Premium Members Lawrence Karman Posted March 18, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 "Otto Nemenz in LA provides an in-line voltage regulator with the SL's they rent for this exact reason." Haven't seen a Moviecam in years (CSC got rid of all theirs for Arricams - advantage of being an Arri owned company, I guess). A couple of the smaller houses still have them though. I had forgotten they don't like much voltage and have not flown one since switching to Dionic batteries. Could be a problem, I suppose. The in-line regulator sounds like a good idea. Does it have the same four pin XLR connectors on it so you just place it between the Sled & Body? Anyone use a Compact or SL without one of these? In short, has anyone just used hot Dionics and had no issues? I believe it was wired the same as their battery cable. I have run hot Hytron 50 batteries and run Moviecams without a voltage reg. and have never had a problem. Have not used a Moviecam since switching to Dionics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted March 18, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 So looks like I will be starting a show with the F35 here soon. I fly the Dionic 90's (have since 2003-2004). The batch of 8 I currently have are between 1-2 years old. Am I going to have any issues powering the F35? Does the F35 have a SSR type deck yet or is it still SRW decks? If SRW decks will the Dionics power the camera and it (along with the IDX HD transmitter and my Preston) ok, or do I need beefier batteries? Thanks PS, what are these new HC Dionic 90's anyway, I don't see them on Anton Bauer's site? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Vanderspek Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 PS, what are these new HC Dionic 90's anyway, I don't see them on Anton Bauer's site? A friendly Pre-NAB heads up from Paul. I suspect you'll see them up on the website come NAB. http://news.creativecow.net/story/861369 Guys, Here is what most of you have been waiting for!!!!! Please see the link above about the new Dionic HC battery, which is an 85wh lithium ion battery which can handle 10 amps of current. I don't have pricing yet, but expect it to be around the same as a Dionic 90 and should be available after NAB. We have quite a number of other new products to debut at NAB and I will update you as I am able to. Thanks. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted March 18, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Sweet, thanks Stephen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted March 20, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Aren't all Moviecams "old". Are they still making them or have they been replaced by Arri, the owner of the company? Otto Nemenz in LA provides an in-line voltage regulator with the SL's they rent for this exact reason. There are at least 3 generation of Moviecam Compact (after the Super America, I'm not counting that one): - The one with either the "Canon" plug or the 3 pin XLR power connector, usually privately owned. With 2 pin Lemo run. - The one that most of us know with the 4 pin XLR power connector... And the "new" Moviecam Compact Mark II. It basically comes down to a rehoused Arricam as everything that you see has the Arricam logo on it... Like the movement the accessories etc. It utilizes the 2 pin Fisher for power like all new Arri Cameras. Even the viewfinder and the Arricam IVS... that is re-colored in eggshell like the Moviecam... The old camera were "real" 24 Volt camera considering that the cells used for the batteries where 13.3 volts so the cameras were still running with 19 or 20 volt on the meter... That's when I started using them, rental house tech referred to them as 20 Volt cameras. Otto Nemenz had the Silver packs for the Moviecams and the Gold packs for the Arri's like the 435 and the 535. Every time I prepped at Otto's, the would through a fit about my batteries and making sure I would not use the Hytron batteries on my PRO... and fry the precious Moviecam... I never did as I used NiCad batteries The new one takes anything up to 36 volts if I'm not mistaken like any new Arri Camera. I blew out a couple of boards from privately owned cameras... way back with batteries that came "hot" from the charger with 14.8 Volts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jess Haas SOC Posted March 20, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 So can the ones with 4pin XLR handle modern batteries? ~Jess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Hruboska Posted March 20, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 how are you guys dealing with two dionics in parallelon the PRO 2? so far my eforts have not beeen successful without the diode circuit available in the AB twin pack adapter ( which I use for Red on the secondary HS power circuit to allow hot swapping). :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Iain Baird Posted March 20, 2009 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 how are you guys dealing with two dionics in parallelon the PRO 2? so far my eforts have not beeen successful without the diode circuit available in the AB twin pack adapter ( which I use for Red on the secondary HS power circuit to allow hot swapping). :blink: Hey Brad, The Diodes I use are referenced in this thread http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?sh...2&hl=diodes IAIN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jess Haas SOC Posted March 20, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 (edited) If you start with two fully charged batteries of the same make you should be able to parrallel them without any trouble. If you do it to hot swap batteries you might have issues with one battery changing another. If you are quick and change out both batteries it might work. It could also lead to bad things happening. ~Jess Edited March 20, 2009 by Jess Haas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted March 21, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 Well learned first hand that the Dionic 90's don't really cut it for the F35. The Powercubes and/or the E-10's are the way to go (or for added bottom weight to counteract the tank up top so the post doesn't have to be so long, a Dionic 160 on the bottom would probably work too). Having the AB to IDX adapter plates made, for use on the sled for this show in the time being. Looking forward to seeing these new Dionic 90 HC batteries and seeing if they do better, as a couple of my current Dionic 90's are pushing 2-3 years old and a couple hundred cycles (but they are still going strong). