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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 :)

Base Expander plus battery plate or just v-lock expander?

Jarek Zabczynski

Jarek Zabczynski

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Trying to figure out how I want to configure my Weapon. Should I get a v-lock plate to add to my base expander or sell my base expander and get the v-lock expander?

If I go with the additional battery plate I really like the Blueshape one from Wooden Camera.

How are you guys going about this? I know the Base expander with ET plate is a popular choice currently.
 
I think this is going to come down to individual choice and usage.

I'm using the Base Expander and battery modules.

Having a V-Lock or G-Lock solution is pretty much mandatory for production work. I'm using the Element Technica V-Lock Module for the big days.

For travel and lighter days I'm rolling with the REDVOLT XL Module.

For me it just depends on what I'm doing.
 
I guess the real question is: is there a benefit to having your battery plate removable from the IO if you only plan on using V-locks?

I like the USB port on the V-lock expander, but the WC plate has one of those, plus a ton of Dtaps.
 
Jarek Zabczynski said:
I guess the real question is: is there a benefit to having your battery plate removable from the IO if you only plan on using V-locks?

I like the USB port on the V-lock expander, but the WC plate has one of those, plus a ton of Dtaps.
Click to expand...

Well, one thought. If you give your SDI cable a nasty tug and perhaps rip the bloody thing out and you need to keep running, having those things separate might be a nice thing.

Or having a backup on hand.
 
I thought that I would want to use the battery plate only for very light travel, backpack etc. but the Base expander is so light it doesn't usually need to come off. I have two Weapons and I'll have both solutions, a base expander with the V lock integrated (from Red) and an ET V lock battery plate that goes on the base expander as well. I use big bricks for big shoots and PAG batts for travel, both are V lock. I don't use the Redvolt XLs. As it turns out I also have the quick back (cabled version) from Wooden Camera too.

edit: one thing I like about the ET plate is the Lemo power ports, I got a couple cables ordered for my Teradek and Bartech. They are a cleaner set up than P taps.
 
I have the Expander and an Anton Bauer ET module.
The other day I had a job where I did not need external monitors and I wanted to keep the camera light and small. I pulled the Expander and bolted the ET plate right on the camera.
A few hours into the job I decide that I wanted to just rig the camera with AC power. Then I realized that I couldn't do that without the Expander.
bottom line is that the Expander is so small and light that it's not really worth detaching it from the body for weight and size savings...
 
Daniel Stilling said:
I have the Expander and an Anton Bauer ET module.
The other day I had a job where I did not need external monitors and I wanted to keep the camera light and small. I pulled the Expander and bolted the ET plate right on the camera.
A few hours into the job I decide that I wanted to just rig the camera with AC power. Then I realized that I couldn't do that without the Expander.
bottom line is that the Expander is so small and light that it's not really worth detaching it from the body for weight and size savings...
Click to expand...


Personally I think I will ditch my XL module and base IO module and get the Vlock and then jet pack SDI instead.

As on a gimbal you dont really want the Base IO and the cables sticking out the back and XL batteries I really like but I also need to be able to use 190Ah batteries and such and it does not make sense to carry two chargers when traveling etc. The xl charger is really heavy as well.

So I think I will get the red V lock module and different size Vlocks and the Jet pack and I think that will cover everything I need.


Also I think I might ditch the AC power supply and instead get one of those Vlocks that I can attach a normal 220V power cable to that charge the battery and power camera but trough the battery. That leaves space in my luggage and I dont have to carry around that AC power that I hardly ever use or atleast dont wan to use.
 
What I do is run with the base expander and just have an AB Gold batt in a pouch over my shoulder. Nikon glass and the old 5 inch touch screen. Could not be lighter... Can run and gun easily.
I would not get rid of the base expander. If the SDI goes out switch to HDMI.....
Lots of configs possible, it is so great to have choices
 
I'm rolling with WC cable-less V-lock, easy top plate and the red base expander. Allows me to have the red top handle on without taking anything off in low mode and gives me side 1/4 20's to mount my monitor kit the way I like it for handheld and dolly. Having everything modular is such a game changer because if and when anything goes out from a dumb mistake, it's an easy fix rather than send the entire camera back for a repair on a port.
 
I am going this exact same route, but going try out the wooden camera expander instead of the ET one. Like the idea of keeping it tool-less and having ability to go lower profile with v-mount. Perhaps red can make their DSMC3 xl module tool-less, that sure would be nice.


Phil Holland said:
For travel and lighter days I'm rolling with the REDVOLT XL Module.

For me it just depends on what I'm doing.
Click to expand...
 
I have three modes i'm in now:
1) Light weight mode - where I just use the XL module
2) Studio mode on AC on 19mm rails - AC is going through the XL module (with battery in there for moving camera around, unplugging ac on shot changes)
3) Studio mode on battery - on 19mm rails with Anton baur on a 19mm rail plate - Battery is going through XL module for quick change of batteries

I pretty much in love with the new XL module, I was planning on getting a ab plate on the back of the weapon but no more.
 
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