Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • 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 :)

Powering the Epic

P

Peter Lyons Collister ASC

Well-known member
Joined
May 23, 2008
Messages
1,339
Reaction score
1
Points
0
I would like to poll the forum regarding powering the Epic. From my perspective, unless I am handholding, I would rather just use an anton Bauer Cine-X block which will last all day on the dolly. If I am shooting alone for tests or my own work I use the side handle and 4 RedVolts.

I have the adaptor plate for using V mount batteries but I would rather have less hanging off the camera......
handheld is obviously different.
 
I love the Wooden Camera Quickback with Anton Bauer dionic hc or hcx. Small, lightweight and lasts much longer than redvolts. 4 batts and one quad charger (the tm4) on constant charging rotation can last all day.
 
I love all of the above plus the vmount belt clip where I can put anywhere.. Just wish they would have one that doesn't use the stupid 2b to 1b!
 
Peter Lyons Collister said:
I would like to poll the forum regarding powering the Epic. From my perspective, unless I am handholding, I would rather just use an anton Bauer Cine-X block which will last all day on the dolly. If I am shooting alone for tests or my own work I use the side handle and 4 RedVolts.I have the adaptor plate for using V mount batteries but I would rather have less hanging off the camera...... handheld is obviously different.
Click to expand...
here is a pic of the Wooden Camera Quickback with Anton Bauer HC (or HCX not sure which) on the back..
 

Attachments

  • photo.jpg
    photo.jpg
    11.4 KB · Views: 0
A/C when stationary. Red Brick with belt pack when moving around, Red Volt in side handle when handheld or quick tests. When on SteadiCam, powered via the sled using Red Bricks down below.
 
Right now, side handle, 10xRedVolts and 2 travel chargers for situations where I need to move fast or switch camera quickly over from tripod to shoulder, or for handheld. Controlled interiors, AC power with a RedVolt in the side handle for moves or when I need to improvise around a blocking change and need to find a new camera position quickly. Exteriors or extended shoots without a base to set up charging station, V-mount belt clip with the short adapter cable.

Was waiting to see how the battery module fit in before I decided on more RedVolts or a back plate for the Epic for V-mount. May end up with a V-mount backplate before the battery module arrives.
 
I use a combination:

REDvolts are always in my in side handle, mostly as a backup power source if I want to switch something else without powering down (and as a precaution against blowing a take due to accidental disconnection of the main power supply - guess how I learned to do that!), and for quick handheld shots.

Bricks attached to a standard RED mounting plate, modified by me with a belt clip and an attachment for a lanyard, and the adapter cable - for longer handheld work, or quickly hanging off a tripod as an improvised field power supply.

AC whenever possible! I've even done some handheld wandering about on the end of the AC cable.

I don't fancy the idea of building out the camera with an attached V-mount or quad battery module; I like to keep the core camera as small as possible, and the power supply options flexible.

Mike
 
Things are obviously going to change when quad and dual battery module is out there. My plans: 2 of the smaller redvolts for side handle only, 4 larger redvolts with the long run time. That will be my default position. No more cables hanging everywhere!! I am making it my mission to get rid of all those cables.
 
I always have a RedVolt in the side handle so I don't bugger anything when disconnecting cables without totally powering down. I am finding 4 Redbricks see me through a typical 10-hour lifestyle/location shoot but don't like being tethered with a belt clip. I have ordered the new backplate to mount a Brick on the Epic as I don't trust those pin connections holding up. I know this will make the rig heavy and I'll have to find a new home for the Redmote. But I need to the camera to be independent as a power source.
 
Rob Castiglione said:
Things are obviously going to change when quad and dual battery module is out there. My plans: 2 of the smaller redvolts for side handle only, 4 larger redvolts with the long run time. That will be my default position. No more cables hanging everywhere!! I am making it my mission to get rid of all those cables.
Click to expand...
This for me for sure. Hopefully the wait isn't too much longer.
 
Got the V mount back plate from Viewfactor, works great and the cable is short, you hardly notice it. Generally use bricks but when I travel I do a lot of "a shot here and a shot there" kind of shooting. Then I like the Redvolts in the side handle, if I power down between takes then I can usually go all day on 4-5 batteries.

My question is this: and Im going to ask it in a another thread, is it hard on tHe camera to power up and power down constantly? I may do it 20-30 times in one day when in travel/power save mode.
 
Like many others apparently, I like to keep a Redvolt in the side handle which allows for changing bricks (VF V-mount) without interruption, but also allows to take the camera in one hand and use as a finder to frame a shot before setting up lights, dolly, etc. Of course you can also use an ipad for that but the Epic has the advantage of the SDI feed to the director's monitor. If/when the larger 90Wh Redvolts come out and there is a possibility to have Aux power somehow I will probably go that route. Otherwise 3-4 bricks will continue to do fine.
 
We just got our Epic-M in, and ended up going with four House of Power 90Wh gold mount batteries with their quad charger. I prefer Gold Mount batteries, and the House of Power offered a lot of bang for the buck over Anton Bauer. We haven't done a whole lot of field testing just yet, but will be over the course of the next two weeks. So far each battery seems to last up to 40 minutes of record time, or up to an hour alternating between standby and record. With the hot-swap plate attached, it's a great setup - perfect size for using with a fluid head in my opinion.

I also really like their battery charger with the handle on top and charge mounts on the sides - it's easy to grab and move around with one hand, unlike the AB chargers.

We are currently using the AB Dual-PT plate with XLR, and an XLR to Lemo adapter into the body. We chose this to make extending the battery plate cable easier, since the QRC-Epic has a limited cable length, as well as having a spare P-tap since the TVLogic powers off one all the time.

The only problem so far however is the lack of power % readout on the monitor. It just says the voltage reading, and you have to manually check the LED indicators on the batteries to see their remaining power. I'm not sure if it's the batteries, connection type, firmware, etc. Anyone else using House of Power batteries able to see the % on the monitor? Or any Gold Mount batteries for that matter?
 
Don't know if it has been previously reported, but the Epic will not boot from Anton Bauer Hytron 140 batteries that are hot off the charger; they are just enough over volt to prevent the camera from firing up. Let them sit for a few minutes and all is well. Anton Bauer is working on a voltage regulation solution.
A bit of a panic when I first discovered the problem, but all is well now.

Good shooting and best regards,
Leo
 
J.D. Frey said:
Can you use the red brick charger with the 2b-1b adapter?
Click to expand...

My initial thought would be "sure why not" but i'm never quite sure until someone from RED chimes in. In theory it should be just like using a red brick, but ........
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top