Camcorder Battery Charger Choices: Matching Power to Purpose (page 2)
Camcorder Battery Charges For All
After that tour with the aristocracy of powering units, let's get into some of the more commonly found, and affordable, units on the market.
Sunpak carries a full line of power units for a broad range of video applications. The Sunpak RB-80UL (price?) has a multi-stage LED display that lets you check battery capacity at any time. The feature eliminates disappointing surprises, ones that come when you power up at a big event only to find LO BATT flashing in your viewfinder. The RB features a patented switching mechanism that provides complete compatibility with most major brands of compact 8mm and VHS-c camcorders. A lifetime warranty is included with the product.
Relieving the hassle of camcorder battery chargers, is Aztec Video's Self-Charging camcorder battery (price?) It looks and feels just like a conventional battery except for its retractable outlet plug. The battery can be plugged into any standard electrical outlet for a quick and easy charge. A microchip inside the unit regulates the charging process. Aztec also offers a Self-Refreshing camcorder battery (price?). This cell ends one of videographer's biggest frustration - watching a 1- or 2-hour battery deteriorate into a 20-minute battery. Patented circuitry allows the battery to discharge itself, and charges can be made at any time. Both the Self-Charging and the Self-Refreshing Battery are available in sizes for all leading camcorders. A 3-way model covers Sony, Palmcorder and Sharp camcorders. A 4-way model also covers RCA/Hitachi camcorders.
As the originator of memory-free batteries, Lenmar Enterprises carries a NoMem® for virtually any application. Their line of products (price?) use a proprietary gelcell formula that, unlike nickel cadmium batteries, has absolutely no memory properties. The NoMem® cells are 100% compatible with any existing cadmium camcorder battery charger. Guaranteed to perform without loss of capacity due to memory for as long as you own the battery, all NoMem units are warranted to be free from defects for one full year.For a long running, but attractively priced battery, Markertek's PRB-10 ($94) fits the bill. The belt weighs 8 lbs. and offers up to 10 hours of charge time. Its lead acid cell can be recharged in 16-22 hours, offering up to 300 cycles of charging. Also from Markertek is the PBR-6.5 ($79). Weighing in at 5 lbs., the unit guarantees to run your camcorder up to 6 hours and a 50 watt light for 60 minutes.
Want to run your camcorder for 13 hours and still spend less than a C-note? The BES-012 ($94) from Markertek weighs 10 lbs. in a square, belt-riding package. Its baker's dozens of hours charge time can be refueled in 16-22 hours. Two other power packs, the MM-5 ($56) and the HP-3 ($54) deliver 6 and 2.5 hours of operation respectively to your camcorder. Both can be charged in under 20 hours and provide approximately 300 charges within their useful life.In addition to the packs and belts mentioned above, Markertek carries an exhaustive line of Empire replacement batteries. These maximum output units start art a low $37 for Canon replacements to a high $84 for Toshiba camcorders. The batteries are packed in high impact plastic for guaranteed long life. The company offers a multiple page fax list and cross reference guide of all units available and can match virtually any camcorder in use today. Video lighting replacement batteries for Sima, Sunpak, Acme and Unomax can also be found in the Markertek listing.
Camcorder Battery Chargers and other ways to Accessorize The Accessory
As with any electronic product on the market today, an array of accessories is available to make life more bearable on the user. For batteries, these range from camcorder battery chargers to extension and adapter cords to dischargers to units that eliminate the need for a battery altogether.Often, a charge will be included with the battery purchase. But if it didn't, or if you have more than one cell to charge at any one time, than an accessory charger should be on your purchase list.
