VERY long life battery options
- Thread starter Steslat
- Start date
mkfotos.com
Well-known member
I've bought several of these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045JXSHO and they each last 3-4 hours. If you want longer than that, there are other options.
Greg Smith
Veteran
I've found my genuine Panasonic VBG-6's will run my AF100 for three to 3-1/2 hours with both the EVF and LCD turned on, using the Lumix 14-140mm lens (which takes some power of its own). If you're getting a lot less than that and aren't also running an external light, monitor or something else off the battery, I think you may have a hardware problem with your camera -- only an hour doesn't sound right to me.
If you need REALLY long duration performance, you'll probably want to look into one of the V-mount or Anton-Bauer plates for the camera.
- Greg
If you need REALLY long duration performance, you'll probably want to look into one of the V-mount or Anton-Bauer plates for the camera.
- Greg
Or see how I did it on the cheap.
Just add a coaxial socket on the box to fit the charger<->camera cable plug.
Zachary Halberd
Member
My Switronix Powerbase 70 lasts nearly 14-15 hours on one charge. Get the the larger adapter cable instead of the D-tap adapter cable. It has the tendency to mount loosely and disconnect. Design flaw. This setup is a great counterbalance as well. I just wrapped on a doc in Illinois and never had to pull my AF-100 batteries out of my bag once. I just charged this guy up every eve in the hotel and was always confident I could roll for hours. Z
Wow, that Switronix Powerbase 70 sounds like a great solution to long shoots.
So the 24 inch cable versus the 12 inch cable, right?
So the 24 inch cable versus the 12 inch cable, right?
I think your right, there must be some fault thats sucking the life out of the batts as Im getting under an hour with the pani battery. Its getting to the stage where I darent use the LCD!
Steve
Zachary Halberd
Member
Just follow this link. $349.00 and you are sorted for power period. It comes with a 1/4" screw hole at the base of the battery that I mounted an old CAVISION 15mm rod baseplate to. I basically slide the battery onto the rods when building the camera, find the balance point, and lock the lever. THe battery also has a removable tripod-plate on the top that you can then use to mount other accessories or add more weight depending on your camera.
CraftyClown
Active member
Watch out with the cheaper batteries. I bought two like these and on the surface they seem fine and give about three and a half hours of juice, like the official Panasonic batteries. However recently on a job that involved recording three times a day, for about two and a quarter hours at a time, I noticed that the non Panasonic batteries, despite showing three and a half hours at the beginning, actually dis-charged far quicker (more like two and a half hours)
I wonder whether the non Panasonic batteries discharge quicker when focusing and zooming? The Panasonic ones certainly don't.
mkfotos.com
Well-known member
To date these have been 3-4 hours of real world use with a variety of lenses (some fully manual, some Lumix).
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
Zacuto Anton bauer plate powering everything.
adolgin
DVXuser Sponsor
Steve, the camera can not be at fault - it would have melted down from overheating dissipating 3x normal power. You did not mention what size batteries do you have. If you are using a half size Panasonic battery that Panasonic usually includes with a camera, get a real one which should be rated ~5300mah or more. Hope it helps.
janreichle
Member
IDX option is pretty good. I have two of these plus the original Panny. The 3 combined last all day with no worries at all. Usually just switch to the third by the end of the day.
Thats a good point the batts I have used are Pani rated @ 5400mah 39Wh, the Hahnel @ 5400mah 38.9Wh and generics which say 6600mah (they perform worst of all). Also justy to clarify are we talkiing 3 hours of recording time or camera run time (Im referring to recording time)?
Steve
adolgin
DVXuser Sponsor
Unless the camera is in stand by mode, recording or not makes almost no difference, it uses almost the same power. The tape based cameras use a little more power while recording; tapeless ones have to power all the internal electronics all the time. I do not have access to AF100 to actually measure; there might be 10%-20% increase in power drain while recording, still you should be getting several hours of mixed use as others said.
I pressed the button on the PB70 and it arived today. The charger is basically the cheapest POS Ive ever seen (cost £40) and isnt even a branded Switronix charger. The dummy battery is loose and the slightest cable movement disconnests the power from the camera. In principal it looked like the answer to my prayers and Im hoping the replacement doesnt have any issues.
Steve
Steve
Zachary Halberd
Member
Did you get the dummy battery adapter with the D-tap on the end or the one that mounts to the gold pins? The D-tap version like I said is ****. I had went through two of them before B&H told me that it was a design flaw. The larger gold-pin version works like a charm. I've been using it for months now. The charger does what it says on the tin. It plugs in via the D-Tap. Not fancy, but it always does the job. In order to get this much juice, you'll need to carry around a few more Panny batteries, or drop some dosh into a more expensive and less portable v-lock or Anton Bauer system.
adolgin
DVXuser Sponsor
We have this new low profile 3"x2"x.6" DC voltage converter out, connect to any 14-16V battery using AB D-Tap, or XLR4; connect the camera using the dummy battery cable that came with it.
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