Sony F350 batteries or other brands? at DVinfo.net

Simon Denny · September 9th, 2009, 05:42 AM

I'm wondering if I'm tied down to using only the Sony V lock batteries or can I use some other brand?
Currently I'm using the Sony BP-GL95.

Thanks

Alister Chapman · September 9th, 2009, 12:39 PM

You can use any brand of V-Lock batteries. I've had good results with Swit, IDX and Global Media Pro Batteries.

One small point is that XDCAM Disc cameras have a high momentary power spike at the start of writing clips. Because of this it is advisable to use medium to large capacity Li-Ion batteries or a high current battery chemistry such as Ni-MH. This stops you getting premature low battery warnings and short battery life with batteries that can't deliver the current spike as they get close to being flat.

I would suggest a 90Wh or 6Ah battery as a minimum.

Gabor Heeres · September 9th, 2009, 03:09 PM

I'm using chinese brand Dynacore. Works very well and is quite cheap.

dynacore-china

Tim Bradley · September 10th, 2009, 04:57 PM

I have Swit and some other Chinese batteries. The swit I have do not talk to the camera and give you proper readings and battery level warnings. One of my Chinese batteries does but the other does not.

Also with one of the Chinese batteries the camera will not run with a power supply attached.

So test the batteries before you buy to ensure they give you what you want/need as in battery level in camera etc.

Cheers, Tim.

Tim Bradley Cameraman Director of Photography in Sydney

Eugene Kosarovich · September 10th, 2009, 08:18 PM

I've had good luck with the IDX batteries.

Alister Chapman · September 11th, 2009, 12:37 AM

My swits give me accurate battery meter readings once I change the battery type to the correct one in the menu.

Simon Denny · September 11th, 2009, 02:59 AM

Which ones are the best for price and battery endurance?

Alister Chapman · September 11th, 2009, 06:02 AM

I like the Global Media Pro Li160s. They are around £160 GBP and are 160WH. If you don't want Chinese then IDX are good but more money.

Simon Denny · September 11th, 2009, 04:31 PM

Hi Alister,
I have been looking at the Global Media batteries and have two questions.
Do these fit in the Sony charger?
Also, how many hours do you get with the Global Media Pro Li160s.
Here in Australia the Sonys are around $850 and you get around 2 1/2 hours out of them.

Cheers

Alister Chapman · September 12th, 2009, 06:24 AM

The Global Media Batts are fine with Sony chargers. The 160's give a little over 2 hours on a PDW-700 depending on what you have enabled, they would last a fair bit longer on a F350. They also have a D-Tap socket which is handy for powering other 12v devices.

Greg Boston · September 12th, 2009, 01:49 PM

Just to add to the other good replies, if you really see something in the AB mount style that you like, AB sells an adapter to use their batteries on the V Mount. I've been using that for the last 3 years with no problems. My decision was based on the fact that I already owned a few AB batteries when I got the F350.

-gb-

Simon Denny · September 13th, 2009, 01:39 AM

Hi Greg,
I'm confused about the AB mount or batteries you have mentioned.
Can you point me to a link on these.

Thanks

Greg Boston · September 13th, 2009, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Ash

Hi Greg,
I'm confused about the AB mount or batteries you have mentioned.
Can you point me to a link on these.

Thanks

AB is Anton Bauer. Cameras at this level use one of two battery mount systems. The Sony V-Mount, or Anton Bauer's Gold Mound (sometimes generically called 3 stud mount). Using a $149 adapter plate will let you use the Gold Mount batteries. Have a look at the AB website to see what I mean.

-gb-

Simon Denny · September 13th, 2009, 03:02 AM

Oh, Anton Bauer of course.

Thanks

Simon Denny · September 17th, 2009, 04:09 AM

I'm trying to work out the life of a battery when fully charged.
Does anyone know to work this out?

