OT: Small issue with HDR-FX1

farss wrote on 12/10/2004, 12:42 AM
Nothing wrong with the camera but just so you can avoid a trap.
Bought a non genuine battery and it charges just fine in the Sony chargers, works a treat in our venerable PD150s, seems to even out perform the genuine battery.
So we tried it in the FX1 and the FX1 pops up a message on the LCD screen "Use only genuine Sony InfoLithium Battery" and refuses to proceed.
I guess this isn't such a big thing, or is it, the printer manufacturers have been held to account for trying to stop you using 3rd party cartridges. Now I don't use 3rd party cartridges simply because they're never quite as good as the genuine article. However a battery is a battery, so long as it delivers the right volts and can supply enough amps that's all there is to it.
The more I think about it, probably a few here might find this situation a bit of a cause for a winge, a set of three batteries adds close to $1000 to the price of the camera, you can buy three of these batteries for $150, that's a HUGE saving.
Now before anyone tries to hoodwink you into believing there's a safety issue with Li-Ion batteries, I'll just say this, the only battery I've had burst into flames, and that wasn't while it was being charged or used, was a genuine Sony battery. I've got more than one that's also obviously had some sort of internal meltdown and badly deformed the case. I can't speak for how well these non genuine batteries perform in that area, only time will tell but they'd have to literally explode and take my ear off before I'd say the Sony ones are better.

Bob.

Comments

Grazie wrote on 12/10/2004, 1:02 AM
Bob! Well I be blowed? . . . G
bowman01 wrote on 12/10/2004, 1:37 AM
Hi bob

Which 3rd party batteries did u use? i need a couple more and i'm not up for spending the extra for genuine. If they work fine in pd150's i'm willing to give them a go.

christian.
PeterWright wrote on 12/10/2004, 1:51 AM
Sounds a little disturbing Bob.

If Sony are going to charge six times more, they should last six times longer.
John_Cline wrote on 12/10/2004, 1:52 AM
I seem to remember that Sony had a warning about the NP-F750 batteries for meltdown reasons. I also seem to remember that they were actually counterfeit batteries.

Nevertheless, I have tried third-party batteries and genuine Sony batteries and the Sony's have lasted longer in total number of recharges before they start to lose their ability to take and hold a full charge. As far as I'm concerned, the Sony batteries are worth the extra cost. Of course, your mileage may vary....

John
farss wrote on 12/10/2004, 2:25 AM
These particular one are made by PowerSmart, part number VSN013C. I wouldn't put much faith in the brand name though, I've seen exactly the same looking battery sold under other names.
This one I bought through a local (Aus) 'dealer' on eBay. He has literaly 100s of different batteries for sale.
I've had quite an interest in Li-Ion battery technology. We have not just the Sony batteries to run all our cameras but also some home grown V-Lock units for our DSR-250Ps as well as some small units to run on-camera lights.
Li-Ion is certainly one of the most advanced battery technologies and Sony deserve credit for the considerable R&D effort they've put into the technology, compared to the old NiCad NP1s that used to be standard fare for pro cameras Li-Ion is a huge leap forward.
Li-Ion is a difficult battery technology, the batteries need extra care both during charging but also discharging, a fully discharged battery is a hazard which is why the batteries have circuits in them to prevent them being fully discharged.
This complicates the life of people like myself. It was impossible to just buy cells, the manufacturers were paranoid that you'd make a battery that went bang and give the technology a bad name. But now apart from these cheap generic batteries I find I can easily buy just plain cells and protection circuits to roll my own.
In the end I've gone back to the basic sealed lead acid battery as a power source. Not the highest energy density but the cheapest per watt/hour, well understood technology, easy to charge and environmentaly friendly. Yes they contain lead but they're easily recycled.
I've sold quite a few kits over the years for powering the bigger Sony cameras and the clients love them, if all they shoot is sports events where the camera is in the one spot all day they just use the batteries as ballast for the tripod!
Bob.
Sunfox wrote on 12/12/2004, 4:04 AM
$1000?

The NP-F970, that's the biggie, are $150 each, so that'd be $450 list, not $1000. Smaller ones cost less.
farss wrote on 12/12/2004, 4:07 AM
Sorry that's AUD!
Bob.