C200: Moza Air 2

Moza offered to refund the purchase of new batteries. Had to order an $89 DJI battery to sell the Ronin-M, so did some research and found Samsung INR18650 30Q cells (4, button top, 15A max) for $24 for the Moza Air 2. Manual states INR18650D250 and found this: http://www.portapower.com/index.php/products_info/index/c_id/33/product_id/37143. Emailed Moza to get the max current needed, they replied: 10A, so the 15A Samsungs should be OK. Moza will begin selling 4 LG's for $49 (on B&H pre-sale). The original batteries appear to be a kind of raised flat top at 67mm length. The flat tops are 65mm, and most appear recessed (so won't work). The button top Samsungs are flat tops with a button top welded on and match the ~67mm originals. Also ordered a set of ATK protected cells with a 10A limit (68mm length). Will know if the issue was batteries or gimbal soon :) When power is working, the gimbal works really well, so worth the effort to figure this out.

While the DJI and similar batteries are a black box, there's a lot of interesting info on battery capacity, current ratings, and chemical makeup for the 18650 batteries: https://www.18650batterystore.com/Best-18650-Battery-Guide-s/142.htm , https://batterybro.com/blogs/18650-.../18880255-battery-chemistry-finally-explained

4.2v is what the 18650 should produce after charging, down to 2.75v at cut-off (Amprobe meter was accurate).

Really appreciate the reliability of original Canon, Sony, and Panasonic camera batteries! It's the Wild West out there in powering everything else (though third party Sony NPF batteries have been OK).
 
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puredrifting said:
Seems crazy to try to fly a camera as big and as heavy as the C200 on a one-handed gimbal. Let us know how it works in the real world, how long you can hold before getting the shakes, how your back and shoulder muscles hold up. Post some footage if you have time
it would be interesting to see how this actually performs.
Click to expand...


I just used a Ronin S for few selected shots on a smaller ad campaign. Asking the AC, when needed, to disable/enable autofocus on a C200 via wifi connected device.
I couldn't shoot all day like this, but I'm surprised how long I made it. Few were 2-3 min takes with the 50 1.2, close focus. Those were tiring enough I was handling the gimbal to the AC to rest a moment. But shooting the same thing last year, I would have needed a steadicam operator
Great combo

ronin s.jpg
 
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jcs said:
Moza offered to refund the purchase of new batteries. Had to order an $89 DJI battery to sell the Ronin-M, so did some research and found Samsung INR18650 30Q cells (4, button top, 15A max) for $24 for the Moza Air 2. Manual states INR18650D250 and found this: http://www.portapower.com/index.php/products_info/index/c_id/33/product_id/37143. Emailed Moza to get the max current needed, they replied: 10A, so the 15A Samsungs should be OK. Moza will begin selling 4 LG's for $49 (on B&H pre-sale). The original batteries appear to be a kind of raised flat top at 67mm length. The flat tops are 65mm, and most appear recessed (so won't work). The button top Samsungs are flat tops with a button top welded on and match the ~67mm originals. Also ordered a set of ATK protected cells with a 10A limit (68mm length). Will know if the issue was batteries or gimbal soon :) When power is working, the gimbal works really well, so worth the effort to figure this out.

While the DJI and similar batteries are a black box, there's a lot of interesting info on battery capacity, current ratings, and chemical makeup for the 18650 batteries: https://www.18650batterystore.com/Best-18650-Battery-Guide-s/142.htm , https://batterybro.com/blogs/18650-.../18880255-battery-chemistry-finally-explained

4.2v is what the 18650 should produce after charging, down to 2.75v at cut-off (Amprobe meter was accurate).

Really appreciate the reliability of original Canon, Sony, and Panasonic camera batteries! It's the Wild West out there in powering everything else (though third party Sony NPF batteries have been OK).
Click to expand...

I've been using the 18650s on both the Crane 1 and 2 and the little Crane M uses the fatter, shorter 26500s. I ordered some third party batteries to replace both and had very mixed results. So when I bought the Crane 2, I bought a spare set of the Zhiyun branded 18650s. The Crane 2 lasts a ridiculously long time on one charge, like three FULL shoot days so I have never needed to change them during a shoot yet, I just have the spare set "just in case". I did buy one of the no name chargers all over Amazon that actually displays the voltage and time used and remaining to full charge and the 18650s stop charging at 4.1v. The nice thing is, the charger (an Eastshine S2), was dirt cheap, under $20.00, and it charges both the 18650s and the 26500s.

