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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Anton Bauer vs. V-Mount

J

Jack Shanahan

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1. Cost: +1 for V
2. Locking mechanism: +1 for AB
3. Life Span: ?
4. % readout on Epic/Scarlet: +1 for V w/ Switronix Mount - Does AB have % readout?
5. Charging time: ?
6. Ergonomics: +1 for AB (smaller)

Anyone else have thoughts?
 
Don't forget to add "demand" if you plan to rent out. V-mount seems to be a lot more popular in the industry
 
Having used V mount or the past 5 years I'm over it. I't's just too flimsy and unreliable when you have to operate off them and throw them into rough and tumblle production. I bought the Switronics 98WA AB mount batteties from B&H and couldn't be happier. No more $ than the V mount equivelent BTW.
 
I'm with Evin. V-mounts are just too unreliable. Even ones modified for increased stability have frequently popped loose and shut the camera down whenever I have had to use them in the past. You get voltage from Goldmount batts, that has always worked fine for me. AB Dionic HCs are the way to go for sure. More expensive. Worth it.
 
Evin Grant said:
Having used V mount or the past 5 years I'm over it. I't's just too flimsy and unreliable when you have to operate off them and throw them into rough and tumblle production. I bought the Switronics 98WA AB mount batteties from B&H and couldn't be happier. No more $ than the V mount equivelent BTW.
Click to expand...

Evin,

Do you get a % readout on the Epic/Scarlet with the switronix AB bats? Also which plate do you use w/ which camera?

Thanks!
Jack
 
Jeff Garton said:
I'm with Evin. V-mounts are just too unreliable. Even ones modified for increased stability have frequently popped loose and shut the camera down whenever I have had to use them in the past. You get voltage from Goldmount batts, that has always worked fine for me. AB Dionic HCs are the way to go for sure. More expensive. Worth it.
Click to expand...

Ok so no % with the AB bate but voltage reads...
 
So, to cut to the chase, what plate would I need to mount my AB batteries to my Scarlet? Thanks. (In all the discussion about power, I haven't gotten a clear picture of this - duh.)
 
Terry VerHaar said:
So, to cut to the chase, what plate would I need to mount my AB batteries to my Scarlet? Thanks. (In all the discussion about power, I haven't gotten a clear picture of this - duh.)
Click to expand...

Viewfactor make one
Wooden Camera has one

It depends on how you want to mount the plate to the camera tho as there are more options.
Do a search in these forums and you will see....
 
Jack Shanahan said:
Viewfactor make one
Wooden Camera has one

It depends on how you want to mount the plate to the camera tho as there are more options.
Do a search in these forums and you will see....
Click to expand...

So I just need one of these adaptor plates and I'm good? Sounds too easy. :smiley:
 
Demetri Zuev said:
Don't forget to add "demand" if you plan to rent out. V-mount seems to be a lot more popular in the industry
Click to expand...
Im not sure this is true. The tv broadcast industry may be more V mount usage but "film style" (slash) non-broadcast world I think is much more Anton Bauer oriented. My experience anyway.

Our rental house is also 100% Anton Bauer and we just have a few V to AB adapters for a few Sony monitors that have V backs. I had a client a few weeks ago who wanted V mount batteries for an item he owned and wouldn't accept an adapter, so we called around to 3-4 other rental houses and none had V mount batteries.
 
Evin Grant said:
Having used V mount or the past 5 years I'm over it. I't's just too flimsy and unreliable when you have to operate off them and throw them into rough and tumblle production. I bought the Switronics 98WA AB mount batteties from B&H and couldn't be happier. No more $ than the V mount equivelent BTW.
Click to expand...


Evin, what kind of run times do you get out of the ABs?
 
I'm wondering which is more available in the local rental/purchase market internationally. I'm sure this varies by continent/country, so specific answers would be appreciated. Especially interested in South America and Asia.

My own quick check of rental availability in the with the main place I deal in northern California confirms what Erich posted above. Since rental outlets have to be concerned with durability and reliability I'm wondering if that's also a factor in AB's (apparent) wider use.
 
Having been a Steadicam operator for over 15 years, I have grown fond of AB batts. But it really comes down to preference. The fact that Vmount shows running time on camera is nice, but if you have an AB with the LCD, you pretty much have the same there.
runningtime wise it's up to the wattage/hour, so if you buy a 90w/h that's what you get, no matter what mount.
i must say that I have been intrigued by the lower cost options, and the built in P-tap surely is nice...
 
I get 1.5-2 hours out a 98WA battery dependingon accessories attached. Having percentage is not as useful to me as voltage, which is the more common standard, and the same reading you'd get with a block battery in studio mode so it's more consistent. Basically below 13V you need to keep an eye on the battery and at 12.5 switch it. Pretty simple.
i use the Viewfactor APU with a set of modified ET 15mm pieces.

You can kind of get a sense of it in the pic below...
VPS_4.jpg
 
Jeff Garton said:
I'm with Evin. V-mounts are just too unreliable. Even ones modified for increased stability have frequently popped loose and shut the camera down whenever I have had to use them in the past. You get voltage from Goldmount batts, that has always worked fine for me. AB Dionic HCs are the way to go for sure. More expensive. Worth it.
Click to expand...

Are V-mount batteries detaching from the mount ("popping loose" as you say) a common issue? I recently planned on going with a V-mount battery system to use with my Scarlet. I was going to use Bebob Rouge V-mount batteries and RED BRICKs along with a Bebob VS2RL charger. Any opinions on this?
 
Brian Iannone said:
Are V-mount batteries detaching from the mount ("popping loose" as you say) a common issue? I recently planned on going with a V-mount battery system to use with my Scarlet. I was going to use Bebob Rouge V-mount batteries and RED BRICKs along with a Bebob VS2RL charger. Any opinions on this?
Click to expand...

Theres nothing wrong with either AB or V lock batteries. Our hire facility uses V lock by choice mostly as it allows a common battery standard on location as there more kit around with V lock than AB. Our work is done in the most inhospitable environments on the planet. -40 to +60 C, Ocean, Desert and Arctic, working underwater and to high altitude. Whilst both mount systems work fine our choice was V lock on the grounds there was more of it around. We tend to use IDX batteries but do have other battery brands too.
 
I Prefer AB for the ruggedness of the mount. V-s have a habit of popping off or having momentary power loss at the worst moments. You'll get a bit more information out of the V's if they are Red, and many people use them... I just need to know if I back the camera in to a wall doing hand held it will stay powered, basically have not had that experience with V-locks.

ab-batt.jpg


Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com
 
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