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what batts are you going to use?
This thread and tremendous bargain is attracting a great deal of attention and I've been getting asked questions about Scarlet X powering options too. I thought some thoughts here for potential new Scarlet X owners to look at. Typically when it comes to power there are 3 ways to look at this.
DSMC Side Handle + RedVolts (30 watt hour)
Pros: The DSMC Side handle provides additional functionality and customization to your Scarlet or Epic. It also gives you another useful grip on the side of the camera. One of the biggest advantages to the DSMC Side Handle is that it provides the smallest, most compact, and one of the lightest weight camera configurations possible.
Cons: The 30 watt hour RedVolt will only power your camera for approximately 26 minutes. For certain styles of shooting this really isn't an issue, however in typical production environments it's usually desired to have more camera up time.
Personal Note: Whatever power solution you end up getting I still have my DSMC Side Handle attached to my camera 99% of the time. The ability to have additional hot keys for things like focus and exposure tools is very handy and practical. Also having it always at your disposal really helps when you need to get the weight down on your rig if you flying on a Steadicam/Glidecam or operating from portable jib. For me it's a must have piece of kit and it's worth purchasing 2-4 RedVolts just to have it as an option even if your primarily source of power is something else.
Pro Battery Module (Quad or Dual) + RedVolts (30Wh) or RedVolt XLs (90Wh)
Pros: The Pro Battery Modules provides a very clean camera rig by attaching securely to the camera via Module Adapter. This could be desirable if you don't want additional cables hanging around. The Quad Battery Module allows the use of 4 RedVolts or 2 RedVolt XLs at a time and gives you the added ability to hot swap the batteries while the camera is running. These Battery Modules add additional length to the camera body, especially with the Quad. Some users like that additional length and weight to help balance out how the camera feels on the shoulder (and even on the tripod). Currently the Quad Battery Module will operate a camera for approximately 3 hours running on 2x RedVolt XLs or 4x Redvolts, while the Dual will operate the camera for approximately 55 minutes on RedVolts.
Cons: RedVolts are the new kids on the block and are not exactly a production standard. This may or may not be important to you.
Personal Note: While RedVolts are not a production standard they are indeed compact and easy to pack. If your focus is on a light weight total shooting package they are great way to go. There are two charging options as well. The Quad RedVolt Charger, which aptly charges 4 RedVolts or 2 RedVolt XLs at a time. There is also the single Redvolt charging DSMC Travel Charger. The DSMC Travel Charger is very compact, but I recommend purchasing two if you do not purchase the Quad. Note that you can't charge a RedVolt XL on the DSMC Travel Charger.
V-Mount or AB-Mount "brick" Batteries (68-225Wh) or Red Bricks (140Wh) + Red or 3rd Party Battery Plate
Pros: V-Mount and AB-Mount batteries are the production standard around the world. Because of this you can get them nearly everywhere (in case you drop one in the ocean). With a variety of battery capacities you can choose exactly what works for you in terms of weight and price. Certain battery designs now have added the ability to "stack" batteries on each other and beyond that you can get a split battery plate to use two batteries at the same time. This is extremely useful if you need to have the camera on for very long durations. There are the typical 2 and 4 brick chargers out there as well as travel chargers that will connect through a battery's D-Tap port if it has one.
Cons: They can indeed get heavy quickly. A set of 4 larger capacity batteries quickly gets up to around 10lbs. Also, the size of the standard 2 and 4 battery chargers are not exactly compact either.
Personal Note: If you plan on working in a commercial environment or renting out your camera a V or AB Mount solution is a must in reality (at least to me).
Misc. Thoughts
When looking at a battery solution carefully consider weight, cost, physical size, charge time, and run time. I've helped more than one shooter in my life who ran out of power on location because of a lack of planning for the worst case scenario. If you don't have power you aren't shooting. So carefully choose your batteries on what you believe your standard work day to be. Also try to plan our for those extreme situations if you can. Remember it's okay to rent additional power as well when those rare occasions come up.
For me I went with a V-Mount/3rd Party Battery Plate solution with the addition or the Red DSMC Side Handle nearly always attached to the camera. I have 4x RedVolts and 2x DSMC Travel Chargers always on me for those moments where I don't want the weight of the V-Mount. I typically use 2-6 high capacity V-Mounts in a single day of shooting. Often I can get away with just 2 of those. I practice energy saving shooting techniques when possible to also protect me from changing batteries very often. This is sometimes not an option though depending on the type of shoot and if the client dislikes having the camera off for any reason. For V-Mounts, since I use high capacity batteries, their charge time is rather long. Because of this I try to have a charger port for every battery. When I travel though I only bring a 2 battery charger with me. That's just my preference.
There are additional options that I didn't mention here like using larger capacity batteries through XLR or even battery belts. These are typically used in special instances, but know that there are many ways to get power into your camera outside of the standard routes. And remember it's okay to run off of house power through your A/C Adapter if you don't mind the cables on the floor.
Hope that helps.