I agree with what you say about the stock batteries, the Canons, as you know from owning your C300 MKII, are a complete rip off but boy are they reliable and work well, I give them that. I have one each of the BP-A30 and BP-A60 and together, they get me through a 12-14 hours shooting day with the C200. I also have a pile of the Watson Sony NPFs for powering the Luxli Cello LED and my Mix Pre 3 and so far, they are pretty solid too. I wish Watson made the 18650s. I don't like the battery setup on the Ronin S, too proprietary and limited.
 
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Alvise Tedesco said:
I just used a Ronin S for few selected shots on a smaller ad campaign. Asking the AC, when needed, to disable/enable autofocus on a C200 via wifi connected device.
I couldn't shoot all day like this, but I'm surprised how long I made it. Few were 2-3 min takes with the 50 1.2, close focus. Those were tiring enough I was handling the gimbal to the AC to rest a moment. But shooting the same thing last year, I would have needed a steadicam operator
Great combo

View attachment 134540
Click to expand...

I want to see those biceps Alvise! I've tried that with my C200 and it was so unbalanced and ridiculous I stopped, that's why I bought the X-T3, such a better way to gimbal.
 
puredrifting said:
I want to see those biceps Alvise! I've tried that with my C200 and it was so unbalanced and ridiculous I stopped, that's why I bought the X-T3, such a better way to gimbal.
Click to expand...

Not much to see on my biceps. Not at all. And sure It was just few shots. I had another shot recently were 95% was gimbal and I chose an A7III on a Crane 2 (loved to have had an X-T3 then). That was light!
But I like the C200 very much. We will have lots of VFX on this and I'm not sure an X-T3 would cope well with that and saturated colours


rumble.jpg
 
Finally found some batteries that had the right specs and would fit (Samsung 15W 3000mAh button top). Battery tolerance is critical, and these barely fit (on the short side (but sufficient to make solid contact- see comment below); another brand was too long). The gimbal powered up and operated, but appeared like it lacked torque (full charge) and thus the Moza tech comment that 10W was sufficient may not be accurate (or these batteries don't provide 15W). Further, with rapid movement it powered off (gimbal load or short/bug?)- so that's it.
 
Hi all. Been using gimbals since 2012 with all sort of brands until now with Moza. I have new testing their Moza Air 2 prototype to the current versions. And found to be probably my favorite. Don’t get me wrong. There are some short coming especially with customer service but they are trying. lol

Here’s a battery I have tested and works with the Air 2 and last the same as the moza brand. 4PCS 3000mAh 3.7v 18650 Li-ion... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073XHBK9V?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

If anyone need help with their air 2 please send me a pct message, will try to help. If I can’t Ill make sure gudsen is aware of it.
 
mdifilm said:
Hi all. Been using gimbals since 2012 with all sort of brands until now with Moza. I have new testing their Moza Air 2 prototype to the current versions. And found to be probably my favorite. Don’t get me wrong. There are some short coming especially with customer service but they are trying. lol

Here’s a battery I have tested and works with the Air 2 and last the same as the moza brand. 4PCS 3000mAh 3.7v 18650 Li-ion... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073XHBK9V?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

If anyone need help with their air 2 please send me a pct message, will try to help. If I can’t Ill make sure gudsen is aware of it.
Click to expand...

Link doesn't work?

I found that these work https://www.18650batterystore.com/Samsung-18650-p/samsung-30q-button-top.htm - tolerance is limited- ~67mm, a hair more would work, but less is going to be too loose. 68+mm won't fit. However the gimbal was a little sluggish vs. the originals. 20A might work better: https://www.18650batterystore.com/18650-p/samsung-25r-button-top.htm (closer to original battery spec at 2500mAh).

The Moza Air 2 is a really nice gimbal- unfortunately they have a QC problem with their electronics: lots of hardware failures and the software has obvious bugs that would be easy to fix. I also tried to help them with improving the firmware, however they've moved on to the next gimbal, the Moza X. Guess that's their biz model (+ limited support team?). I had good dialog with their support team through Amazon- they are indeed trying, however their management and support model needs work if they don't plan to fix hardware and software issues.
 
Just wondering if anyone has had luck buying replacement batteries for the Moza Air 2. I have 3 good batteries and 1 dead reading 0 volts. Not crazy about spending $49 on B & H for the same cells.
 
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