GEAR MINI TESTS
TRIPLE TREAT Charger comes with two Hähnel batteries – we added a larger Sony NP-F
HAHNEL TRIO CHARGER KIT £170/$200 hahnel.ie
SPECIFICATIONS Type: Three-bay charger Fitment: Sony L-Series/NP-F fit Battery capacity: 5200mAh Battery type: Li-ion Maximum load: 60W Mains plug: UK/EU/US/AUS
can power three cells at the same time, with a design allowing use of any size of L-Series battery. On top of the charger, this £170/$200 kit includes two high- capacity HL-XL781 5200mAh batteries. These units – a direct replacement for the Sony NP-F770 – cost £80/$90 each. So essentially, the Trio charger costs just £10/$20 more than buying the two batteries anyway. Bargain! With a compact design and adapters for all major mains plugs, it’s ideal for global travel. And thanks to the 60W mains adapter, charging time is the same whether you’re powering one, two or three batteries. Charge time for three HL-XL581 or NP-F530/F550/F570 batteries simultaneously is just 90 minutes. Juicing up the included HL-XL781 (NP-F750/F770) takes three hours. If you use the bigger HL-XL982 PRO (NP-F950/F960/F970/F990), that takes 4.5 hours. Use couldn’t be easier. Just click the adapter plate to the mains transformer and plug it into the Hähnel charger.
You may not own a Sony camcorder, but chances are you own several products that use their batteries. That’s because L-Series units – aka NP-F – are almost universal within low-voltage video accessories. Devices like monitor/recorders, sliders, wireless video transmitters and small LED lights all employ the Sony-fit batteries. Many filmmakers end up with a bag full of them, usually in different sizes and capacities to suit various applications. You can never have too many NP-F cells – especially ones fully charged and ready to go. That means there are lots of reasons to purchase the Hähnel Trio Charger Kit. It’s a fast charger for NP-Fs, and
The batteries fit snugly and charging status is immediately shown via the LED readout by each cell. It’s fast, silent and stays cool thanks to Hähnel’s central venting system. The build quality is excellent. They worked perfectly in all our tests; we tried them on an Atomos Ninja V monitor and a Konova slider with no issues at all. They’re a little basic, with no warning lights or LED display to show how full they are, but that’s the same as virtually all NP-F aftermarket replacements. If you need a couple of NP-F batteries, you might as well buy this kit and get the excellent charger thrown in virtually for free.
BARGAIN BUY Together, the triple charger and battery pair are a great deal
PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 8/10 A useful, compact charger
Pros: Good value for money Cons: Car adapter costs extra
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PRO MOVIEMAKER
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