I notice the F3 doesn't come with a battery, but I assume it does have an AC power supply. Is this the same as with the EX-1 doubling as a charger?

Also is the power drain the same as the EX-1?

The F3 does not come with an AC adapter.
The power consumption of the F3 is between 18-24 watts depending on what options you have turned on. The dual-link output, running the LCD and viewfinder simultaneously, etc. all add to the power requirements.
The EX1R, on the other hand, draws about 12-13 watts.

So, the F3 uses 50%-90% more power.

Hi Leonard,

You would have to get something like this...

Switronix SPU-4 Compact Power Supply SPU-4 B&H Photo Video


...to run it off AC power.

They sell it without a battery or an AC adapter! Sounds ridiculous to me.
Is that normal for a higher end camera is it just Sony being Sony.
Can you use an EX-1 power supply or does it run off standard 12V 4 pin XLR?

Will my ancient AC500 do the trick then?

It's normal for high end cameras to be supplied without any batteries and charger. Different people will want to use different power options. Many users of the F3 will probably use V-Lock or Anton Bauer. Not every one will use the BP-U60's

Indeed, anybody seen a 15mm rail mount v-lock to xlr that would suit the F3?

Look at the AJA Ki Pro Mini website. Ki Pro rod plates ($269 for a pair),
hold a mounting plate with a V-mount attached. You could use this setup for power only, or get two mounting plates and add a Ki Pro Mini.

Indeed, anybody seen a 15mm rail mount v-lock to xlr that would suit the F3?

I am using this:

microBalance Plus (http://store.redrockmicro.com/Catalog/DSLR-Counter-Balance/microBalancePlus)

with this:

IDX C-EBXLR V-Mount Plate with 4-pin XLR C-EB-XLR B&H Photo

[quote=Ryan Hollings;1619451]I am using this:

microBalance Plus (http://store.redrockmicro.com/Catalog/DSLR-Counter-Balance/microBalancePlus)


I really like that it holds things below the rods assembly. Do you know of a 19mm version of this?

Would the charger supply enough power to power the F3? In that case all you'd have to do is replace the small plug on the charger with a large power plug for the F3.

The BC-U1 charger I have has a listed max output of 2 amps, which makes it very close to the power draw of the F3 if you have lots of things (all your outputs) turned on -- a little too close for comfort in my thinking.

Perhaps Doug J could test it, and if I'm wrong and it works properly, Vortex Media could come up with an opposite gender cable adapter (the opposite of their current EXDC1 power cable)?

Typical battery charging current is 0.1c.
In plain English, that means 1/10th of the rated battery capacity.
For example, if a battery is rated at 1 AHr, the typical charge current would be 0.1 A (100 mA).
Hence a battery charger is a regulated device, either a constant current, constant voltage or both.
(A depleted battery will have a low voltage and draw a high current. As the battery charges, the current drawn is reduced and the voltage rises.)

A power supply will usually provide a regulate constant voltage and allow the current to float up or down depending on the demand. (The power supply will provide up to its rated output.)

The BC-U1 and -U2 are not only chargers. They double as power supplies for the EX1 and EX3 so using them to power the F3 is not so far fetched in my opinion.

Seems if it were that easy wouldn't Sony have provided it with a 4 pin . Of course never try to second guess Sony marketing.

The BC-U1 and -U2 are not only chargers. They double as power supplies for the EX1 and EX3 so using them to power the F3 is not so far fetched in my opinion.

Hi Ola, as Dave said the charger in power supply mode outputs 2 amps. That translates into 24 watts. This is what the camera draws. There is no margin so I would agree with David that it isn't suitable.

I mentioned above that Switronic sells a power adapter which B&H sells for just under $100 USD. It is rated at 5 amps so you could safely throw 50 to 70 watts of stuff at it which should cover off accessories including an eye light on the camera.

Actually, the F3 only requires 24 watts if you're using the A/B dual link outputs. Otherwise, it's closer to 18 watts.

My BC-U2 charger/adapter can power my PDW-U1 optical drive, and that unit requires 3-amps, so I don't think that powering an F3 is going to be much of a chore for it. Not so sure about the BC-U1 because it doesn't output as much power as the U2 even though it says it does. I have not actually gotten out a meter and check things yet scientifically. If I can use a BC-U1 or BC-U2 as a charger and as an A/C adapter, that is better than adding another piece of gear.

Dave, Vortex Media is already working on a cable adapter but thank for the suggestion. I can't wait to use one myself.

Doug, thanks for the clarification on the power draw of the F3. Most people will have the U1 and not the U2 charger/power adapter so it would be best if someone actually tested it out. By the way, it is stamped right on the bottom of the U1 charger/adapter 2A at 12V on the output.

And the U2 also says 2A, yet one will power my PDW-U1 and the other won't. So they can't be the same.

The PDW-U1 disc drive does draw a lot of juice so it is good for testing until I have the right cable to go from a BC-U1/U2 into the F3.

I have a battery box that holds two IDX Lithium-Ion batteries that I can use to power almost any 12v device -- but it cannot power the PDW-U1 -- but it will power the F3. So, I figure if the U2 can power the PDW-U1 disc drive, then it will certainly power the F3.

I hope that makes sense. It's been a long day.

Doug,
Good to hear that you have the cable in development.
Just took a look and my U1 drive is listed at 3Amps.
Interestingly enough the U1 XDcam drive and the US10 SxS drive both come with the same power supply - the MPA-AC1 - which is listed at 3 amps, so presumably that would be able to power the F3 with your adapter.
Looking forward to it!
Best,
Dave S.

Makes me think.... Should I get one U2 (more convenient) or two U1s (more redundant). About the same cost.

Thierry.

My tech did a quick test and you can power the F3 through the BCU1 and also the BCU2. He cut the cable and solder it. It works.

Thanks Junior,
Have you tried running it for a long time to make sure it doesn't get hot. Can you hurt the BCU1 if you run it at max power for too long?

It didn't get hot, but we didn't run it for a long time though maybe 15 mins. Sorry it was a quick test.

The camcorder was for a customer and he gave me the ok to do small tests and photos of it before we shipped it out to him. Right now we don't have a demo unit to work with, every new F3 shipment that comes in our store, goes out the same day.

I might send it over to one of the rental companies to test it on their F3. Or anybody in NYC that wants to stop by our store to pick up the unit to test, contact me.

This is something I'd like to do as well. Could you maybe get your tech to describe which cables go to which pins? All I have to do is get a four pin XLR-plug, right?

Hi Ola,

There are 2 wires from the charger cable, Positive and Ground.
Get a four pin XLR plug, Pins #1 (ground ) and #4(Positive) and solder the positives and the grounds.