Camcorder Battery Charger Quick Fixes
Anton/Bauer's line of fast camcorder battery chargers should satisfy any videomakers' need for a speedy power refill. At the top of the price hill comes the Quad Microprocessor ($1191). This four position fast camcorder battery charger uses the company's patented InterActive Digital technology to assure extended life from all batteries. At $915, the Logic Series Dual is an all digital 2-position camcorder battery charger. It can charge in any combination any two Pro Pac, Trimpac, Compac or 30/13 batteries. Another dual position camcorder battery charger, the Q2 ($575), will sequentially charge 2 camcorder batteries to full service in 2 hours or less.
In addition to the camcorder battery charging gear, Anton/Bauer markets an automatic test module ($391). With the push of a button, the unit will automatically diagnose, calibrate and revitalize the cell. Test results are then displayed in the LCD of the quad charger or printed via a standard port.To power up the NRG line of batteries, the company's Intelliquick Fast Charger ($224) provides 1-hour charge times with the Power Pro cell and 2-2 1/2-hours with Power-MAX. As NRG states, "custom micro-processor chips utilize negative delta monitoring for a full charge." What this means in layman's terms is that your battery is powered up quickly and, more importantly, safely. The camcorder battery charger features standard, fast and maintenance modes. For nature videographers "out in the bush," getting a battery recharge may prove tricky. Unless you trailed an extremely long extension cord with you, finding an outlet might be tricky. Not to worry, NRG has just the product. Their Solar Charging Series ($223-$338) is designed to meet the needs of users having no access to conventional power sources. Sturdily built, the NRG Solar series utilize stable, high-efficiency semi-crystalline silicon solar cells laminated between sheets of EVA vinyl and "nearly indestructible" Tedlar™.Those that do long-distance shooting, but keep it within urban limits might want to check out NRG's Car Charger ($158). The camcorder battery charger gives a quick charge en-route to a location, or may be used as a primary charger in areas lacking AC power. The unit uses computer controlled circuitry to give a fast, full charge even if a vehicle is not running or the battery is low. Full-auto shutoff and charge status indicators are featured as well.The AR series ($price?) from Frezzolini are auto-ranging computer-controlled camcorder battery chargers. The AR301 and AR304 will fast charge a 12V 4Ah battery in under one hour while a 30V 7Ah battery can be powered in less than two hours. The units are very light and compact, automatically adjusting to AC mains supplies worldwide. Both chargers incorporate a manually activated Recovery Charge program for batteries that may have been over discharged or misused, and are unsuitable for immediate fast charging. After the recovery period, the cells enter fast charge. Batteries can be kept in the AR chargers, as the maintenance charge keeps cells at the peak of capacity, ready for use.
The PowerMax Pulse Charge ($79) is good news for camcorder users because it recharges batteries in less than half the time of traditional discharger/chargers and costs less as well. The two-port unit sidesteps traditional charge/discharge processes. Instead, the product combines the two processes, eliminating memory buildup and fully charging in one automatic cycle. The PowerMax line can be used with virtually all 6 volt Sony, Canon, RCA/Hitachi, JVC, Nikon and Panasonic batteries.
Other Options
What do you do if you've made an investment in a number of camcorder batteries, but want the long-term power afforded by a bigger belt unit? Get Sima's PowerMax PowerPocket ($49). The PowerPocket eliminates the annoying need to "power down" when your in-camcorder battery starts to die, just to unlatch it and insert a fresh cell. The product is a compact, waist pouch which houses up to three of the user's camcorder batteries and includes a simple switching mechanism. It will accept all popular 6V batteries. A camcorder is plugged into the PowerPocket, and when the "battery low" warning light begins to flash, the power is switched by the user to another cell.
Sima also offers a Universal Battery Eliminator ($34) for 6 volt camcorders. The product allows videographers to use their auto or boat battery as an infinite power supply. A six-foot cord attaches the battery eliminatory plate, standing in for a camcorder battery, to a cigarette lighter socket.
With all of the accessory batteries and camcorder battery charging options on the market, there's no excuse for today's videographer to experience the dreaded loss of power syndrome. By carefully matching your specific needs to the power supplies for sale, every shoot should come off successfully charged.
