KitPlus | Articles

Battery Power Management

There are many obvious ways a modern battery is better than one that would have been common just a few years ago and is light years ahead of what was available a generation ago. In everything from form factor to battery life to charge time, things have vastly improved. Consider cycle ratings, an indication of how many times a pack has or can be use...

Submitted by Ross Kanarek

Published 24 January 2019

A Bluffers Guide to Batteries

The Christmas decorations are down; the family have all headed home – and the New Year’s festivities have drawn to a close. I put my hand up to it – I’m a little drained. As such, I figured I’d start the new year with a Bluffer’s Guide to Batteries. With the cold weather setting in, it can be a nightmare to pick the right disposable batteries for s...

Submitted by Mike Colyer

Published 12 February 2018

You need wave power if you are going surfing

Tim Bonython\'s association with surfing films began in 1978, when armed with a Super-8 camera he set off to Hawaii\'s infamous North Shore, to capture the big waves and their riders. From that moment he fell in love with the sport, and became obsessed with making it the subject of breathtaking and inspiring films. To spread the word, Tim began tou...

Submitted by Tim Bonython

Published 19 May 2017

Not all power is created equal

Battery companies are quickly coming to realize that as new technologies continue to emerge, power solutions cannot be a one-size-fits-all commodity. There is no single battery for every situation, but instead a myriad of choices to accommodate even the most complex requirements. Below are five common videographer or photographer scenarios with the...

Submitted by Jose Flores

Published 15 March 2017

Smaller, Lighter, High-Capacity Batteries

Issue 113 - May 2016 The desire for longer run-times from smaller and lighter batteries, has always been keenly felt by users of high power consumption digital cinema style cameras. The new generation of cameras is smaller but the power consumption, in most cases, has increased. High-capacity Li-Ion batteries of 150Wh or more provide longer run-tim...

Submitted by Steve Emmett

Published 20 May 2016

Traveling Safely with Lithium Ion - Tips and Tricks

by Mike Dolan Issue 110 - February 2016 For any location production, organization and pre-planning is key. This mantra goes beyond thinking of shoots and equipment placement to actually how your equipment will get from point A to B. This is particularly crucial when selecting batteries for air travel due to the set limit on lithium ion (Li-Ion) bat...

Submitted by Mike Dolan

Published 16 March 2016

The future is smaller, more powerful batteries

by Steve Emmett Issue 106 - October 2015 High-quality cameras are getting smaller and lighter all the time, making them suitable for new applications. Nearly every production we see today includes shots acquired by drone and gimbal mounted cameras. The batteries required to power these cameras have to meet new criteria. They must be able to withsta...

Submitted by Steve Emmett

Published 01 November 2015

IDX E-HL9 Battery review

Author: Jon BoastManufacturer: IDXModel: E-HL9 BatteryShort Description: 88Wh Li-ion V-Mount High Load Battery with PowerLink & Digi-View. Why was it needed and what did it replace: I'd had my IDX E-10 batteries for a long time and so I needed to re-invest in new batteries to power my cameras, monitor and glidecam. What other systems did you consid...

Submitted by Bob Pank#

Published 01 January 2015

New Blueshape products

Issue 82 - October 2013 Cache Media, exclusive distributor for the UK and Ireland for Blueshape Battery Systems, has announced the arrival in stock of two new product ranges:The new GRANITE battery series is designed to endure even the most extreme conditions, features a super rugged construction, giving the batteries remarkable resistance to impac...

Submitted by KitPlus

Published 01 November 2013

Could you be powerless on arrival?

by Steve EmmettIssue 82 - October 2013 PAG is now hearing more frequently of incidents where air transport rules for Lithium-Ion batteries are being enforced more rigorously by airlines. Camera crews are often unsure of the regulations and can face problems if they break these rules. We were recently informed of a cameraman, travelling from Denmark...

Submitted by Steve Emmett

Published 01 November 2013

Generic vs. name brand: Portable power solutions

Ask the Experts: Generic vs. Name Brand – How to Differentiate Portable Power SolutionsIn today’s marketplace, there seems to be a disparity in cost when it comes to batteries. What should the professional consider when purchasing new batteries? There are three key considerations: What value do I place on reliability—is my reputation at stake? Seco...

Submitted by Martyn Sly-Jex

Published 01 July 2013

Product update with DSM

DSM has been manufacturing batteries for the TV and Film industry for over 35 years and have always been at the forefront of new technologies, the new 84Wh direct fit BPU-60 replacement batteries are no exception. They are guaranteed to work with all Sony®PMW range of cameras as well as showing the minutes remaining in the cameras viewfinder. All D...

Submitted by Dave Martland

Published 01 July 2013

PAGlink reviewed

Up until recently I always thought that a battery was, well just a battery. After all it’s just a load of cells strung together and put in some kind of case right? Well apparently not, it seems that there is a bit more to it than that, and the folks at PAG were keen to prove this by providing me with a set of their PL96e V-Mount Batteries to test....

Submitted by Jon Pratchett

Published 01 July 2013

Intelligent linking - answering some key power questions

with Steve EmmettWhat makes a safe Li-Ion Battery?Recently, the Boeing Dreamliner story has added to the perception of the Li-Ion battery as a potentially dangerous item. However, the reality is that Li-Ion batteries are a safe and robust source of portable power, when they are designed and constructed by a recognised battery manufacturer that has...

Submitted by KitPlus

Published 01 July 2013

Monitoring: Cutting the Wires

Teradek began the wireless monitoring revolution at last year's NAB show. Its Cube wireless encoders are no bigger than a pack of playing cards. They compress a camcorder's video feed into an H.264 signal for transmission to either a WiFi-enabled laptop, iPad or tablet or to a Cube decoder. Straight-away live, remote and affordable monitoring was b...

Submitted by Kieron Seth#

Published 01 December 2012