battery mount HPX300

Cees Mutsaers

Cees Mutsaers

Veteran
What is the story behind the battery mount. I understand you have two types the V-type and the AB 3 point mount. The HPX300 has the latter as standard but I understand that you can buy an adapter plate to switch to the V-type mount. Why should I want to do this ? Is the V-type mount technically better and is that the reason why it is more popular (and this way you can use a battery of a collegue when yours is empty)?
 
If you're integrating the camera into a facility that already uses V-mounts that's one option. I stuck with AB's because I had a beta-cam that's collecting dust but one of the pro-logics is still working.
 
I don't know about v-mount batteries being more popular, I see Anton Bauers all the time now. For me, they're also the best you can get with their high runtimes and "smart" recharging. You might pay a bit more for them, but that's one area I really feel is worth it - I need to be able to count on my battery.
 
It depends if you already have money invested in one type of battery. I have used the v-mount for years and they have worked very well. I bought a JVC-200U a couple years ago, and it came with 2 Anton Bauer Dionic batteries. I did not like the camera, or batteries. The batteries disgarge in only a couple of weeks. On the JVC-200U I couldn't get two hours off one battery. I tried them on the HPX300 and have been shocked at how well they work. I have shot 3 hours straight and still had almost 1/2 of the battery left. I bought the V-mount adapter, in case I needed to use my other batteries. It works well, but I'll rareley need it now.
 
@dmivideo - to be fair, ALL batteries begin to lose their charge when they're off the charger - some more quickly than others of course. AB also does state in the Dionic 90 manual to leave the batteries on the charger until ready for use.

Regarding your JVC - that's weird you couldn't get more than 2 hours. I used a Dionic 90 on a JVC 110 for two years and routinely got 4+ hours per charge. I wonder if there was something amiss inside your 200 (like a short)? BTW, I agree with you on not really liking the JVC. They felt so plastic and fragile. Indeed, we had to send ours in due to the handle coming loose and wobbling back and forth!

Oh well, we both have 300s now, right? :)
 
I asked this question because when I went to a dealer of equipment to buy a complete HPX300 setup he adviced me to buy the V-type adapter because the IDX batteries are much cheaper than the AB and are almost as good. Furthermore he claimed that the V type mount (introduced by Sony) is the more used mount and the adapter would make the HPX more versatile.

Hearing all your comments I think I stick with the two AB Dionics 90 with the dual 2722 charger.
 
Anton Bauer are the more common battery type. The Dionic 90s won't power even the HPX300 for very long, but it is nice to have them in your kit if you're shooting a great deal from the shoulder and without too many accessories like assistant's monitor or Light Panel.

Hytron 120 / 140 are the way to go - they last a very long time on the HPX300.

e
 
This is the first time I read the dionic90 does not power the HPX very long. I read that in real life on one charge you can get 3 hours with the Dionic90 which seems quit a lot and if you have 2 batteries isn't that enough for 1 day shooting???



Erik Olson said:
Anton Bauer are the more common battery type. The Dionic 90s won't power even the HPX300 for very long, but it is nice to have them in your kit if you're shooting a great deal from the shoulder and without too many accessories like assistant's monitor or Light Panel.

Hytron 120 / 140 are the way to go - they last a very long time on the HPX300.

e
Click to expand...
 
That's not my experience. Next time we have it up for a day is doing some interviews in a week. We have three D90s that were purchased with the camera. We tend to run on mains for that kind of shooting, but I'll go Dionic and let you know. It isn't three hours, even with the LCD shut.

e
 
Individual results always vary - how much you use servo zoom, LCD, whether you're powering a light and wireless mic, etc. All I can say is that I am routinely getting 3+ hours on my Dionic 90 with the 300; and that's with using the LCD at least 3/4 of the time (but no light, etc. - just the camera).

Erik - could there be an issue with your 300 (short that's drawing excess power, etc.)? It's not normal for the Dionic to give you short run times.
 
I'll run three batteries and let you know. I don't think it is three hours, but I could be mistaken. Before anyone recommends it, the profile is set to D90. ;)

e
 
Erik Olson said:
Anton Bauer are the more common battery type. The Dionic 90s won't power even the HPX300 for very long, but it is nice to have them in your kit if you're shooting a great deal from the shoulder and without too many accessories like assistant's monitor or Light Panel.

Hytron 120 / 140 are the way to go - they last a very long time on the HPX300.

e
Click to expand...

I'm running IDX Endura 10s .. and they last about 3 hours or so .. I'm
not running any other stuff (except the wireless mic). Most of my stuff
is V ..

jeff
 
In comparing the V-type vs AB regional differences are probably a factor. From what I hear US is more of the AB territory, while Europe is V-lock. In comparing run time the objective tool to use is WH rating of the battery. Dionic 90 (90 wh) will run the same camera for about the same time as a 90W V-lock battery. Putting the camera in pause does not necessary reduce power consumption to 0, same for using zoom, etc. so depending on how it is used, results could vary.
Also, the AB Dionics have sophisticated circuitry for charge monitoring and the LCD display, so it does self discharge powering that circuit, if left off the charger for long periods of time. Small price to pay if you get BMW performance in return in my opinion...
 
Has anyone switched out the AB plate for a V-mount plate on the camera (not an adapter, but rather taking off the AB mount and replacing it)?

I assume all the battery features will still work?

- Mikko
 
I changed the AB-Plate with an IDX "P-VS2" V-Mount Plate for myself.
It has a D-Tap output and a syncro switch for the headlight.
The change was very easy and all battery features a working.

In Germany V-Mount akkus are very popular and you can get very
good deals cause there are different manufacturers you can buy from:
IDX, Omega, Batstar, SWIT

Greets Martin
 
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