FS100 batteries???

HeXman

HeXman

Active member
Hey guys I been trying to find a place where I can buy cheap "working" batteries for the Sony FS100... particularly the NP-F970 batteries.

Since B&H photo is expensive as hell, I went to ebay and I saw a bunch of cheap generic and OEM(from china) batteries, but after reading several threads I found that there are a lot of fake battery manufacturers out there, soooo....

Has anyone bought batteries that actually work? if so, could you guys post the a link or maybe the name of the manufacturer?

Thanks
 
This one : http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150607205529&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

and that: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290488748431&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

both work great for me - one usually takes me trough a whole day of shooting.

But I´m going the v-mount battery route now - one v-mount powers the whole rig - monitor, camera, light, recorder, transmitter, cigarette lighter.

Here is an adapter for the camera. You bolt the adapter on any v-mount and put the dummy battery in the camera. Done.
It also has an additional 12v tap.
gp-dv-s.jpg


http://www.bescor.com/Export33.htm

Frank
 
Last edited:
I mean... As always with batteries, you have like three choices:

1) Buy original brand new batteries from the camera manufacturer - in this case, the Sony NP-F970

2) Buy a better & more expensive professional 3rd party battery - e.g. something from Anton Bauer + Sony F-series adapter

3) Buy cheap chinese knock-offs from eBay. They are maybe not as good as real Sony F-series batteries, but they cost 1/3 of the price or even less, and multiple chinese knock-offs will surely give you more power & a longer life time than just 1 original Sony (for the same price).



http://cgi.ebay.com/z-New-battery-s...s_Chargers&hash=item2a10df680a#ht_4044wt_1109

$19.59, free shipping, for one 6,800 mAh NP-F970 knock-off.

Compare to $129 + tax for a brand new Sony NP-F970, 6,600 mAh, from B&H. With tax it's $140.60

140.61/19.59 ≈ 7.2


You get a bit more than 7 knock-off batteries for the same price as 1 Sony. Even if the Sony last longer (say the typical 1000 charging cycles) than a knock-off (say 500 charging cycles, just to exaggerate, it's probably more), when you add upp 7 knock-offs together...for the same price... I think the knock-offs will always win.

If we stick to the example above you would get a total of 3000-4000 charging cycles and a total of almost 50,000 mAh for the 7.2 knock-offs, versus 1,000 cycles and 6,800 mAh from the single Sony. Same price.
 
How knock-off are those knock-offs anyway? I mean, Sony doesn't make their own batteries - they also have them made somewhere in China - probably in the same factory.
Maybe Sony takes care of the specs - maybe Sony only have their sticker applied, who knows?

The two cheap batteries I have work exactly the same way my Sony battery does - also same specs and is recognized by the FS100.
One even has a power tap - something Sony doesn't provide at any price.

Frank
 
Yepp. They are probably made in the same factory, or something ironic like that. There is probably no big difference. Just making a point of how much bang-for-the-buck you get with knock-off batteries.
 
you do get the benefit of accurate battery level readings from Genuine Sony batteries
real Sony batteries are made in Japan

after seeing some youtube videos of fake/cheap Sony batteries being disected and shown inside out, I was a bit disgusted at the quality of those knockoffs under that plastic shell
 
It's like always. If the budget is tight you can get a lot of bang-for-the-buck with knock-offs. Basically the same **** more or less, but you get 7 for the price of 1. Minor trade-offs like battery level readings, less battery cycles etc.

But if you have the money go pro all the way. Get Anton Bauers or something.
 
Postmaster said:
This one : http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150607205529&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

and that: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290488748431&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

both work great for me - one usually takes me trough a whole day of shooting.

But I´m going the v-mount battery route now - one v-mount powers the whole rig - monitor, camera, light, recorder, transmitter, cigarette lighter.

Here is an adapter for the camera. You bolt the adapter on any v-mount and put the dummy battery in the camera. Done.
It also has an additional 12v tap.
gp-dv-s.jpg


http://www.bescor.com/Export33.htm

Frank
Click to expand...

