2007Steadi-Newbies forum
Choosing battery systems for Steadicam rigs and cinema cameras
19 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Anton Bauer batteries can be recelled when depleted, unlike some competing brands, extending their service life.
- Anton Bauer compatibility with professional rental facilities and higher-end cameras makes it a practical choice for growing from smaller to larger rigs.
- Local availability and rental house stock should influence battery choice, as borrowing spares during equipment failure keeps productions on schedule.
- Third-party batteries compatible with major mount systems typically require their own dedicated chargers and cannot be charged on genuine manufacturer chargers.
- V-Lock has become the most common battery mount system in UK production facilities and rental companies.
- PAG batteries such as the C50 Cobalt work effectively for powering monitor systems on Steadicam rigs with cameras like the Z1.
- PAG C50 models are lighter and more compact than larger PAG batteries designed for broadcast cameras, requiring rig rebalancing after attachment.
- IDX batteries are lightweight but offer less convenient servicing than Anton Bauer alternatives.
- Multiple manufacturers produce V-Lock compatible batteries and chargers, including IDX, Sony, Hawk Woods, and Swit, with varying specifications.
Depends on
- Recommendations are based on regional availability in the UK and Canada, which may not apply to other markets.
- Specific experiences described are limited to small cinema cameras like the Sony Z1 and Flyer Steadicam systems from 2007.
- No direct comparison testing data provided between battery systems.
- Long-term reliability and cost-of-ownership comparisons were not thoroughly discussed.
- Accidental battery detachment was reported with V-Lock systems but not explored in detail.