HC1 plus NP-QM91D at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony HDV and DV Camera Systems > Sony HVR-A1 and HDR-HC Series
Register FAQ Today's Posts Buyer's Guides

Sony HVR-A1 and HDR-HC Series
Sony's latest single-CMOS additions to their HDV camcorder line.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old March 8th, 2006, 06:52 PM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: LONDON, UK
Posts: 32
HC1 plus NP-QM91D

I have read reports that this battery is so deep, one has to angle up the viewfinder in order to view through it properly.

Some people recommend getting 2 NP-QM71Ds instead. Does anyone have experience with this issue?
__________________
Premiere Pro 2. Sony HC1E cam.
Athlon 64 4000+. 2gig Corsair RAM. ATI X800 Pro AGP graphics card. 2X SATA drives dedicated to video as RAID 0
Graham Wright is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 8th, 2006, 09:07 PM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 909
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Wright
I have read reports that this battery is so deep, one has to angle up the viewfinder in order to view through it properly.

Some people recommend getting 2 NP-QM71Ds instead. Does anyone have experience with this issue?
I use an FM-70 battery on a small, 5-year old Sony model. It is an ideal size for both good capacity and not being too big. The FM90 they sold for it was way too large for comfort and since I get about 3.5 hours recording time from the FM70, it is a much more practical size. With the great energy-efficiency these newer models have, one medium-sized QM71D is all I'd need besides the furnished battery. Two QM71Ds would keep you shooting all day. No sense in making it awkward to use, for power you won't likely need.
J. Stephen McDonald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 8th, 2006, 10:55 PM   #3
New Boot
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posts: 12
I have both the NP-QM71D and NP-QM91D batteries for my A1U. While I can use the viewfinder with the QM71D without having to angle up, the battery does press against my right cheek (under my eye). After a short while, that gets pretty annoying so I end up moving the viewfinder up anyway. The angle isn't as steep as it would be using the QM91D however. For the most part I usually monitor using the flip out LCD so it's not so much of an issue for me.
Arvin Lucio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 9th, 2006, 12:45 AM   #4
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 138
Get two QM71Ds. That way you can keep one charging while the other is in use. With the big one, once it's discharged, you then have to wait for it charge before shooting again.
Gian Pablo Villamil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 9th, 2006, 08:19 AM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 221
The idea with two batteries where one is charging while the other one is being used is a good one, but only if you have an external charger.

The HC1 is used for charging the battery, so you have to invest in an extra charger if you go for two Qm71s.

I use the LCD screen most of the time and I have an QM91, so the bigger size of the battery is not an issue for me. Especially not since the big battery gives me a better ballance of the camera with my Canon Wideangle adaptor.
__________________
----------------------------
12c41

JOS. Svendsen
Jos Svendsen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 9th, 2006, 12:11 PM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: san francisco, ca
Posts: 106
It depends on how you use your camera. I have 4 batteries including the NP-Qm91D. While it is true that the size of this battery means you have to move the viewfinder up, when I have the camera on a tripod it makes no difference. I set up the camera on the tripod and take into account this extra size in advance as well as all the other things I have to consider (zoom control cable placement, matt box and filter settings, microphone placement ) so the extra size is no big deal. In fact I like having all that extra charge so I can elimate the need to change batteries during a shoot. The only time the 91D might be a problem is when I hand hold
DKane
Dennis Kane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 9th, 2006, 04:08 PM   #7
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 909
Sima SPM-13 Charger

I have used the Sima SPM-13 charger for all my Sony lithium batteries for the last 5 years. It has adaptors to fit most models. If the QM-71/QM91 are differently shaped around their fittings, I'm not sure about them. The people on the phone line or on E-Mail at Sima are very knowledgeable and honest about compatibility with their products and will tell you what matches or not. It works with my NP-FM50/FM70 and NP-F570/F960. I've used it steadily for 5 years and it charges moderately fast and is dependable. It charges about 50% faster than the built-in camcorder chargers. It lets out a loud shriek when it makes a good connection at the start and 3 more when it's finished. It cost me about $40. and has been a real bargain.

Looking at their website today, I see a new universal charger model, the UDC-3X. It works with lithium, Ni-Cad and NiMH batteries of all common voltages and brands. It's listed at $70. The SPM-13 is no longer shown. The UDC-3X would be very good for anyone with older camcorders as well as new ones and has all three battery types to charge. I may buy one of them myself.

I see a lot of people who, like myself, invested in two or three of the larger lithium batteries for camcorders. This isn't necessary, in many cases. With my VX2100, I use my medium-small NP-F570 almost all the time, as it gives me about 2 hours recording time. I carry my bigger F960 along, but have used it only a couple of times. It's good to have one large battery on reserve, but unless you're shooting more than 4 hours of footage a day, one medium-sized and one larger Sony battery will be enough. If you're going on a field trip away from a power source, then you need a bunch of extra batteries.

http://www.simacorp.com
J. Stephen McDonald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 9th, 2006, 07:02 PM   #8
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: LONDON, UK
Posts: 32
thanks for all your comments. Yes it does depend on how one uses the camera. I like to use a tripod as often as I can, so it wouldn't be an issue in that mode. But I hand hold quite a lot as well.

The thing is I find that shooting with the viewfinder angled up feels weird. I suppose it's something one could get used to, but it's like suddenly assuming an angle of view of someone a few inches shorter and it's amazing what a difference that makes to close range shots.
__________________
Premiere Pro 2. Sony HC1E cam.
Athlon 64 4000+. 2gig Corsair RAM. ATI X800 Pro AGP graphics card. 2X SATA drives dedicated to video as RAID 0
Graham Wright is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 10th, 2006, 11:02 AM   #9
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 116
How Long does a QM-71 Last on the A1U?

Approx. How many hours of shooting time does the QM-71 battery last with the A1U?

Using the viewfinder?
With the LCD screen open?
Dave Halliday is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 10th, 2006, 02:33 PM   #10
New Boot
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posts: 12
Battery Times

Pages 11 & 12 scanned from the Sony HVR-A1U/A1N Operating Guide
Arvin Lucio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 11th, 2006, 10:06 PM   #11
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 116
Dude, you rock. Looks like I"ll need at least another QM-71.
Dave Halliday is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 13th, 2006, 04:41 AM   #12
New Boot
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Prince George, BC
Posts: 17
I just bought four QM91D batterys from this guy on ebay. I don't really know when I'm gonna have the chance to charge them so that's why I went with them vs the 71D.

I'll let you guys know if they are really genuine sonys.
Paul Alberts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 13th, 2006, 05:09 PM   #13
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 99
Do all Sony M-series batteries work with the A1/HC1, please? For example FM70, FM90, FM91.
Colin Pearce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 13th, 2006, 08:50 PM   #14
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 909
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colin Pearce
Do all Sony M-series batteries work with the A1/HC1, please? For example FM70, FM90, FM91.
The Sony page says that the NP-FM50 is the one that is supplied with the camcorder. I'd assume that the FM70/FM90 would also work, but someone who has these camcorders should be the one to give a definite answer. I use both an FM50 and FM70 on a 5-year old Sony camcorder and also with a DV Video Walkman VCR. The supplied FM50 never had much capacity and went downhill fast, but the extra FM70 I bought, held up very well. It seems that all the small batteries that Sony provides with camcorders are as poor in durability as their larger, extra batteries are good.
J. Stephen McDonald is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony HDV and DV Camera Systems > Sony HVR-A1 and HDR-HC Series


 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:19 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network