Buying Steadicam Flyer - Which Battery?
 

I looking to purchase the Flyer. I'm wondering if there's any specific logic to which battery system to get into - Anton Bauer/V-Mount/NP1. I do not own any of these batteries at this time, so I can go with any one of them as easily as another. I'm just afraid of getting locked into the wrong system.

Is one system inherently better than the others? Is one system considered the industry standard? Thanks for any input.

-Craig

Well luckily, whichever system you choose, it is adaptable to others so you're never really "locked" into anything.

AB is sort of "industry standard...." sorta. Sony uses V-mount, Marshall monitors use V-mount, the WEVI transmitter uses V-mount. IDX has some REALLY nice batteries these days for V-mount, and they're reasonably priced. For about $100 less than AB, you can get a more than equivalent IDX battery, comparing Dionics to E-10's. The great majority of rental cameras use AB mounts, so sometimes it's nice to have AB batteries, so you can use them on-camera when not on-steadicam. I personally have IDX batteries and a plate to mount them to AB stuff.

In terms of systems, for camera stuff, I'd stay away from NP-1's. For sound applications, a lot of people use them in their field-mixer kits to power their wireless mic and mixer systems, but for Cameras they don't really keep up with bricks.

Either way you go, AB (3-stud) or Sony (IDX, V-Lock), you'll get a great system that will be around for a long time. Whichever you choose, make sure you price in the adapters 3-stud to V-lock and visa-versa - it'll save you headaches down the road.

Craig,

I'm in the same boat as you. I've done some research, and everything points to the IDX batteries... The best part is, they are stackable. Might be useful if you have to wiegh down your flyer at some point.