Focus Check podcast ep71: How was F1: The Movie shot? Mini Sony cams & iPhone cameras?? - WATCH or LISTEN now!
Focus Check podcast ep71:How F1: The Movie was shot!
Education for Filmmakers
Language
The CineD Channels
Info
New to CineD?
You are logged in as
We will send you notifications in your browser, every time a new article is published in this category.
You can change which notifications you are subscribed to in your notification settings.
ZGCINE has just released an interesting accessory if you’re often shooting with external batteries: a 4-way D-Tap splitter cable called the MD-P4. While D-Tap splitter cables are not new, the MD-P4 has a 180° rotatable male D-Tap connector with an anti-reverse indicator and circuit protection. So let’s take a closer look at how this $29.99 could save you from expensive mistakes and make your life easier on set.
ZGCINE is a relatively new Chinese company specializing in power solutions for content creators. We recently reported on their Sony NP-F-02 power adapter, a handy compact battery charger that doubles as a small power distribution box. However, ZGCINE also has an entire lineup of Mini V-Mount batteries that offers a competitive price/feature ratio.
The company is now back with a complementary product that has interesting features: the MD-P4 D-Tap splitter cable.
The MD-P4 is a 60cm/23.6in long D-Tap 4-way splitter cable. In short, it turns one 14.8V D-Tap output from your V-Mount/Gold-Mount battery into four female 14.8V power outputs. While these kinds of splitter boxes/cables are not new, they are always helpful on set when you need to power multiple camera accessories at once. Just so you know, the ZGCINE MD-P4 can take a maximum load of 150W/10A.
So what makes this cable different? First, the male D-Tap connector has an anti-reverse indicator light and built-in power protection. Indeed, if you plug in a D-Tap connector the wrong way, you can fry the cable in a best-case scenario or instantly kill the equipment at the end of that cable if you’re out of luck.
Next, the male D-Tap connector is 180° rotatable. This is a handy feature as sometimes a battery’s D-Tap output is on the side and can cause cable management issues.
Finally, the 4-way splitter box can be attached to your camera rig anywhere you want, thanks to a centered 1/4″-20 mounting screw. The included soft rubber pad should help prevent the box from getting loose or turning unexpectedly.
The ZGCINE MD-P4 is available now for $29.99.
For more information, please visit ZGCINE’s website here.
What do you think about this D-Tap splitter cable? Did you ever fry your camera equipment due to a D-Tap reverse problem? Do you often use power splitter cables, or do you prefer using power distribution boxes? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments down below!
Stay current with regular CineD updates about news, reviews, how-to’s and more.
You can unsubscribe at any time via an unsubscribe link included in every newsletter. For further details, see our Privacy Policy
Want regular CineD updates about news, reviews, how-to’s and more?Sign up to our newsletter and we will give you just that.
You can unsubscribe at any time via an unsubscribe link included in every newsletter. The data provided and the newsletter opening statistics will be stored on a personal data basis until you unsubscribe. For further details, see our Privacy Policy
Jeff Loch is a French freelance director, editor and colorist, working mostly on music videos, commercials, and corporate films.