Battery solution for the FS700 & 7Q+ combo?

R

ReelFilmGeek

Well-known member
So I've invested into the FS700 and 7Q+ combo and I love it but I seem to be pushing it on battery life at times when recording. What is everyone doing battery wise for their cameras? I've looked at possible doing a v mount battery but that adds even more length to an already long camera. At the same time though it seems like a wise investment over just adding more sony batteries that I have to rotate and charge constantly. What's everyones solution for getting through a full day shoot?
 
I've used a rod mounted V-mount plate with D-tap outputs and then a D-tap>FS700 adapter. Yes, the rig becomes a bit longer but IMO it's worth it since you don't need a battery on the O7Q. The balance is better with a battery behind the camera than on the monitor.
 
I do something similar but with Anton Bauer batteries and a D-tap splitter to power both the FS700 and 7Q+ simultaneously
 
I have 3 sony batteries I use for the O7Q because it is pickier than the camera and I use 3 knock-off batteries for the camera. I know it's kind of ghetto sounding but I can shoot for an entire day like that. If I'm on a film I just rotate the batteries into the charger. V-lock is probably better, but my rig is a bit lighter and very minor thing - has less cables.

All this is to say - if you have enough batteries, you can get by, probably a bit easier than you may realize.
 
fatman said:
I have 3 sony batteries I use for the O7Q because it is pickier than the camera and I use 3 knock-off batteries for the camera. I know it's kind of ghetto sounding but I can shoot for an entire day like that. If I'm on a film I just rotate the batteries into the charger. V-lock is probably better, but my rig is a bit lighter and very minor thing - has less cables.

All this is to say - if you have enough batteries, you can get by, probably a bit easier than you may realize.
Click to expand...

What size are the batteries? I thought the camera was just as picky with the batteries, but if that's not so I could probably dedicate my sony batteries to the O7Q+ and get through a day.
 
fatman said:
I have 3 sony batteries I use for the O7Q because it is pickier than the camera and I use 3 knock-off batteries for the camera. I know it's kind of ghetto sounding but I can shoot for an entire day like that. If I'm on a film I just rotate the batteries into the charger. V-lock is probably better, but my rig is a bit lighter and very minor thing - has less cables.

All this is to say - if you have enough batteries, you can get by, probably a bit easier than you may realize.
Click to expand...

This is how I roll as well. With O7Q it is best to use a dual battery plate. Been using a Hawkwoods plate on mine for years now and can get through a day with four non-Sony DSTE brand batteries that cost about 20 dollars each. I have two big Swit brand batteries for the FS700. They actually drain sooner then the Odyssey. Last around 3-4 hours.

I can get through a day with those on most situations. I've clocked in 740 hours on my FS700 and slightly less on the Odyssey. All batteries still going strong.
 
I've always used Sony NPF970 batteries. I have 4 of them and a dual charger and never had any problems even I shoot 4k material. V-lock would make an already heavy and lengthy camera even heavier and long.
 
Just thought I'd point out:

A Sony NPF-970 weighs 350g. Looking at a few specs online, a 95w V-lock seems to average about 0.75-0.8kg, while the 160w models are usually about 1KG. Considering that you might have 3 NPF-970's on your rig at any given time (one for camera, two for recorder), It actually works out lighter to use V-locks. And that weight can be distributed in a way that actually makes the camera balance nicely on the shoulder too. Plus it opens up a lot more options for mounting the recorder when you don't have the batteries bulging out the back - for example you could have it sitting flush against the camera body on the right hand side as an AC monitor, without throwing the balance of the camera off centre too much. Same goes for the V-lock mount itself - because you no longer need to access the battery compartment, you can almost mount a battery plate right up against the back of the camera (leaving just enough room for a 90° SDI cable), so the overall length does not increase too much.

So weight and balance are not very good arguments against using V-locks. Though personally, I still use the Sony batteries because I've got a dozen of them (mix of genuine and generic), and replacing them with V-locks would set me back a couple of grand.
 
I also just use batteries, not saying it's the best solution, but it's what I do. I think the battery charger is the key. I have a Sony quad charger (don't know the model off hand) but I can load 4 batteries however it only charges two at a time. I have 6 of the NP970 batteries which will get me through (2) 12 hour days. I have a dual battery plate for the 7q and I use two of the smaller Sony NP batteries, can't remember the model number but I believe they are discontinued. Anyway, I can easily get through a 12 hour day using 4 of them.

I can then charge the 7q batteries over night, throw the three used camera batteries on charger in the morning and grab the other three unused 970's for the next days shoot...rinse and repeat the next day.
 
Hm might have to do tests as I think some of my batteries may just be crapping out on me then. They have been abused over the years so maybe that's my issue. Thanks for the input everyone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top