2004Video Assist and Video Accessories forum
Powering small camcorders as on-board recorders for Steadicam using external power supplies and dummy battery modules
22 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The Sony PC5 Mini-DV camcorder can function as an on-board recorder when equipped with a custom power supply module featuring a Lemo connector that communicates with the camera's battery management system to authorize operation.
- Sony cameras with InfoLithium batteries require authentication from a recognized battery before powering on, making a specially designed dummy battery module necessary to accept external power from a Steadicam rig.
- Multiple Sony camera models share compatible 'S' style InfoLithium batteries including the DCR-PC series and DSC-P series, allowing a single power solution to work across different devices.
- Alternative recorders like the Archos AV320 hard drive recorder and Canon MV5i/MV6i can be powered directly from a Steadicam's DC output without requiring dummy battery modules or custom authorization chips.
- Some camcorders designed to accept DC input, such as certain Sony IP series models, will operate from external power while leaving a battery installed if the camera recognizes the battery's circuitry.
- Hard drive recorders create separate video files for each start-stop cycle, making it easier to organize and locate specific takes during review.
- Combining video and power through a single connector can occasionally cause interference in low-light shooting situations on some camera and recorder combinations.
- A camcorder set to playback mode may continue draining its internal battery when the external power is disconnected, potentially depleting the battery completely unless already depleted beforehand.
Depends on
- The discussion occurred in 2004 when several mentioned products were already discontinued or approaching discontinuation.
- Availability and delivery timeline for the custom Seitz Technical power module remained uncertain at the time of discussion.
- Claims about specific recorder performance, battery drain behavior, and interference issues are based on individual user experience rather than systematic testing.
- Accuracy of the camera model list compatible with 'S' style batteries was not verified by the original poster.
- No information provided about video quality output or reliability over extended use for most alternative recorders mentioned.