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Battery Plates/Packs/Mounts/ etc etc etc Questions

C

Chris Gavrilovic

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After some research and browsing around here, I am curious if anyone has some recommendations on some solid battery systems for the Epics and Scarlets (having now ordered 3 of each). Between AntonBauer, Switronix, (and others) and then as to where to buy them for the best price, do we have some preferences here?

I see some MG1 fans here (and a possible MG1 pushing their products - Ava), but is there a benefit there opposed to buying from BH, or Wooden Camera? Or are there better options than the AB or Switronix options?

Thanks everyone

Oh also looking to see if I'm correct in assuming the Redmote can't be connected with those packs attached? I'm assuming it can still be used to communicate with the camera (its wireless, no?) but obviously can't charge on the camera anymore?

Thanks
 
I have to admit, I'm impressed with your faith if you have ordered 3 Epics and 3 Scarlets and don't already know the answers to these questions. :scared:
 
I'm not really sure how it applies. I am asking if people have experience with these brands on these particular cameras (cameras I have no experience on). This is a prime example of RedUser's issue. Rather than snapping a sarcastic quip, couldn't you have just answered the question? If I knew the answer to the question, I obviously wouldn't be asking it. For that matter, if you do have experience with these battery systems, I'd appreciate your input rather than complimenting my faith in RED.

edit: I should clarify that I haven't even so much as touched a red camera. So if I am mistaking teasing for flippant I do apologize.

Terry VerHaar said:
I have to admit, I'm impressed with your faith if you have ordered 3 Epics and 3 Scarlets and don't already know the answers to these questions. :scared:
Click to expand...
 
I second that?

I second that?

I too am new to RED world am curious as to the smartest battery option. Currently I'm thinking five red volts and second charger. Hope someone chimes in with some friendly and "powerful" advice. (feel free to haze me for that pun)
 
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You've been hazed! The problem with the RedVolts is that since no Side Handles are shipping it doesn't make a lot of sense to buy Red Volts. Also since RedVolts only last for 15 seconds, even 5 of them isn't that great. However there are quite a few options out there and it would be nice if someone with experience with them could enlighten as to which work well with the RED cameras (compatibility, length of operation, warranty, etc.). Apparently Terry knows the answers but won't share his sacred knowledge.

Lan Freedman said:
I too am new to RED world am curious as to the best smartest battery option. Currently I'm thinking five red volts and second charger. Hope someone chimes on with some friend and "powerful" advice. (feel free too haze me for that pun)
Click to expand...
 
Have you seen the Brook Viewfactor V-Mount? It looks great, and V-Mounts are a lot cheaper for more power than the Red Volts.
 
The viewfactor plate is fantastic. V-Mount vs Gold Mount is a matter of personal choice. Neither is better or worse necessarily. There is a lot of discussion about this stuff on RedUser. I'm not sure why there needed to be another thread about it... Good luck man.
 
There's no simple answer but there is a LOT of discussion about it here on REDuser. Are you asking someone to somehow take the experience noted by many people on many posts in many threads and condense it to a short list o f recommendations?

And, sorry you feel offended. I actually am pretty impressed - 3 Epics and 3 Scarlets; somewhere well north of $100K in cameras, and you are just counting on things to work the way you expect. If that's not faith, I don't know what is!! :biggrin:
 
I'm not offended. I'm just not really sure where you're coming from. And yes I am asking for someone to take their experience and condense it to a short list. Thats exactly what Im asking. What does the money spent on cameras have to do with faith? I bought cameras that aren't shipping with power options (no side handles, redvolts) and am looking at alternatives that may even be better. So whats the "counting on things to work the way I expect"? I expect these cameras to work yes. If they don't, I will either send them back or sell them. But why shouldn't they work..... RIGHT? Its not like RED makes junk...

Terry VerHaar said:
There's no simple answer but there is a LOT of discussion about it here on REDuser. Are you asking someone to somehow take the experience noted by many people on many posts in many threads and condense it to a short list o f recommendations?

And, sorry you feel offended. I actually am pretty impressed - 3 Epics and 3 Scarlets; somewhere well north of $100K in cameras, and you are just counting on things to work the way you expect. If that's not faith, I don't know what is!! :biggrin:
Click to expand...
 
Hey Chris,
I see a number of comments from users in different threads that suggest sereral power alternatives. A good search will find more detail on the subject if you need it. Based on these comments and threads (plus already having 4 Antom Bauer batteries in our studio), we chose to go with Wooden Camera Quickplate and AB mount which places the Anton Bauer batteries on the back of the camera. In addition to our "name brand" Anton Bauer Dionic 90 batteries, we have ordered two 150Wh AB compatible batteries from batteries4broadcast.com. We have heard a number of great things about their products and they have two and four battery/charger kits that are pretty reasonable in price.

We also ordered the Red side handles and a supply of RedVolts; in spite of their short run time, they do make the best hand held solution and provide "hot swapping" of the larger AB compatible batteries.

Additionally, I prefer the "side" mounting of the AB batteries; we find the the verticle mounting of all "V-mounts" interferes with the top rails we have installed on our larger studio rig. And the batteries from batteries4broadcast.com are only 4 inches wide and we are told do not interfere with loading the memory. Verticle mounting batteries are certainly not a problem when the camera is stripped down, but we like to install top rails in a "cage" style for mounting a sliding top handle, monitor, shotgun mic, etc.... works great and looks pretty damned coll to boot!

FYI, Flying with batteries (in the event you do so at some point), can be very complicated. If this is the case, you will definitely want a reasonable supply of smaller batteries , since you can only "carry on" two 120Wh or larger batteries with no limitation of 90Wh or lower. PLEASE check this for total accuracy yourself and believe me that in spite of any "Official" regulations, you are still subject to the interpretation of any and all TSA and/or Airline official.

