Being able to power your devices on set is crucial. For this reason, SmallHD’s recent update for its 500 & 700 series monitors is a really nice addition. There are now 5 different options to power the monitors externally, one for pretty much every scenario out there.
500 & 700 Series – Power Options
The ‘bigger’ brothers in the lineup of SmallHD monitors, such as the AC7 or the DP7, had different power options right from the beginning. The 500 & 700 series of on-board monitors only offered support for Canon LP-E6 style batteries, as well as Sony L batteries for the 700 series. But this drawback is about to cease as the US-based company has just announced a variety of new power options for these monitors.
One by one, the following power options are now available:
- DCA5 Kit ($139.99). The kit includes an LP-E6 dummy battery, as well as a 36-inch D-Tap cable for connecting the monitor to a D-Tap power source. The battery end of the cable is equipped with a standard barrel-type connector.
DCA5 Kit – for powering via D-Tap
- DCA5 LEMO to D-Tap Kit ($279.99). With this you’ll be able to power up your monitor via a LEMO connection on one end of the cable and the common D-Tap connector on the other end. This kit is more on the pricey side of things, but if you’re handling a lot of LEMO powered devices, this should come as no surprise.
DCA5 LEMO to D-Tap Kit
- Gold Mount Battery Bracket Kit ($249.99). If you want to attach a full-size Anton Bauer battery to the back of your 700 series monitor, you’ll need this kit. Again, an LP-E6-style dummy battery is provided in order to connect the Anton Bauer to the monitor itself. This setup might be of good use if you want to build a compact director’s monitor. Unfortunately, it’s not available for the 500 series.
Gold Mount Battery Bracket Kit
- V-Mount Battery Bracket Kit. Do you prefer V-mounts as a power source instead? This kit provides everything you need. It’s almost the same as the gold mount version, so again, you’ll get a LP-E6-style dummy with it.
- DCA5 Barrel to AC Power Kit ($139.99). Actually, this one shouldn’t even be an additional accessory. Unfortunately, the 500 & 700 series monitor lack a proper AC input, but you can purchase this kit to get over that limitation and get constant power.
DCA5 Barrel to AC Power Kit
So, in addition to the already existing power option, the good old Canon LP-E6 style battery, these kits allow you to power up your 500 & 700 series SmallHD monitors with almost every power source you’ll find on set. The 700 series can also be powered with Sony L batteries, which adds up to 7 different power options for that model. That’s pretty amazing, considering that it’s always nice to have choices.
But there is always a downside, right? This time, it’s the pricetag. $139.99 for an AC adapter that should be there in the first place? I don’t know…
What do you think of this new variety of power options?
source: SmallHD website
