NEED ADVICE: NEW BATTERY OPTIONS

[Colin Nusbaum]

Hello all-

I am set to be a new Scarlet-W owner very soon. I am also coming from Canon C100 territory, so I will be making my first investment into large battery system. I have a couple questions, given that I am starting from scratch here and want to be on the right track going forward:

1. V-MOUNT vs AB MOUNT??
I know that this has been asked and answered in a few different places, but I wonder if there are new considerations with DSMC2? Is V-Mount still more prone to falling off/damage? Does AB Mount still NOT communicate with red cameras? Which way should I go?

2. BIG or SMALL??
I am mainly looking into Switronix Hypercore Slim, or Anton Bauer Cine 150. I know these are both new, but does anyone have any insight about these two? I believe I heard the AB Cine batteries lose charge quite quickly when not plugged in, whereas the Hypercore apparently have a sensor which allows them to hold charge...?
For reference, I am looking for an all-around battery that I can both handhold/shoulder-mount, as well as keep on the studio setup.

3. CHARGERS?
Should I get the native chargers of the battery brand? I want name brand batteries, but are cheaper/off-brand chargers something to avoid as well?

4. OTHER THOUGHTS?
....I am sure there are lots of things I am not thinking about, but that I should be

Thanks in advance folks!

 

[Alex Bros]

I have the new AB Cine 150, gold mount and they do indeed communicate with the camera (using the ET battery module). Percentage or run time and it's pretty darn accurate. They do lose charge, but not too quickly and they do charge very fast.
I really like the Cine 150's simply because they help balance the camera (even when just using EF glass, once you put a FF and mattebox on it's going to be front heavy), but I'll probably get some slims as well for smaller setups.
Also I still prefer 3stud/gold mount for the exact reason you mentioned.

My plan initially was to get the Switronix Hypercore Prime (splittable) batteries but they weren't shipping yet, and they new AB's were.

 

[Wil Wong]

Hey Colin,

I use V-mount but I think there is more variety with AB mount batteries then in the past. They used to only be AB made by Anton Bauer but now others have them as well, meaning you no longer have to pay a premium to have AB. V-mount and AB both seem good although V-mount might stick up higher then AB on the camera. Switchronix, PAG, and IDX are all coming out with slim batteries but it would be nice to see them side by side and hooked up to the Scarlet-W. Might not happen till NAB when they're all out.

I like both small and large size personally. Both are great for different situations. If you had to, start small if you have a gimbal or doing handheld. Just get a few to cover yourself. Otherwise get both in my opinion (depending on how busy you are. No need to get a lot until you know).

I recommend as for "Other Thoughts", is to start with only the minimal items to get you going. Buy as you need (like rods, and modules) because there will always be more expensive and bigger toys for you to buy (like wireless thing and that, and cinema lenses etc.). In other words, don't go too crazy too quickly buying stuff...unless you're rich!!

Charger wise, stay with the same brand and decide if it's better to have something that you can plug indoors (like a multi-charger that consumes more power) or something portable (like a single charger that can be plugged in the car). The more brands of batteries means the more chargers you need. Kind of a pain and waste of money. One brand is my opinion (as for which, I can't help you. They all look good).

Good luck!

 

[Colin Nusbaum]

Thanks to both of you for the thoughtful responses!

I didn't realize the AB Cine 150 communicated with the camera... that's great. And I do like the form factor as you note. I think this just might make the decision for me to go that route.

Alex, how long is the charge time for you on those Cine 150s? How about the running time?
... I wonder if just 2 batteries and an AB charger would keep me going all day

 

[Matthew Quinn]

2 batts are not enough, need 3-4 at least. In my town we all use v-mounts. My vote is for switronix or pag. pag you can stack which is really cool

 

[Phil Holland]

Thanks to both of you for the thoughtful responses!

I didn't realize the AB Cine 150 communicated with the camera... that's great. And I do like the form factor as you note. I think this just might make the decision for me to go that route.

Alex, how long is the charge time for you on those Cine 150s? How about the running time?
... I wonder if just 2 batteries and an AB charger would keep me going all day

I picked up a few of the Anton Bauer CINE 150Wh V-Locks:

Weapon uptime is about 2.5 hours. I believe they are fully charged in about 3 hours.

