Is there a hidden AC port? at DVinfo.net

Rob Morse · March 12th, 2009, 06:11 PM

If this has already been posted I apologize, I haven't come across it in another post. I'll probably be annoying you guys with questions over the next few weeks as I really start digging into the Z5.

A couple of weeks ago my battery went dead at the end of the service. I decided this Saturday I would plug in the adaptor so I won't have to worry about charging it later. I've looked all over my camera and cannot find an AC port. Can anyone tell me if I'm stuck using that battery adaptor only? If that's the case I think that is a huge oversight on
Sony's part. At least before you could use the AC adaptor plus have your battery attached as well.

Adam Gold · March 12th, 2009, 08:00 PM

Shockingly, the Z5 does not appear to have the same DC in port as the FX1000. If it did, it would be under jack #8 (shown on page 136 of the manual), behind the lowermost door. But the manual says you have to use the battery adapter.

Interestingly, the FX1 and Z1 are different from each other in this way as well. The FX7 and V1, though, are identical to each other in this regard -- both have the same DC IN jack.

Rob Morse · March 12th, 2009, 08:19 PM

I guess I'll have to deal with it but I can see that being a nuisance.

Adam Gold · March 12th, 2009, 11:28 PM

Perhaps it's their way of assuring you never try to charge a battery on the cam (people say not to do this but they never say why), or maybe it's a more secure connection because it locks on whereas a regular plug doesn't, and may be less prone to falling out while shooting.

Stelios Christofides · March 13th, 2009, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Gold

.....a more secure connection because it locks on whereas a regular plug doesn't, and may be less prone to falling out while shooting.

Adam, I tend to agree on this one because it happened to me while I was using the FX7 with ac adaptor only, during a christening when a kid accidentally tripped over the supply cable and pulled the plug from the camera while I was shooting.

Stelios

Rob Morse · March 13th, 2009, 08:04 AM

I don't know guys. I can see the point about not charging the battery but it hasn't been like that for all these years. As far as it being more secure, maybe it's just me but I would rather have someone trip over the cord, have it pull out of my camera and it keep going with the battery VS the adaptor locked into your camera, having someone trip on the cord and yanking your camera over or snapping something off it. I've seen too many freak things over the years. I'll make it work.

Stelios Christofides · March 13th, 2009, 12:21 PM

Rob you have a point there. Maybe they should have given us both options. Anyway I guess we just have to live with it.

Stelios.

P.S. or maybe we can drill a hole through the case and mount our own socket.... lol

Ken Ross · March 14th, 2009, 10:03 AM

Carry enough batteries and you'll never have an issue. I generally carry 2X as many batteries as I think I'll need. I never had a problem using any cam that way.

Rob Morse · March 14th, 2009, 12:43 PM

Ken, I carry a few batteries. The issue isn't me changing batteries. It's the fact that since the camera uses so much juice, it would be nice to plug it in when I'm doing a service with an outlet sitting next to me. I was only pointing out that it seemed odd to not have the port on the Z5 considering it's been on the last 10 Sony cameras I've owned. That and the fact that you can't have the battery backup. It's not a deal breaker, just strange.

Ken Ross · March 14th, 2009, 02:37 PM

Rob, as someone mentioned, you can always use the AC adapter that comes with the unit. I don't see too much of a difference using that as opposed to having a jack for a small plug.

March 12th, 2009, 06:11 PM	#1
Rob Morse Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 427	Is there a hidden AC port? If this has already been posted I apologize, I haven't come across it in another post. I'll probably be annoying you guys with questions over the next few weeks as I really start digging into the Z5. A couple of weeks ago my battery went dead at the end of the service. I decided this Saturday I would plug in the adaptor so I won't have to worry about charging it later. I've looked all over my camera and cannot find an AC port. Can anyone tell me if I'm stuck using that battery adaptor only? If that's the case I think that is a huge oversight on Sony's part. At least before you could use the AC adaptor plus have your battery attached as well.

March 13th, 2009, 12:21 PM	#7
Stelios Christofides Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nicosia, CYPRUS Posts: 1,080	Rob you have a point there. Maybe they should have given us both options. Anyway I guess we just have to live with it. Stelios. P.S. or maybe we can drill a hole through the case and mount our own socket.... lol __________________ My Blog: http://steliosc.blogspot.com "I hope for nothing, I fear nothing, I am free" Nikos Kazantzakis

March 12th, 2009, 08:00 PM	#2
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Shockingly, the Z5 does not appear to have the same DC in port as the FX1000. If it did, it would be under jack #8 (shown on page 136 of the manual), behind the lowermost door. But the manual says you have to use the battery adapter. Interestingly, the FX1 and Z1 are different from each other in this way as well. The FX7 and V1, though, are identical to each other in this regard -- both have the same DC IN jack.

March 12th, 2009, 08:19 PM	#3
Rob Morse Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 427	I guess I'll have to deal with it but I can see that being a nuisance.

March 12th, 2009, 11:28 PM	#4
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Perhaps it's their way of assuring you never try to charge a battery on the cam (people say not to do this but they never say why), or maybe it's a more secure connection because it locks on whereas a regular plug doesn't, and may be less prone to falling out while shooting.

March 13th, 2009, 08:04 AM	#6
Rob Morse Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 427	I don't know guys. I can see the point about not charging the battery but it hasn't been like that for all these years. As far as it being more secure, maybe it's just me but I would rather have someone trip over the cord, have it pull out of my camera and it keep going with the battery VS the adaptor locked into your camera, having someone trip on the cord and yanking your camera over or snapping something off it. I've seen too many freak things over the years. I'll make it work.

March 14th, 2009, 10:03 AM	#8
Ken Ross Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,945	Carry enough batteries and you'll never have an issue. I generally carry 2X as many batteries as I think I'll need. I never had a problem using any cam that way.

March 14th, 2009, 12:43 PM	#9
Rob Morse Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 427	Ken, I carry a few batteries. The issue isn't me changing batteries. It's the fact that since the camera uses so much juice, it would be nice to plug it in when I'm doing a service with an outlet sitting next to me. I was only pointing out that it seemed odd to not have the port on the Z5 considering it's been on the last 10 Sony cameras I've owned. That and the fact that you can't have the battery backup. It's not a deal breaker, just strange.

March 14th, 2009, 02:37 PM	#10
Ken Ross Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,945	Rob, as someone mentioned, you can always use the AC adapter that comes with the unit. I don't see too much of a difference using that as opposed to having a jack for a small plug.