2007Batteries/Power forum
Battery selection and power solutions for high-speed film cameras
19 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- Newer lithium-ion batteries perform well at high frame rates, but aging cells lose the ability to handle current spikes and cause voltage dips that shut down the camera
- Nickel-metal hydride batteries such as the A/B Hitron50 can power the camera at various frame rates and require battery changes approximately every five takes at high speeds
- At normal frame rates between 25-75 fps, a single pair of quality batteries can sustain operation for extended periods
- High current demand at elevated frame rates requires batteries with sub-C or full-C sized cells to maintain stable voltage delivery
- Some users successfully modified camera power systems through gyro connectors to accept higher voltage configurations for improved battery life
- Cheaper generic lithium-ion cells from resellers can provide cost-effective power solutions when properly configured in parallel and series arrangements
- Batteries typically maintain adequate voltage reserves even after extended use, with rear cells depleting faster than booster cells in multi-battery setups
Depends on
- Battery performance at high frame rates varies with age and usage history
- Experiences reported are from 2007 and may not reflect current battery technology
- High-speed frame rate testing was primarily conducted at 150 fps
- Some battery sourcing involved non-authorized resellers with unclear warranty coverage
- Camera modifications mentioned required technical expertise and specific knowledge of individual camera designs