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted March 21, 2009 Moderators Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 "a couple of my current Dionic 90's are pushing 2-3 years old and a couple hundred cycles (but they are still going strong)." Well, then I think its a tad unfair to say they wont cut it for an F35. They are not meant for that kind of load at that age (Charles is having the same problem on a Genesis job, but he used to be able to run it fine). Good timing anyway though. I'd replace them with Dionic HCs (they are actually 85 Watt Hours). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted March 21, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 "a couple of my current Dionic 90's are pushing 2-3 years old and a couple hundred cycles (but they are still going strong)." Well, then I think its a tad unfair to say they wont cut it for an F35. They are not meant for that kind of load at that age (Charles is having the same problem on a Genesis job, but he used to be able to run it fine). Good timing anyway though. I'd replace them with Dionic HCs (they are actually 85 Watt Hours). I put 2 of my older Dionics on and they were done in a matter of a minute or so (but those Dionics still run the film cameras for quite some time) I then put on 2 of my newer ones (maybe a year old) and they lasted a bit longer, but the battery display started blinking on both almost right away...kind of like they were saying, "what the hell are you doing to me." Don't get me wrong, I love the Dionics, I was one of the earlier ops to use them on the PRO's (when everybody was still using the Hytron 50's) but they are just not made to handle the F35 or Genesis. I will surely get the HC's when they are released if they are superior, which I'm hearing they are. But I also hope Sony/Panavision upgrade these pig cameras in the coming couple years. I think you could jump start a car with the amount of power the F35/Genesis take to run, it's pretty ridiculous really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted March 21, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 (Charles is having the same problem on a Genesis job, but he used to be able to run it fine) Actually as I said at the beginning of the thread, it's the ring light on top of the Genesis which brings the total draw up to 9 amps or so which is too much for the Dionics. I'm fine with the Genesis by itself or with the SSR, which I ran last year. I didn't have any trouble with the F35 a few months back and my Dionics (again, no recorder onboard). While waiting for new generation cameras, I'd like to see small and lightweight onboard flash recording become more widespread (haven't had the opportunity to use the S.two yet) coupled with HD transmission via the IDX or Boxx system. Going cable-free would be a welcome relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted March 21, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 I did a feature last fall In Oregon with an F-23 from Panavision, running of my Ultimate. Actually it splits it into one Dionic powering the camera and the other one powering everything else... it was as warm as 90 degrees and cold and even snowed for a couple of days all within a three week period... I got very good results from the Dionic 90-ies... So is the F-35 that much more a power hog then the F-23? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted March 21, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 (Charles is having the same problem on a Genesis job, but he used to be able to run it fine) Actually as I said at the beginning of the thread, it's the ring light on top of the Genesis which brings the total draw up to 9 amps or so which is too much for the Dionics. I'm fine with the Genesis by itself or with the SSR, which I ran last year. I didn't have any trouble with the F35 a few months back and my Dionics (again, no recorder onboard). While waiting for new generation cameras, I'd like to see small and lightweight onboard flash recording become more widespread (haven't had the opportunity to use the S.two yet) coupled with HD transmission via the IDX or Boxx system. Going cable-free would be a welcome relief. That's where I should of been more clear, sorry. I was flying the SRW recorder onboard too. As well as powering the IDX HD wireless transmitter. I will deal with the added weight to not be tethered. But the weight is no fun either, throws me back 6-7 years when we used to have to fly 535B's from time to time. Not as bad as the BL-4's we used to have to fly before the 535 came out though. Without the recorder and the HD transmitter, I'm sure the Dionics would be just fine. I've heard of drop out with the SSR decks so they don't want to use them on this show. Oh well. Oh and handheld mode was just fine for me. Flipped the eyepiece rod around and slid the eypiece on that way. Brought the eyepiece forward about 3-4 inches and was perfect so your neck isn't cranked back. But of course, it's still a bit heavy, tough on the arms when doing lots of handheld, but good for stability. Now if they could just make the SSR decks more reliable and drop a few pounds off the camera weight and it would be fine overall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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