It will depend on how you shoot, but but for me 4X batteries keeps me running pretty much for an average 12 hour shooting day.

Their form factor fits nicely with the smaller DSMC2 bodies. This also means they work well with the DSMC2 Top Handle and don't get in the way. I outfitted my Weapon kit to focus on the strengths of the new body's form factor.

 

[Marcus Friedlander]

If you are just starting to invest in a large battery system I HIGHLY suggest that you go with a Gold Mount battery instead of a V-lock. The gold mount is a much better connector IMO. If you can still find them, I also HIGHLY recommend the Dionic HC-X's from Anton Bauer. I think that they are the perfect mix between size, weight, runtime, and, if you get the quad performance charger, charge times. I've been shooting with then on my Epic Dragon for a year now and loving them!

The only downside I can think of is that I don't know if AB manufactures them anymore so they may be hard to get your hands on.

 

[Brian D. Goff]

How long can you wait? We will be introducing our "not of this world" batteries and charger system just before NAB. In V-Mount / ActionProducts-Mount / Anton Baur mount. Some specs that will blow your mind;-)

 

[Matthew Quinn]

Here is the biggest thing for me. I learned early on you need to have friends to get things done, after all working with other people is one of the main reasons I was attracted to film making. Having said that, I pretty much bought the same type of batteries my friends use. I own 5, my buddy owns like 10 V-mounts. 5 is enough for me for a 1 camera shoot, but when i start bringing in wireless devices, add a camera, use a few in some monitors, and maybe a few lights.. I always end up needing more. I never worry about batteries because i know i can rent/or trade from a someone I have a relationship with, it works because I have things HE/SHE needs sometimes. Renting from rental houses works, but much better to have a couple friends you can work things out with.

Long story short. use what works for your town/market. Also I think i mentioned it earlier, but Switronix Customer Service has been incredible to me.. they have replaced batteries for me, repaired chargers and batteries, and is always very fast about it. I always love companies you can call up and get service right away with an actual person who knows what they are doing..

 

[Gene Sung]

I researched the crap out of this and my main criteria was 1) light weight 2) avoid Chinese batteries (no hate against Chinese, I am one) 3) Decent WH 4) Cost

It basically came down to the new $260 Switronix Slim Core (82 wh) vs $350 Bebob V150 (147wh), mainly because both were light, have good company reputations and affordable. I ended up going with Bebob because

1) Bebob is by far the lightest 147wh battery. Only 1.81 lbs (825 grams). That's super light vs. WH.
2) I was told by several users that using a 95wh or under battery with accessories (7Q, transmitter, wireless FF from time to time) will drive you insane as that's a battery swap around every 70 minutes of so.
3) The Switronix was 0.41 pounds light, which is awesome, but the thought of switching batteries all the time and breaking workflow almost every hour outweighed the light weight.

PAG would have been awesome except they are very expensive and they are 96 wh which mean a lot more battery swaps than the Bebob. Yes, you can stack them, but at 1.6 lbs per battery, with two PAGs stacked it's a very heavy battery - 3.2 lbs. Light weight is very important to me as I shoot tons of handheld and on stabilizers, etc. I have a small jib that I love shoot with and any extra weight really effects that.

So ended up with Bebob. The customer service has been great and very responsive. Some CONs
1) Ships from Germany so shipping to LA (including extra custom fees) was about $90 for 6 days
2) Paypal rips you off with their shameful exchange rate. I ended up paying $35 more than the actual Euro vs. Dollar exchange rate.
3) Buying international just kind of sucks in general.

Oh yes, and Bebob chargers are quite cheap. About $265 for a dual, simultaneous charger. They are made in Germany and cells from Japan which is a big plus for me as Germany make awesome stuff - Arri, Zeiss, BMW, etc...

