hmc150 battery at DVinfo.net

Matthew Harris · February 2nd, 2009, 11:28 PM

i currently have a dvx100a but hopefully will be getting the hmc150 soon...are the dvx100a batteries compatible with the hmc150 ?

Steve Wolla · February 3rd, 2009, 12:15 AM

I don't believe they are compatible. HMC batteries are a unique configuration, as I understand it.

Matthew Harris · February 3rd, 2009, 09:42 AM

probably so ... i have a nice big battery for the dvx100a but wishful thinking...

Casey Krugman · February 3rd, 2009, 03:39 PM

Nope... I think it wasn't the smartest move on Panasonic's part for inspiring customer loyalty, but they did it...

Your DVX batteries (Panasonic | CGR-D54 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack | CGAD54SE/1B | B&H) will only work in the HVX-200a and the HPX-170

The HMC uses these...(Panasonic | VW-VBG6PPK | VWVBG6PPK | B&H Photo Video)

Hope this clears it up...

Tom Alexander · February 3rd, 2009, 09:49 PM

As Casey said, the DVX batteries are not compatible with the HMC. Unfortunately, there are no generics currently available, and Panasonic's batteries are pricey. But they do last a while. I bought one of the large capacity batteries from B & H.

Interestingly, the battery charger from my little PV-GS300 works on the HMC's batteries. I noticed this when checking to see what cameras the HMC's charger works for, and both cameras were listed. I tried it and it works great, so I have a spare. But the GS300's batteries do not work on the HMC (I tried that too).

Matthew Harris · February 4th, 2009, 11:59 AM

don't generics usually roll out over time...after the camera has been out for a while...? i recall waiting some time till i got a larger generic for the dvx100a...

Alex Dolgin · February 4th, 2009, 09:26 PM

Panasonic designed in a new chip into the battery, the camera would not turn on unless the battery is authenticated. The generics would have to have a way to cheat their way into getting accepted...

Dana Salsbury · February 4th, 2009, 09:46 PM

...and generic batteries generally have a pathetic life-span. I vowed never to buy generic batteries. I would guess my generics need recharged in 1/3 the time as my originals. Maybe I'm unlucky, but a good battery is good insurance against bad situations.

Steve Wolla · February 15th, 2009, 03:13 AM

You know, the real bummer here is that the only chargers that will work are Panasonic's and they don't charge very quickly at all. There are no fast chargers like my old Lenmar that can charge the 150's batteries in 40 minutes vs several hours. I really miss having that ability....

Alex Dolgin · February 15th, 2009, 07:30 AM

Steve, just curious, what prevents you from using your Lenmar? Is it Mach 2? I know that their footprint is different but I was under impression you could insert them anyways?

Steve Wolla · February 15th, 2009, 10:50 AM

The Lenmar battery plate I used for my GS400--which has the same "footprint" as the HMC batteries--won't work on the HMC batteries. It will physically fit, but will not charge.
However, the HMC charger will charge the older style GS400 batteries.
I can try again, but that was tyhe result of my initial experimentation.
Not sure of the model number of the Lenmar, but it's silver and charges batteries quite rapidly. It cost about $69. Money well spent.

Tom Alexander · February 15th, 2009, 10:53 PM

I tried the charger for my GS300, and it works. As I mentioned before, the batteries for the GS300 will not work on the HMC, however. I had to shave a corner on each side to get it to slide into the HMC's battery terminals, but the HMC says "This Battery Will Not Work" on the viewfinder. So the chip has me beat right now, the only other way around it is to wire the battery into the A/C adapter cord. I've done this with the GS300, but I'm not going to with the HMC. The camera's too expensive to mess with a DIY battery.

February 2nd, 2009, 11:28 PM	#1
Matthew Harris Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 80	hmc150 battery i currently have a dvx100a but hopefully will be getting the hmc150 soon...are the dvx100a batteries compatible with the hmc150 ?

