View Full Version : When a v-lock doesn't lock


Chris Tangey
July 22nd, 2014, 03:43 AM
Just bought a couple of new batteries for my Sony PMW-350K. One of the 3 Swits I bought 4 years back died the other day so I thought I'd better get ready for the other two to follow.

Did a lot of research and came up with the Dynacore DS-150SI, what I think is a very clever battery with not just d-tap out, but also USB 5v and you can not only charge them in a normal charger but they have their own internal charger as well so you can just plug your battery straight into the wall! ( takes a little longer to charge though)

dynacore-china (http://www.dynacore-battery.com/productshow.asp?id=168)

So with bated breath I opened my parcel today, charged them both and went to put them on the camera.
They work, but they don't lock in place, neither of them. One I would see as a unit fault, two of them sounds more like a design fault. Now, I don't believe the latter as I have heard quite a few people around the traps say they use these so what am I doing wrong? Aren't all v-locks standard v-locks that lock? Is there something in the bleeding obvious realm I don't know about v-locks after all these years?

Currently they are unusable as although they power the camera sitting still, once you start moving around you lose connection quite quickly. It appears to me they don't slide down far enough to click the lock no matter what I do, any ideas?

Bryan Cantwell
July 22nd, 2014, 12:10 PM
My first thought...

http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/keep-calm-and-use-gaff-tape.png

:)

Chris Tangey
July 22nd, 2014, 05:04 PM
Thank Bryan, very helpful, not! That's ok, I got a laugh.
Found that the issue was a lug that seemed to serve no purpose whatsoever apart from preventing Sony cameras from using Dynacore batteries. So I found a hack. Excuse the dusty camera, just came back from another desert shoot.

Bryan Cantwell
July 23rd, 2014, 11:13 AM
Ha! Yeah, it was definitely jokes.

Glad you figured it out, though! Nothing like a little outside-the-box problem solving.

Chris Tangey
July 24th, 2014, 06:24 AM
Mate, we live in the desert 1500km from the nearest city, thinking IN a box is our issue!