This is for the Globalmedia Pro V batteries.
Voltage : 14.4 V
Capacity : 190 Wh
Power limit : 90 W

This is for the Sony BP GL95
Maximum voltage DC 16.8V
Nominal voltage DC 14.4V
Capacity 95Wh

Thanks

September 9th, 2009, 05:42 AM	#1
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Sony F350 batteries or other brands? I'm wondering if I'm tied down to using only the Sony V lock batteries or can I use some other brand? Currently I'm using the Sony BP-GL95. Thanks

September 9th, 2009, 12:39 PM	#2
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	You can use any brand of V-Lock batteries. I've had good results with Swit, IDX and Global Media Pro Batteries. One small point is that XDCAM Disc cameras have a high momentary power spike at the start of writing clips. Because of this it is advisable to use medium to large capacity Li-Ion batteries or a high current battery chemistry such as Ni-MH. This stops you getting premature low battery warnings and short battery life with batteries that can't deliver the current spike as they get close to being flat. I would suggest a 90Wh or 6Ah battery as a minimum. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

September 10th, 2009, 08:18 PM	#5
Eugene Kosarovich Taken away too young... rest in peace Eugene Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 161	I've had good luck with the IDX batteries. __________________ Scorpio Productions PDW-F335, PDW-U1, Vegas Pro 9.0b

September 11th, 2009, 12:37 AM	#6
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	My swits give me accurate battery meter readings once I change the battery type to the correct one in the menu. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

September 11th, 2009, 06:02 AM	#8
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	I like the Global Media Pro Li160s. They are around £160 GBP and are 160WH. If you don't want Chinese then IDX are good but more money. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

September 9th, 2009, 03:09 PM	#3
Gabor Heeres Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Eindhoven, The Netherlands Posts: 322	I'm using chinese brand Dynacore. Works very well and is quite cheap. dynacore-china

September 10th, 2009, 04:57 PM	#4
Tim Bradley Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 48	I have Swit and some other Chinese batteries. The swit I have do not talk to the camera and give you proper readings and battery level warnings. One of my Chinese batteries does but the other does not. Also with one of the Chinese batteries the camera will not run with a power supply attached. So test the batteries before you buy to ensure they give you what you want/need as in battery level in camera etc. Cheers, Tim. Tim Bradley Cameraman Director of Photography in Sydney

September 11th, 2009, 02:59 AM	#7
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Which ones are the best for price and battery endurance?

September 11th, 2009, 04:31 PM	#9
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Hi Alister, I have been looking at the Global Media batteries and have two questions. Do these fit in the Sony charger? Also, how many hours do you get with the Global Media Pro Li160s. Here in Australia the Sonys are around $850 and you get around 2 1/2 hours out of them. Cheers

September 12th, 2009, 06:24 AM	#10
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	The Global Media Batts are fine with Sony chargers. The 160's give a little over 2 hours on a PDW-700 depending on what you have enabled, they would last a fair bit longer on a F350. They also have a D-Tap socket which is handy for powering other 12v devices. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

September 12th, 2009, 01:49 PM	#11
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	Just to add to the other good replies, if you really see something in the AB mount style that you like, AB sells an adapter to use their batteries on the V Mount. I've been using that for the last 3 years with no problems. My decision was based on the fact that I already owned a few AB batteries when I got the F350. -gb-

September 13th, 2009, 01:39 AM	#12
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Hi Greg, I'm confused about the AB mount or batteries you have mentioned. Can you point me to a link on these. Thanks

September 13th, 2009, 03:02 AM	#14
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Oh, Anton Bauer of course. Thanks

September 17th, 2009, 04:09 AM	#15
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	I'm trying to work out the life of a battery when fully charged. Does anyone know to work this out? This is for the Globalmedia Pro V batteries. Voltage : 14.4 V Capacity : 190 Wh Power limit : 90 W This is for the Sony BP GL95 Maximum voltage DC 16.8V Nominal voltage DC 14.4V Capacity 95Wh Thanks