February 3rd, 2009, 03:39 PM	#4
Casey Krugman Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 135	No dvx batterries in the HMC Nope... I think it wasn't the smartest move on Panasonic's part for inspiring customer loyalty, but they did it... Your DVX batteries (Panasonic \| CGR-D54 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack \| CGAD54SE/1B \| B&H) will only work in the HVX-200a and the HPX-170 The HMC uses these...(Panasonic \| VW-VBG6PPK \| VWVBG6PPK \| B&H Photo Video) Hope this clears it up...

February 4th, 2009, 09:26 PM	#7
Alex Dolgin Contributor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lexington, Ma Posts: 286	Panasonic designed in a new chip into the battery, the camera would not turn on unless the battery is authenticated. The generics would have to have a way to cheat their way into getting accepted... __________________ Alex Dolgin Dolgin Engineering Camera DC Power accessories, Fast 4 position Battery Charger http://www.dolgin.net

February 4th, 2009, 09:46 PM	#8
Dana Salsbury Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 859	...and generic batteries generally have a pathetic life-span. I vowed never to buy generic batteries. I would guess my generics need recharged in 1/3 the time as my originals. Maybe I'm unlucky, but a good battery is good insurance against bad situations. __________________ www.LegacyHDV.com Weddings \| Corporate \| HMC150s \| FCPX \| Encore \| Lion

February 15th, 2009, 07:30 AM	#10
Alex Dolgin Contributor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lexington, Ma Posts: 286	Steve, just curious, what prevents you from using your Lenmar? Is it Mach 2? I know that their footprint is different but I was under impression you could insert them anyways? __________________ Alex Dolgin Dolgin Engineering Camera DC Power accessories, Fast 4 position Battery Charger http://www.dolgin.net

February 3rd, 2009, 12:15 AM	#2
Steve Wolla Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 477	I don't believe they are compatible. HMC batteries are a unique configuration, as I understand it.

February 3rd, 2009, 09:42 AM	#3
Matthew Harris Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 80	probably so ... i have a nice big battery for the dvx100a but wishful thinking...

February 3rd, 2009, 09:49 PM	#5
Tom Alexander Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ontario, Ca. Posts: 121	As Casey said, the DVX batteries are not compatible with the HMC. Unfortunately, there are no generics currently available, and Panasonic's batteries are pricey. But they do last a while. I bought one of the large capacity batteries from B & H. Interestingly, the battery charger from my little PV-GS300 works on the HMC's batteries. I noticed this when checking to see what cameras the HMC's charger works for, and both cameras were listed. I tried it and it works great, so I have a spare. But the GS300's batteries do not work on the HMC (I tried that too).

February 4th, 2009, 11:59 AM	#6
Matthew Harris Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 80	don't generics usually roll out over time...after the camera has been out for a while...? i recall waiting some time till i got a larger generic for the dvx100a...

February 15th, 2009, 03:13 AM	#9
Steve Wolla Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 477	You know, the real bummer here is that the only chargers that will work are Panasonic's and they don't charge very quickly at all. There are no fast chargers like my old Lenmar that can charge the 150's batteries in 40 minutes vs several hours. I really miss having that ability....

February 15th, 2009, 10:50 AM	#11
Steve Wolla Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 477	The Lenmar battery plate I used for my GS400--which has the same "footprint" as the HMC batteries--won't work on the HMC batteries. It will physically fit, but will not charge. However, the HMC charger will charge the older style GS400 batteries. I can try again, but that was tyhe result of my initial experimentation. Not sure of the model number of the Lenmar, but it's silver and charges batteries quite rapidly. It cost about $69. Money well spent.

February 15th, 2009, 10:53 PM	#12
Tom Alexander Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ontario, Ca. Posts: 121	I tried the charger for my GS300, and it works. As I mentioned before, the batteries for the GS300 will not work on the HMC, however. I had to shave a corner on each side to get it to slide into the HMC's battery terminals, but the HMC says "This Battery Will Not Work" on the viewfinder. So the chip has me beat right now, the only other way around it is to wire the battery into the A/C adapter cord. I've done this with the GS300, but I'm not going to with the HMC. The camera's too expensive to mess with a DIY battery.