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Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
Sony Batteries

 


DGates
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Nov 4, 2004, 12:00 PM

Post #1 of 16 (2318 views)
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Sony Batteries Can't Post
Just a quick mention about the Sony batteries I've had for at least a year and a half. I have 4 NP-F750's, which according to my charger, all have retained their original charge times (about 5 hours, 15 mins). That's pretty cool, considering the days before Li-Ion, when a decent battery would slowly lose it's capacity over the long haul.

Very nice.




~ The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it is called the present.


Montepix
Novice

Nov 4, 2004, 1:08 PM

Post #2 of 16 (2300 views)
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Re: [DGates] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
The way Li-Ion batteries "give up" is that they report 400 minutes available (for example), then suddenly crap out after 30 minutes. I had some Sony 960s do this to me over their lifetime (2-3 years).


Scott Brooks
Veteran

Nov 4, 2004, 1:10 PM

Post #3 of 16 (2299 views)
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Re: [Montepix] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
The way Li-Ion batteries "give up" is that they report 400 minutes available (for example), then suddenly crap out after 30 minutes. I had some Sony 960s do this to me over their lifetime (2-3 years).
EXACTLY! I had a 960 show plenty of time and it died during a theatre performance. Luckily for me I had another night I could tape.

They give absolutely no warning at all. When they die ... it's swift.


DGates
Veteran


Nov 4, 2004, 2:04 PM

Post #4 of 16 (2272 views)
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Re: [Sparky] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
Haven't had that happen. Of course, the time is dependant on whether the viewfinder's open or not, auto vs. manual, etc. But your's sounds more unusual.




~ The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it is called the present.


memorytracks
Veteran


Nov 4, 2004, 2:07 PM

Post #5 of 16 (2271 views)
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Re: [Sparky] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
I've seen this sudden-death behavior in the NP-FM50 batteries too. I used one in a DV camera and it went the whole ceremony. Later I put it in a different DV camera and it said "FULL" but would die after about 5 minutes with the battery light flashing.
Wierd behavior in one camera but not the other. So try a different camera... you may not have to throw the battery away.
-Dave Graton
MemoryTracks Films


Scott Brooks
Veteran

Nov 4, 2004, 2:11 PM

Post #6 of 16 (2271 views)
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Re: [DGates] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
Haven't had that happen. Of course, the time is dependant on whether the viewfinder's open or not, auto vs. manual, etc. But your's sounds more unusual.

Right ... the key here is that one second you're looking at the remaining time and it says 430 minutes remaining and 2 minutes later it dies!

In other words ... don't expect the Sonys to start slowly showing a less of a charge ... letting you know that they're beginning to get weak.

Now ... I'm still using the Sony that died on me for the on-camera light. It will still power my camera for a couple of hours. The thing is, that since there is no way to know when it's going to go I don't use it on the camera. The light is not as crucial and can be replaced without any problem.


Bob A
Veteran


Nov 4, 2004, 4:21 PM

Post #7 of 16 (2252 views)
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Re: [Sparky] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
>>EXACTLY! I had a 960 show plenty of time and it died during a theatre performance. Luckily for me I had another night I could tape.
They give absolutely no warning at all. When they die ... it's swift. <<

Shame on you! Backup, backup, backup!!


lrfisher
User


Nov 4, 2004, 5:07 PM

Post #8 of 16 (2241 views)
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Re: [DGates] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
DGates.....I have a combination of VX2000s and a PD-170. For some odd reason the PD170 sucks down the battery strength much faster then the VX2000.

Has anyone else experienced that? I sometimes have to change the battery on my PD170 halfway through a reception. Never had to do that before with my VX2000s.
Lisa

"The only time I was ever wrong was when I thought I was wrong but I was really right"



Jack T
User


Nov 4, 2004, 5:17 PM

Post #9 of 16 (2233 views)
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Re: [DGates] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
I was shooting pre ceremony stuff, and my NP-960 showed plenty of time left.
Luckily it was pre ceremony. used my back up. Luckily it was pre ceremony and
not ceremony which it could have been.

I had never heard of the sudden death of these batteries until then.

Jack


Brackish
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Nov 4, 2004, 5:38 PM

Post #10 of 16 (2226 views)
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lrfisher
User


Nov 4, 2004, 5:42 PM

Post #11 of 16 (2220 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
Aha....that might be the problem!! I think I might test that theory! Thanks for bringing that to my attention.
Lisa

"The only time I was ever wrong was when I thought I was wrong but I was really right"



Brackish
Veteran


Nov 4, 2004, 7:13 PM

Post #12 of 16 (2208 views)
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bmitchell
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Nov 4, 2004, 7:44 PM

Post #13 of 16 (2196 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
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Sony made 'em brighter for outdoor use.
My 170 screen doesn't seem any brighter than my 2000s do indoors. It somehow uses sunlight to brighten the image outdoors - some kind of reflective surface behind the lcd?


Scott Brooks
Veteran

Nov 4, 2004, 10:39 PM

Post #14 of 16 (2159 views)
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Re: [Bob A] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
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Shame on you! Backup, backup, backup!!

Yeah ... I know Bob, but the high school in which this happened does not have any other space for a second camera. I'm limited to one single spot, so setting up a second camera next to me or any other place is not an option. I'm assuming that's what you meant by backup.

If you're talking about having additional batteries, I did. It's just that it died in the middle of one of the songs. I had another night to tape and I sure didn't want to disappoint the young man who had the solo, so I just went back the next night.


Bob A
Veteran


Nov 5, 2004, 9:18 AM

Post #15 of 16 (2119 views)
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Re: [Sparky] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
Cool You know I was just razzing you anyway. I am a nut for backing everything up as you might have seen in a post elsewhere on VU. http://www.videouniversity.com/forums/gforum.cgi?post=134452#134452
Murphy's law raised its ugly head last nite. I am packing for the biggest single day on the year on Sat. A cheer and dance finals with 1800 kids and 2 mats running so 2 complete setups - crew of 6 and a marching band final with almost 2000 kids and crew of 3. I firewire backup every camera with a full size DV deck and have a spare cam at each cameraman. That stretches the gear a bit thin. Of course, in a final check of one of the Japanese Sony WV DR5 full size deck the loading basket jammed. Luckily my good friend a few doors down is a nationally known video service shop and was able to get it fixed first thing this morning. It did not need parts, which would have killed it, as there are no English service manuals or any parts in the US available for those decks. I am going to bring a D8 deck for a backup of the backup, just in case!


Bob A
Veteran


Nov 5, 2004, 9:25 AM

Post #16 of 16 (2115 views)
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Re: [Sparky] Sony Batteries [In reply to] Can't Post
I might add, for folks that do stationary events like I do that even if you don't have a DV cam or deck to back up the cam tape - bring a VHS deck to backup the cam tape. I did that on a couple of occasions in lousy locations that I did not want to bring good equipment to. One occasion I did need some of the footage off the VHS tape and I was suprised how good it was. That First generation VHS fed by a 3 chip cam was useable enough to fill a small gap.