Thanks Frank!
 
mandrean said:
I mean... As always with batteries, you have like three choices:

1) Buy original brand new batteries from the camera manufacturer - in this case, the Sony NP-F970

2) Buy a better & more expensive professional 3rd party battery - e.g. something from Anton Bauer + Sony F-series adapter

3) Buy cheap chinese knock-offs from eBay. They are maybe not as good as real Sony F-series batteries, but they cost 1/3 of the price or even less, and multiple chinese knock-offs will surely give you more power & a longer life time than just 1 original Sony (for the same price).



http://cgi.ebay.com/z-New-battery-s...s_Chargers&hash=item2a10df680a#ht_4044wt_1109

$19.59, free shipping, for one 6,800 mAh NP-F970 knock-off.

Compare to $129 + tax for a brand new Sony NP-F970, 6,600 mAh, from B&H. With tax it's $140.60

140.61/19.59 ≈ 7.2


You get a bit more than 7 knock-off batteries for the same price as 1 Sony. Even if the Sony last longer (say the typical 1000 charging cycles) than a knock-off (say 500 charging cycles, just to exaggerate, it's probably more), when you add upp 7 knock-offs together...for the same price... I think the knock-offs will always win.

If we stick to the example above you would get a total of 3000-4000 charging cycles and a total of almost 50,000 mAh for the 7.2 knock-offs, versus 1,000 cycles and 6,800 mAh from the single Sony. Same price.
Click to expand...

Mandrean,

Have you tried these batteries before?
 
I've been using chinese knock-off batteries for years in all kinds of cameras and equipment, yes. Especially Sony F-series (NP-F970/NP-F770/NP-F550) and Canon DSLR-batteries (BP-511A/LP-E8). My impression is that they last for about the same amount of minutes but "die" quicker (i.e. shorter lifetime/last fewer charging cycles), though that statement is non-scientifical. Just pure feeling. Maybe placebo.

However, since they are cheaper, in the long run I feel it's more worth to get them when you're on a tight budget than original ones. Like in my theoretical experiment above.
 
Last edited:
mandrean said:
I've been using chinese knock-off batteries for years in all kinds of cameras and equipment, yes. Especially Sony F-series (NP-F970/NP-F770/NP-F550) and Canon DSLR-batteries (BP-511A/LP-E8). My impression is that they last for about the same amount of minutes but "die" quicker (i.e. shorter lifetime/last fewer charging cycles), though that statement is non-scientifical. Just pure feeling. Maybe placebo.

However, since they are cheaper, in the long run I feel it's more worth to get them when you're on a tight budget than original ones. Like in my theoretical experiment above.
Click to expand...

I notice they last like this in the beginning, but they do drop off very quickly. After about 3 months it seemed they lasted half as long on many knockoffs.
 
Rick Burnett said:
I notice they last like this in the beginning, but they do drop off very quickly. After about 3 months it seemed they lasted half as long on many knockoffs.
Click to expand...
I have not noticed that extreme difference in battery time. But even if it exists, for a lot of people knock-offs would still be more worth the money since you get the 7:1 ratio compared to original batteries. You just have to change them more often, but for the same money spent you get more hours in total.
 
For me, I like to buy big long batteries so I can run a whole day off of 2 of them. The 970s do that and I bought the dual charger from Sony. I hate having to charge 4 or 5 batteries the night before a big shoot because I have to remember to switch them. With this setup, I don't. Although I am thinking of doing a dtap solution.
 
The only knock-off batteries I've ever had success with are the Maximal Power brand on Amazon.com. I have used their Canon LP-E6 batteries and now a Sony NP-F970 (?) style and have had no issues. They run actually a tad longer than the official batteries and report their battery level correctly.

FWIW the same brand's LP-E5 (T2i style) batteries sucked. They cut off early. But the Sony NP-F and Canon LP-E6 style have been great! And 1/2 to 1/4 the price.
 
Okay, this here is one of the coolest things I ever saw.
It instantly solves all my battery needs.

A V-mount plate with build in step down converters:
2 x 12V outlet, 7,2 volt outlet, 5V outlet,
build in HDMI splitter, 5Volt USB, 4 spiral wires, and a build in charger.

Comes with 4 spiral cables.

Everything on a 15mm railmount, for- lo and behold: 163 Euros (about $230)

I made an extra thread for it.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...-sink-from-one-v-mount.&p=2379961#post2379961

Frank
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top