2008Batteries/Power forum
High-speed filming with film cameras requires careful battery selection and power delivery configuration
18 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Running a 435 film camera at higher frame rates demands more power than lower frame rates, and battery combinations that worked at 25fps may fail at 50fps
- Mixing different battery types in series can result in insufficient power delivery despite each individual battery having adequate voltage rating
- Cable gauge significantly affects voltage delivery to the camera, with undersized cables causing voltage drop that triggers low battery warnings even when batteries are fully charged
- Using a camera slow start-up menu option if available can reduce initial amperage draw and help prevent low battery shutdown during camera startup
- New batteries typically perform adequately for about one year with normal use before power delivery issues emerge at high frame rates
- NiCad batteries with smaller cell designs have lower peak current capacity compared to larger cell designs of the same voltage rating
- Hot and humid environmental conditions can negatively impact battery performance
- 22 AWG cable creates approximately 1 volt drop over typical Steadicam power runs, while 14 AWG cable creates significantly less voltage drop
- Voltage drop cascades as wire resistance increases with temperature and over-current, potentially causing rapid battery depletion
Depends on
- Discussion focuses primarily on 435 film cameras and specific Anton Bauer battery models from 2008
- Slow start-up menu option was mentioned as present on later 435 Advanced and Extreme models but not confirmed as universally available
- Recommendations for cable gauge and voltage calculations were based on Steadicam rig types like XCS and Pro models, may not apply to all camera support systems
- Battery age claims were based on individual user experience rather than manufacturer specifications