GEAR. POWER ON-SET
T he battery world’s biggest idea in on-camera power is the B-Mount, developed to supply higher voltages to the heaviest loads. Hawk-Woods addresses the demand with its BL range, including the gargantuan 350Wh BL-350 battery, one of the most capable in its class. Each has two auxiliary power outputs, usually a D-Tap and USB-C. If more is needed, the company’s X-Boxx series of floor batteries have long provided huge capacities up to 1000Wh. Even the compact new Mini X-Boxx packs 880Wh of capacity into its diminutive profile. With 14.4v and regulated 28v outputs, it’ll run even the least frugal cameras for hours. All the while, smaller members of Hawk-Woods’ selection take on the reality that many modern gadgets – monitors, recorders, transmitters, even remote focus devices – frequently use systems designed by Sony in the nineties, for its consumer and prosumer camcorder ranges. Whether or not it was Sony’s intention that the system would become so widely used, improvements in technology have made it steadily more effective, and Hawk-Woods has options compatible with both the NP-F series and slightly more upscale BP-U battery series. The mighty B-Mount itself was developed as a collaboration
between Arri and German power specialist Bebob, based on the idea that more volts can push more watts for fewer amps (see ‘Pipe dreams’ boxout). Bebob has B-Mount batteries with capacities up to 290Wh in the B290Cine model. There’s a full range of accessories, including hot-swap adapter and adapter plates for common mounts; the ability to supply both 12v and 24v devices means one case full of batteries could supply everything on-set. CORE BLIMEY Core SWX’s pre-NAB Show announcements also included devices at both ends of the scale: the Nano-F is a 45Wh option, compatible with Sony L-Series batteries, that’s considerably smaller than many devices of similar capacity. As the name suggests, the Nano Micro brings compactness to V- and Gold Mount batteries up to 147Wh. It works nicely for situations that require the capacity of a full-size battery, but not the bulk. Anyone who doesn’t need full-size will find manufacturers competing on sheer feature set: a market Core SWX focuses on, with its hugely flexible Powerbase series. The full Powerbase Edge operates either as a V-Mount, or via 1/4in threaded attachment, perhaps riding on a 15mm rod
system with a suitable clamp. There are 14.8v and 7.2v outputs to suit both professional and video- capable stills cameras that expect 7.2v lithium-ion batteries. There’s also 5v output for USB devices, an increasingly common load. People who don’t need the V-Mount and runtime LCD can choose the Powerbase Lite version. Not to neglect the high-end market, Core SWX offers B-Mount compatibility in the Helix Max range, with similar features to its Hypercore Neo range, but with 26v output. Meanwhile, the Voltbridge system, which the company refers to as a battery management platform, allows anyone with the appropriate mobile app to monitor the overall health of chargers and batteries – potentially hundreds of them – from anywhere. It’s not the first time that’s been done, but Core SWX seems keen to cover all bases. Anton/Bauer has long been similarly comprehensive, with alternatives for everyone – from lone-wolf YouTubers to the most rarefied regions of high-end cinema. The popular Dionic has expanded to include a 26v series on the company’s Gold Mount Plus. Available in capacities up to 240Wh, there’s a compact 99Wh version for air travel, a dual-mount bracket to take two batteries and, with the bigger packs, run for hour after hour. The company has stand-mounting dual plates for high-power loads, particularly big LED lights, with the Dionic 26v LP4 four-way charger available to handle Gold Mount Plus units. At a smaller scale, Anton/ Bauer’s 68Wh Titon Base system is festooned with D-Tap and 5v, 2A USB output options. There are 1/4in fasteners on both faces, such that it will operate quite literally as a
BIRD BOX Hawk-Woods’ BL-350 (above left) and MXB- 880 (above right) are power-packed
“Anyone who doesn’t need full-size will find manufacturers competing on sheer feature set: a market Core SWX focuses on”
RUN THE GAMUT The 26v 240Wh Dionic from Anton-Bauer is employed by the full spectrum of filmmakers
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