As a side note, I don't know Terry VerHaar personally, but I doubt if he really meant anything truly sarcastic from his post. I do agree that quite a few members of the Forum are quick to jump down the throats of newer members. Perhaps it's a right of passage, I don't know, but we have learned that (unfortunately) it can take some pretty thick skin in some cases to get the info you desire. On the other hand, there are many members that genuinly share information that I know will save us MANY hours of "finding out the hard way" and make our transition to these exciting new cameras even more productive, profitable and fun!

Cheers and best of luck with your IMPRESSIVE order of cameras... I definitely am feeling "Camera Envy" with my two "measly" Scarlet order... LOL!
 
Chris, I've been asking the same questions but mostly to friends off of the boards who own epics. One uses AB, one V-Lock/RED. VLock gives a percentage readout (depending on which battery and which mount you get). The AB apparently has a voltage readout. I asked Brook Willard this in a PM regarding his AB plates. Here's what he said:

"My battery plates aren't wired to transmit percentage to the camera - I found its cost to outweigh the benefits. All batteries will be read as voltage by the camera - the camera starts to die at 11.9v, so you can simply wait until it's at 12.0v and then change."

That's good enough for me! I also find that the AB mount is a stronger lock, there are lighter weight options, and I know that I can fly with the D90s or equivalent without restrictions. (There are airline restrictions on traveling with LI batteries now, and its kind-of a pain. This is on BOTH AB mount and V-Lock mount) The D90s are supposed to last over 1 hour each so that's what I decided on personally. I also like how the AB mount from Brook/VF and Wooden Camera are actually lower on the back of the camera than the V-Lock system once the batteries are mounted. The D90's look to line up with the top of the camera more smooth than the V-Lock/Red bricks, , which I also like.

Here is what I bought.
Battery Mount:
http://woodencamera.com/quick-back (since the VF/Brook was sold out)
http://woodencamera.com/qb-battery-back-ab
http://woodencamera.com/qb-anton-bauer (by using this mount, I can also remove it from the camera back and easily mount it anywhere, since the cord is longer than the VF version)

These batteries to save some moolah:
http://www.globalmediapro.com/dp/A00UT2/Globalmediapro-Li95A-Lithium-ion-Battery-95WH/

And this charger for travel. Plus it works just as good as other AB chargers which save battery life better than after market chargers (so I'm told, who knows though).
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/241320-REG/Anton_Bauer_TWIN_TWIN_60_watt_Two_Position.html

I also picked one of these up to save the wait on the pro-I/O module... for now. It was delivered in days! It feels very solid too. Now I just need my camera. :)
http://woodencamera.com/a-box-epic-scarlet

+1 for this thread too:
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthr...uer-vs-V-Mount

Chris, this was a HUGE research project for me and I spared you most of the details. I figure, best I can do, I recommend what I chose myself.
Cheers!
-Ryan

PS - I'll be buying redvolts also once the handle shows up for handheld/lightweight needs. I just think having a battery which lasts longer is important for renting and general shooting right out of the gate anyways.
 
Chris,

I concur with Carelton. As a new RED owner myself, it's my first DSMC...but been a shooter for over 20 years. Wooden Cam's plate is comprised of 3 parts for approx $600. View Factor's IDX plate is $699. Ryan of WC and Josh at VF are both cool...and both items are top notch. really just depends on your budget. In regards where to purchase, BH is in NY as you know, WC is in Dallas & VF is here in LA. No tax depending where you live. Carelton's comment about battery types is a good point. We use IDX's HL's.

Hope this helps. (Please correct any inaccuracies, thank you)

Kez
 
Chris,

We decided to purchase Viewfactor.net's v-mount battery plate for epic/scarlet. We purchased before they had released their AB mount or Wooden Camera had come out with their plates. We'll be putting IDX Endura batteries on the v-mount. We probably would have gone with the VF v-mount even after they released their AB mount plate simply because we found IDX batteries to fit into our budget/kit very well. I can tell you from experience that the VF mount is EXTREMELY well built and it's locking system is great. I haven't had any experience with the WC mount, but they make wonderful products, so I'm sure they are well built as well.

Hope this answers some questions!

Samuel
 
Mike Tiffee said:
Probably right, but I find it funny Terry was asking some similar questions a few days ago well over a month after he bought his Scarlet.
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showth...uer-vs-V-Mount&p=907283&viewfull=1#post907283
Click to expand...

Mike - that's a bit of a misrepresentation, don't you think? Not at all the same question - and it was in the middle of a thread where I had followed the discussion right up to that point. And, a lot of discussion was had after that as well - which I continued to monitor. So, I don't think you have the situation very well represented. And, FWIW, I ordered 6 REDVolts and have some of the equipment needed for an AB set-up; looking to complete the set.

Chris started a thread asking for answers when there is no one simple answer, just a lot of well informed discussion leading up to it; discussion that he could have easily found, and benefited from, as I did. Jack was subsequently nice enough to point him to just one of a few helpful threads about powering the Scarlet. He seemed to be asking for a summary of the discussion so he could save time because, as he told me in a PM, he can afford 3 Epics and 3 Scarlets because he doesn't waste his time searching - i guess he's happy letting others do that for him. :thumbsup:

It also struck me as odd that he just had to mention the plethora of cameras he had ordered in the simple context of asking a question.

And, no, I haven't gotten my Scarlet yet so, despite about 50 days shooting on a RED ONE (with Red Bricks), all I know about powering a Scarlet is what I've read here. :smiley:

And the beat goes on...
 
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