What is the best way to power the camera from AC power? Is there a better option than that cheap battery charger?

The AB dionic kit includes a plug on power converter built into a an AB shell that you can plug an IEC cable straight into.

BH have it here: (I believe there is a kit without the light)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/415460-REG/Anton_Bauer_QRJVC714K_Power_and_On.html

hmmm...must be a easier way besides spending 1700 dollars on a battery kit...

anyone make their own?

Guy Barwood put together a home made solution - do a search you should find it. It includes pictures. Craig Donaldson jury rigged an IDX plate from a battery belt adapter. It really depends on your current setup.

For an AC adapter option is there something wrong with powering the camera from the supplied battery charger? It works. Admittedly most pro cameramen won't power their cameras of AC unless they know it's clean power (ie designed for production work like a studio supply in which case theincluded supply is just fine) - two many problems with spikes killing cameras.

You can outfit youself with a professional battery solution for a lot less than $US1700. Do a search for IDX and AB mounts. There are cheaper options than Anton Bauer and IDX but you may still have to buy the adpater plate of them. I spent about $1100AUS for two 95wH batts a dual channel charger and the AB mount.

I saw Guy's solution and it made me cringe trying to picture me putting one of those together and then using it on actual shoots... That wasn't for me, but maybe for some.

I actually highly recommend the AB Mount with a couple batteries from Batteries4Broadcast ( http://www.batteries4broadcast.com/ ). Their support is excellent and the batteries work as well as they say. Shot a wedding in SD last weekend and could have gotten through the whole 10 hour day without recharging on two 90Wh batteries (even though I did anyway just to make sure).

I would recommend the travel charger combo so that you can do just what you mention (run on AC power). http://www.batteries4broadcast.com/combo.htm
You plug into the battery and it charges while you shoot. I haven't confirmed if this is good for the battery or not, but I'll let you know when I hear from them.

In any case I would not like using this camera without some sort of added weight on the back end of it (like the pro batts). It stabilizes the camera and provides much better balance. However the good news about B4B is that you can have your whole power solution for less than $700 (with the AB mount: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=398347&is=REG&addedTroughType=search ).

Finding out about this company was the tipping point for me to invest in the camera now rather than wait for another promotion or other reason to buy.

Admittedly most pro cameramen won't power their cameras of AC unless they know it's clean power (ie designed for production work like a studio supply in which case theincluded supply is just fine) - two many problems with spikes killing cameras.

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I don't know much about electronics but wouldn't a power spike kill the transformer or blow a fuse rather than kill the camera?

I got in on the IDX promo though it hasn't arrived yet and am wondering if it ever will...

Do pros use batteries for in studio shoots usually?

nevermind - off topic

Since cameras are powered through adaptors and their voltage range is quite wide, typically between 10.5 to 16 V, the possibility of 'spikes' damaging them is quite minimal. It would trip a fuse or blow the transformer, as Brian mentioned, before getting to the camera.

The only 'issue' I see with the supplied power system is the connector on the camera, which could become disconnected easily. That's why bigger cameras use lockable 4 pin XLR connectors.

Most cameramen prefer powering cameras by batteries, especially in a multicamera environment, for a different reason; 'dirty' power can cause video and audio interference, which could be typically represented by rolling bars over picture, 60 Hz hum in audio, etc. If all cameras are powered from the same source, i.e. camera truck, this is usually not a problem.

Since cameras are powered through adaptors and their voltage range is quite wide, typically between 10.5 to 16 V, the possibility of 'spikes' damaging them is quite minimal. It would trip a fuse or blow the transformer, as Brian mentioned, before getting to the camera.

The only 'issue' I see with the supplied power system is the connector on the camera, which could become disconnected easily. That's why bigger cameras use lockable 4 pin XLR connectors.

Most cameramen prefer powering cameras by batteries, especially in a multicamera environment, for a different reason; 'dirty' power can cause video and audio interference, which could be typically represented by rolling bars over picture, 60 Hz hum in audio, etc. If all cameras are powered from the same source, i.e. camera truck, this is usually not a problem.

Jiri - I beg to differ. I have been on a shoot where a camera (digibeta 709) got fired connected to the mains. Not a pretty sight. And rather inconvenient.