Announcing REDVOLT XL module for Weapon

[Milan S.]

BTW... The fact that this much more improved model is the same price as the old one... Priceless... Well, almost...

Am I missing something, what's the improvement over the old XL module? Seems exactly the same, with an extra AUX power port.

 

[camRAW]

Thanks Ketch. Thanks Phil. I had the same question about Redvolts. It looks like just one would work.

 

[Tristan Houghton]

I hope there is a solution for multiple revolts as I have invested heavily in that power solution and would hate to be restricted to using only one at a time

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Am I missing something, what's the improvement over the old XL module? Seems exactly the same, with an extra AUX power port.

Not the same, look closely, and I manor just talking about the better design and ergonomics of it, Battery Receptacle is also different, plus more outputs.

 

[Dimitri Boschma]

Slick...

 

[Jean Déraps]

...but how long will REDVolts last on the Weapon? I have found single REDvolts used in the handle to *not* be a very useful solution for real production shoots... am I the only one who'd love to have some real specs before plopping down several more thousands of dollars?

 

[Alex Kiritz]

...but how long will REDVolts last on the Weapon? I have found single REDvolts used in the handle to *not* be a very useful solution for real production shoots... am I the only one who'd love to have some real specs before plopping down several more thousands of dollars?

+ 1

 

[Mark Andersen]

89 watt hours is useable, on an Epic its probably about an hour maybe a bit less, but the Weapon is reported to be more efficient so I'd guess a little over an hour. Thoughts anyone? I kinda like the compact-ness and the travel safety of the XL, although I don't have any yet. I am used to using PAG 96 Wh. batts and they last a respectable amount of time on Epic.

 

[ignition]

Redvolts IMO are the realm of digital stills work on a RED. Don't have RedVolt XL but assume it's 2x the capacity of Redvolt. Which regardless remains the territory of stills work versus the workhorse capability of V-lock/AB/Gold/Etc. powering options in professional production.

This new module seems to only address adapting these existing low capacity (in terms of uptime) batteries to the new Weapon DSMC interface schema?

In which case.. I'll continue to see this powering option as fringe H/H rather than production-ready. These RedVolts take ages to charge, even on RED's own Quad Charger.

Unless RED has some new smarts in this module, the capacity and runtime of RedVolt and Redvolt XL is seriously limited to the stills acquisition category, even on Weapon. Which is perfectly fine, but pls stop peddling RedVolt as a viable alternative to production-ready battery options instead of VLock, AB, Gold etc...!!!?

 

[ignition]

89 watt hours is useable, on an Epic its probably about an hour maybe a bit less, but the Weapon is reported to be more efficient so I'd guess a little over an hour. Thoughts anyone? I kinda like the compact-ness and the travel safety of the XL, although I don't have any yet. I am used to using PAG 96 Wh. batts and they last a respectable amount of time on Epic.

You wrote all this.. but don't actually have any RedVolt or XLs to correlate..!??!??!

 

[Mark Andersen]

You wrote all this.. but don't actually have any RedVolt or XLs to correlate..!??!??!

I was going purely on watt hour specs. 89 watt hours is very close the the 96 watt hours I use all the time. But yes I don't have any XLs yet. It's all conjecture that is true, I'd like to hear a more definitive answer myself, but it can vary so much depending on modules, monitors, accessories, recording speeds, and even the temperature you are working in.

 

[Mark Andersen]

...but how long will REDVolts last on the Weapon? I have found single REDvolts used in the handle to *not* be a very useful solution for real production shoots... am I the only one who'd love to have some real specs before plopping down several more thousands of dollars?

Red Volts are 37 wH. less than half the Watt Hours of the XL which is 89 wH.

 

[Phil Holland]

Redvolts IMO are the realm of digital stills work on a RED. Don't have RedVolt XL but assume it's 2x the capacity of Redvolt. Which regardless remains the territory of stills work versus the workhorse capability of V-lock/AB/Gold/Etc. powering options in professional production.

This new module seems to only address adapting these existing low capacity (in terms of uptime) batteries to the new Weapon DSMC interface schema?

