Panasonic DVX / DVC Battery topics

Marcia Janine Galles · August 1st, 2004, 04:44 PM

Has anybody every had any timecode glitches after changing out the battery? I'll have somewhere between 80-100 hours of footage by the time that I'm done, so obviously setting the timecode/having a unique tape name is critical to my file management when I'm back in the edit bay. But that said, something very odd has happened a couple times. Once was a fluke. Twice aroused my suspicions. Having it happen a third time today has me more than a little concerned.

Being at week 7 of an 8 week shoot, and just now seeing this, I'm wondering if something is dying...

Say the tape has time left but the battery is running low, and what I'm filming isn't over yet. I whip out a new battery (while leaving the tape alone), and the timecode either: a) resets itself to where it was the last time I turned the camera on; or b) keeps on rolling with the same TC, but now shows a radically different "time left" warning (in other words, the TC is, say, 15:32:00:00, but instead of having 28 minutes left, it now says I have only 14 and continues to count down to 2 min. and start flashing).

Has anybody ever seen this? Any tips? To be safe, when we've cought it we've just changed tapes to be extra safe regarding what I end up with in the edit bay, but a few times we didn't catch it immediately, being in the heat of the moment, so I'm not sure what the heck I'm going to be up against there.

Very frustrating,
Marcia

Jeff Donald · August 1st, 2004, 06:00 PM

Does the DVX100 use a button cell battery (about the size of a quarter)? These batteries are used to keep user settings (TC, Day, Date, Time of Day etc) in memory when the camera battery is exchanged. When this battery is weak or dead you may encounter issues similar to what you describe. The manufacture usually has a flashing icon or symbol display in the viewfinder under such conditions. Any unusual symbols in your VF?

Ryan Gohlinghorst · August 2nd, 2004, 08:27 AM

The DVX has an internal rechargable battery for keeping track of this sort of thing. You are prompted in the viewfinder that it's getting low. When this happens, plug the camera into the AC adapter like you normally would to power the camer, but leave the camera in the off power position. In about 4 hours, the battery will be fully charged.

Marcia Janine Galles · August 2nd, 2004, 10:10 PM

Hmmm, no flashing icon. I checked the manual, made sure the display was set to display all (I usually have it set to "partial"), but nothing. Will try and recharge it anyway, as you suggest, in the morning.

Thanks for responding,
Marcia

Dennis Chapin · October 21st, 2004, 03:56 AM

Where is a good online store that carries batteries for the DVX100
A?

Imran Zaidi · October 21st, 2004, 07:42 AM

DVXUser.com sells an awesome custom-made battery at a very reasonable price. Keep in mind it's not a retail store - and sometimes processing time is slow. Email them to find out the next block shipment.

http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/battery/

There are also our sponsors - check the link in my signature below.

Ryan Baker · October 27th, 2004, 12:08 PM

I have two batteries from DVXUser.com and they've worked as advertised. It's a very good value at 45 USD for a 3500mah battery.

If you need them by a certain date, just specify it in an email sent to battery @ dvxuser . com

Mine came by the date I requested.

Ryan

Jarred Land · November 17th, 2004, 01:11 AM

Hey we also just got new 5000s in for $69.. im locked in post on a feature so am home in the edit suite now for the next 2 weeks, so orders are actually going out daily.. its a nice break to go for a little walk to the post office :)

Kevin James · November 19th, 2004, 07:04 PM

Those batteries would work on the dvc30 as well, correct?

Edit: It looks like they take the same cell, has anyone tested your 5k mah battery on a dvc30?

Jarred Land · November 19th, 2004, 07:57 PM

they work on the dvx80... never tried the 30 though. If a normal DVX battery does however ours should as well.

Dean Harrington · January 4th, 2005, 12:05 AM

Are the best deal in town folks. I've got loads of them and they are excellent.

Saturnin Kondratiew · February 22nd, 2005, 12:40 AM

is there much difference betwen a Panny battery and a no name brand battery that you wou
ld buy on ebay for fraction of the brand name battery?

Barry Green · February 22nd, 2005, 12:53 AM

Depends on the battery you get. No-name batteries may nor may not have the actual capacity that they claim to. I know someone conducted a test where they weighed a bunch of supposedly equivalent batteries, and found wildly different weights (and corresponding different runtimes).

The best bang-for-the-buck on DVX batteries are the $69 5,000 mah batteries sold at dvxuser.com. They're less than half the cost of Panasonic's largest, CGR-D54.

I've also found luck on ebay with the CGR-D54, under its Japanese product name, which I believe was VW-VBD55 (or something like that). Ebay seller "shimwass" was selling them brand-new, in the package, for $90. I got one when I first got my DVX, and it's still going strong two years later, and is the first battery I reach for.

Saturnin Kondratiew · February 22nd, 2005, 10:38 PM

yah..koo thanx
i just got in touch wif dvxuser so we'll see....
thanx again

Chris Simone · July 20th, 2005, 04:40 PM

slow day at work, so i decied to look over every post in the forum and i came across this one. i'm looking to get some batteries and this one caught my eye. i went to the link listed but i could not find the $35 battery, only a $79. is the $35 still avalible? i understand it's a lower mAH.