The batteries are in mail, so hopefully they are good. I've heard many good things about them from people here so fingers crossed. Here's the link

http://www.bebob.de/Batteries-and-chargers/V-Mount/batteries/V150.html

 

[Matthew Quinn]

both of these display % power for red cameras. I own 2 of the bigger ones

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1212733-REG/switronix_hc7r_hc_7r_hypercore_slim_red.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ed_hypercore_red_98wh_14_8v.html/prm/alsVwDtl

i also own two of these. they work great but do not display %

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...x_XP_L90S_XPL_90S_V_Type_14_4VDC_Lithium.html

I also own one of these

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._98wh_14_8v_v_mount_battery.html/prm/alsVwDtl

this looks like an amazing deal if you can put over 1K up front

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1013652-REG/switronix_4x_xp_l90s_v_mount.html


you COULD get this bundle for $1200 which includes 4 slim batteries and 4 individual chargers

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...70C_PB70C_PowerBase_Charger.html/prm/alsVwDtl

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1212733-REG/switronix_hc7r_hc_7r_hypercore_slim_red.html

 

[Darius Lyles]

I picked up a few of the Anton Bauer CINE 150Wh V-Locks:

Weapon uptime is about 2.5 hours. I believe they are fully charged in about 3 hours.

It will depend on how you shoot, but but for me 4X batteries keeps me running pretty much for an average 12 hour shooting day.

Their form factor fits nicely with the smaller DSMC2 bodies. This also means they work well with the DSMC2 Top Handle and don't get in the way. I outfitted my Weapon kit to focus on the strengths of the new body's form factor.

Hey Phil do you use those when you go handheld?

 

[Jacob Ryan]

Battery for air travel

Battery for air travel

Hi guys, I'm new to this forum. I'm waiting to receive a Scarlet W. I have similar question regarding battery options. I plan to take the camera and batteries to different countries, so I will have to either carry on these batteries or check them in.
Am I limited to carry batteries that are under 100W size? The FAA website seems to state that the batteries under 100W are okay, but any spare above that needs a permission.

I wonder what your experiences are with obtaining the "permission". Is the process cumbersome? what are the likelihood of the request for permission is granted/rejected?
This fact will greatly determine the battery capacity I'm getting.

Right now, I'm leaning towards the AB Cine 150 (especially after watching "Forged" by Phil. Fantastic work btw.)

Thanks for the help.

Jacob

 

[Jacob Ryan]

Here's the FAA site I was referring to

https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/hazmat_safety/more_info/?hazmat=7

Thanks.

 

[Jon Dishler]

Phil,

They look like a nice solution, will they block any of the ports on the new DSMC2 v-lock base expander?

 

[Bob Gundu]

Phil,

They look like a nice solution, will they block any of the ports on the new DSMC2 v-lock base expander?

they don't block. All good

 

[Mark Pedersen]

I've used red bricks and IDX since 2008. Just sold my red bricks mostly because of the form factor--too high for the DSMC2 bodies.

Just bought a bunch of IDX Duo 150's and very happy with them. About the same weight as the Red bricks but 3/4 of an inch shorter, and they have two D-taps and a USB power port on the battery.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/962820-REG/idx_duo_150_v_mount_li_ion.html

Cheaper and slimmer than The AB cine batts.

M

 

[Bob Gundu]

I've used red bricks and IDX since 2008. Just sold my red bricks mostly because of the form factor--too high for the DSMC2 bodies.

Just bought a bunch of IDX Duo 150's and very happy with them. About the same weight as the Red bricks but 3/4 of an inch shorter, and they have two D-taps and a USB power port on the battery.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/962820-REG/idx_duo_150_v_mount_li_ion.html

Cheaper and slimmer than The AB cine batts.

M

Too bad there's isn't AB versions of these.

 

[Adrian Weinbrecht]

My business partner and I own 16x Pags and love them. We use them with LED lights, powering monitors etc etc,

Pag have have also recently announced a light weight battery for Gimbal Work (Ronin, Movi etc) which we shall also pick up a few of.

We've tried a number of other batteries over the years and settled on Pag. They clip together to form larger batteries and can be charged up to 4 together from 1x tiny travel charger when we are flying and need to keep the load light....

 

[Bob Gundu]

My business partner and I own 16x Pags and love them. We use them with LED lights, powering monitors etc etc,

Pag have have also recently announced a light weight battery for Gimbal Work (Ronin, Movi etc) which we shall also pick up a few of.

We've tried a number of other batteries over the years and settled on Pag. They clip together to form larger batteries and can be charged up to 4 together from 1x tiny travel charger when we are flying and need to keep the load light....

Bummer that they don't have the travel charger for the AB models.