In which case.. I'll continue to see this powering option as fringe H/H rather than production-ready. These RedVolts take ages to charge, even on RED's own Quad Charger.

Unless RED has some new smarts in this module, the capacity and runtime of RedVolt and Redvolt XL is seriously limited to the stills acquisition category, even on Weapon. Which is perfectly fine, but pls stop peddling RedVolt as a viable alternative to production-ready battery options instead of VLock, AB, Gold etc...!!!?

I'm here at the show and have REDVOLTs and have used REDVOLT XLs and I'm spying on the Weapons here pretty hard and asking many questions. (4 ands in one sentence, bad Phil)


A single REDVOLT gets you about 25-30 minutes of up time. I know folks who just use REDVOLTs, but if you are attempting to have 12 hour shooting days I wouldn't recommend this as the way to go.

A single REDVOLT XL gets you about 3 times that up time with about 80-90 minutes. That is reasonable for general shooting for sure. And right now is about the most streamlined and compact way to power your camera. I'm ordering a few REDVOLT XLs and the new module this time around as I'm traveling a lot more and wouldn't mind not lugging the heavier brick batteries around all the time.

Outside of that, Element Technica is making the V-Mount and AB Mount Modules for Weapon and they are here at the show. You can get RED BRICKS and get about 2 hours of up time or use third party battery solutions at various capacities. I've ordered an ET V-Mount Module last night. I use V-Mounts on production shoots and have the camera up 2-3 hours at a time. AB has been requested by many for a long time. And a lot of rental houses prefer that battery type. They are indeed not as tall than most V-Mount batteries out there. So I think it will be a slick and streamlined feel.

 

[Mark Andersen]

Any word on if the Weapon is less power hungry? I'm thinking of going with the XLs as my default power system with the Weapon (if I really can get about 90 min.) since the camera comes with the XL module anyway. If I need the V mounts, I'll probably just attach them to the rails or something. I like ETs new V mount plate but don't want to spend $900 when I have so many plates all ready and the XLs will do for 90% of my work and I travel a lot so the compactness is good.

 

[Phil Holland]

Any word on if the Weapon is less power hungry? I'm thinking of going with the XLs as my default power system with the Weapon (if I really can get about 90 min.) since the camera comes with the XL module anyway. If I need the V mounts, I'll probably just attach them to the rails or something. I like ETs new V mount plate but don't want to spend $900 when I have so many plates all ready and the XLs will do for 90% of my work and I travel a lot so the compactness is good.

Mr. Probst right now is shooting with two Weapon Dragon 6K bodies.

He came up with a novel solution to build out his camera for more of a "production setup" by incorporating the XL Module as the battery backup during swaps from his AB batteries which are mounting way up there:

 

[Christopher*Seguine]

A single REDVOLT XL gets you about 3 times that up time with about 80-90 minutes.

A brand new RedVolt XL lasts 80-90 minutes, 6 months later they only charge 80%, so maybe 65-75 minutes - not acceptable for a premium priced battery solution. The smaller RedVolts are even worse.

 

[Phil Holland]

A brand new RedVolt XL lasts 80-90 minutes, 6 months later they only charge 80%, so maybe 65-75 minutes - not acceptable for a premium priced battery solution. The smaller RedVolts are even worse.

Jarred stated they were working on a solution for the drop off in charge. I have no idea what that means. I'll try to ping him today for info on that.

 

[Jean Déraps]

I've experienced the same problem here, which makes using RedVolts in real life impossible...

A brand new RedVolt XL lasts 80-90 minutes, 6 months later they only charge 80%, so maybe 65-75 minutes - not acceptable for a premium priced battery solution. The smaller RedVolts are even worse.

 

[sam windell]

I wish we had the option on the upgrade bundle option to swap out the redvolt XL module for a jetpack and a mini mag reader. Same price pretty much and slightly cheaper total, but I'd get way more use of those than XL module in my line of work.

 

[Christopher*Seguine]

Any follow up? redvolt XLs are pretty ideal for the body shape of the weapon, but not when they are headed for landfill in 6 months.

Jarred stated they were working on a solution for the drop off in charge. I have no idea what that means. I'll try to ping him today for info on that.