August 1st, 2004, 04:44 PM	#151
Marcia Janine Galles Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 340	Freaky TC issue after battery change! Has anybody every had any timecode glitches after changing out the battery? I'll have somewhere between 80-100 hours of footage by the time that I'm done, so obviously setting the timecode/having a unique tape name is critical to my file management when I'm back in the edit bay. But that said, something very odd has happened a couple times. Once was a fluke. Twice aroused my suspicions. Having it happen a third time today has me more than a little concerned. Being at week 7 of an 8 week shoot, and just now seeing this, I'm wondering if something is dying... Say the tape has time left but the battery is running low, and what I'm filming isn't over yet. I whip out a new battery (while leaving the tape alone), and the timecode either: a) resets itself to where it was the last time I turned the camera on; or b) keeps on rolling with the same TC, but now shows a radically different "time left" warning (in other words, the TC is, say, 15:32:00:00, but instead of having 28 minutes left, it now says I have only 14 and continues to count down to 2 min. and start flashing). Has anybody ever seen this? Any tips? To be safe, when we've cought it we've just changed tapes to be extra safe regarding what I end up with in the edit bay, but a few times we didn't catch it immediately, being in the heat of the moment, so I'm not sure what the heck I'm going to be up against there. Very frustrating, Marcia

August 1st, 2004, 06:00 PM	#152
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Does the DVX100 use a button cell battery (about the size of a quarter)? These batteries are used to keep user settings (TC, Day, Date, Time of Day etc) in memory when the camera battery is exchanged. When this battery is weak or dead you may encounter issues similar to what you describe. The manufacture usually has a flashing icon or symbol display in the viewfinder under such conditions. Any unusual symbols in your VF? __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

August 2nd, 2004, 08:27 AM	#153
Ryan Gohlinghorst Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Mankato, Minnesota Posts: 104	The DVX has an internal rechargable battery for keeping track of this sort of thing. You are prompted in the viewfinder that it's getting low. When this happens, plug the camera into the AC adapter like you normally would to power the camer, but leave the camera in the off power position. In about 4 hours, the battery will be fully charged. __________________ http://www.horsefilms.com "I like Mankato just a little bit better than any other town in the world." -Sinclair Lewis

October 21st, 2004, 03:56 AM	#155
Dennis Chapin New Boot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: roseville, ca Posts: 10	Batteries for the DVX-100A??? Where is a good online store that carries batteries for the DVX100 A?

January 4th, 2005, 12:05 AM	#161
Dean Harrington Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tokyo Posts: 898	DVX usercom. batteries...... Are the best deal in town folks. I've got loads of them and they are excellent.

August 2nd, 2004, 10:10 PM	#154
Marcia Janine Galles Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 340	Hmmm, no flashing icon. I checked the manual, made sure the display was set to display all (I usually have it set to "partial"), but nothing. Will try and recharge it anyway, as you suggest, in the morning. Thanks for responding, Marcia

October 21st, 2004, 07:42 AM	#156
Imran Zaidi Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,315	DVXUser.com sells an awesome custom-made battery at a very reasonable price. Keep in mind it's not a retail store - and sometimes processing time is slow. Email them to find out the next block shipment. http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/battery/ There are also our sponsors - check the link in my signature below.

October 27th, 2004, 12:08 PM	#157
Ryan Baker New Boot Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Independence, MO Posts: 24	I have two batteries from DVXUser.com and they've worked as advertised. It's a very good value at 45 USD for a 3500mah battery. If you need them by a certain date, just specify it in an email sent to battery @ dvxuser . com Mine came by the date I requested. Ryan

November 17th, 2004, 01:11 AM	#158
Jarred Land DVX User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 281	Hey we also just got new 5000s in for $69.. im locked in post on a feature so am home in the edit suite now for the next 2 weeks, so orders are actually going out daily.. its a nice break to go for a little walk to the post office :)

November 19th, 2004, 07:04 PM	#159
Kevin James Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 204	Those batteries would work on the dvc30 as well, correct? Edit: It looks like they take the same cell, has anyone tested your 5k mah battery on a dvc30?

November 19th, 2004, 07:57 PM	#160
Jarred Land DVX User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 281	they work on the dvx80... never tried the 30 though. If a normal DVX battery does however ours should as well.

February 22nd, 2005, 12:40 AM	#162
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	batteries for DVX100a is there much difference betwen a Panny battery and a no name brand battery that you wou ld buy on ebay for fraction of the brand name battery? __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com

February 22nd, 2005, 12:53 AM	#163
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	Depends on the battery you get. No-name batteries may nor may not have the actual capacity that they claim to. I know someone conducted a test where they weighed a bunch of supposedly equivalent batteries, and found wildly different weights (and corresponding different runtimes). The best bang-for-the-buck on DVX batteries are the $69 5,000 mah batteries sold at dvxuser.com. They're less than half the cost of Panasonic's largest, CGR-D54. I've also found luck on ebay with the CGR-D54, under its Japanese product name, which I believe was VW-VBD55 (or something like that). Ebay seller "shimwass" was selling them brand-new, in the package, for $90. I got one when I first got my DVX, and it's still going strong two years later, and is the first battery I reach for.

February 22nd, 2005, 10:38 PM	#164
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	yah..koo thanx i just got in touch wif dvxuser so we'll see.... thanx again __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com

July 20th, 2005, 04:40 PM	#165
Chris Simone New Boot Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 11	slow day at work, so i decied to look over every post in the forum and i came across this one. i'm looking to get some batteries and this one caught my eye. i went to the link listed but i could not find the $35 battery, only a $79. is the $35 still avalible? i understand it's a lower mAH.