Making the A7S mk 2 battery last longer?? Any Suggestions

C

Crossroads Films

Active member
I go through batteries like crazy...I go to set with 5 batteries and they go fast...I turned off the Wifi and put it on Airplane mode but it still drains super quick...Anybody have any ideas or ways they were able to make their battery last longer?
 
Few things that come to mind:
-Turn off IBIS
-Turn down screen brightness
-Maaaaaaybe turn off auto focus? Not really sure about this but it seems as if it is constantly powering the lens motor that it could be a thing.

Me, I just ended up getting more batteries. With six batteries I can run an 8-10hr day without re-charging throughout the day.
 
I wouldn't change the way I work just to get longer battery time, but anyway: I also noted that the battery of my a7S lasted way longer if using manual lenses (the electromagnetic focusing of FE AF lenses seems to use up lots of juice).
 
Turning Airplane Mode on is significant too, specially combined with manual lenses. I find one battery last about 115 mins on average.
 
dang thats waaaay better...I use the AF a lot though...We have these long Steadicam shots and I wanna make sure it stays in focus...is there a way to shut off the AF mid shot while recording...Like a do the tracking walking shot and then come to a stop and I don't want it to accidentally start finding focus on the wall or something so can I stop it and keep it moving...
 
I think with electromagnetic focusing, you're using up juice just by having the camera ON. There's an element that's flreely floating inside the lens, and an electromagnet keeps it at the decided position. It may even use exactly the same amount of power "to keep it in place" and "to move it around". And AFAIK all FE lenses use electromagnetic AF.
 
i use the battery grip and am not preoccupied with the lame performance of dealing with 1 battery at a time. i have 8 batteries. also when using 2 batteries in the grip only 1 battery gets used then when depleted the other kicks in. this makes it easy to change the dead one out if convenient.

david
 
Crossroads Films said:
I go through batteries like crazy...I go to set with 5 batteries and they go fast...I turned off the Wifi and put it on Airplane mode but it still drains super quick...Anybody have any ideas or ways they were able to make their battery last longer?
Click to expand...

Wow, you must be filiming really long takes? The most I have ever gone through is 4 or 5 in a day.
 
mojo43 said:
Wow, you must be filiming really long takes? The most I have ever gone through is 4 or 5 in a day.
Click to expand...

For event coverage you end up filming till you can't film anymore...which in the a7sxx is 30 minutes. Specially weddings or concerts, or depositions or documentaries. When siblings are reconnecting for the first time in 3 decades, you just keep it rolling...no matter what. So the battery just goes.
 
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