI outputs. And the Sony batts are 60w/h.
 
I'm using 96wh battery which wasn't full and already have 3 hours on meter. (F55 in 4k xavc mode). But mostly standby time navigating through menu, etc...

Nate was is point of evf going blank (white) when your eye is not near VF? Freaked me out I thought my cam was defective.
 
starcentral said:
I'm using 96wh battery which wasn't full and already have 3 hours on meter. (F55 in 4k xavc mode). But mostly standby time navigating through menu, etc...

Nate was is point of evf going blank (white) when your eye is not near VF? Freaked me out I thought my cam was defective.
Click to expand...

To protect it from the sun
 
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