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Manufacturer:
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Hawk-Woods
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Model:
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DV Link Battery-System (Battery, Adaptors & Mounts)
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Short Description:
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This new system allows the camera operator to power additional equipment from a single DV camera battery. Via a range of battery connecting power adaptors and mounts.
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Why was it needed and what did it replace:
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For convenience and to simplify the operators work flow, you only require one camera mounted battery to power additional equipment. This reduces the need for extra power sources when using a lamp or wireless radio.
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Author:
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Rick Young
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Date:
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23/03/2007
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What other systems did you consider? :
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The system is a world first for the Mini DV market.
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Why did you choose it?:
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Hawk-Woods approached me to review their new system.
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Did you buy new or used - if new did you consider used / visa versa? :
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The DV Link Battery-System Hawk-Woods provided for the review was new.
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Who did you buy it from (direct from manufacturer or through a dealer)?:
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It came directly from the manufactures - Hawk-Woods.
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What price did you pay?:
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The Link battery retails for £60.00, the adaptors and mounts start from £20.00
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Were you happy with the sales service?:
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N/A
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What major projects have you used it (or plan to use it) for?:
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Currently this review.
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Does it perform as expected?:
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I have owned at least 4 battery powered-on-camera lights over 10 years and have never been happy with any of them. They have always involved me carrying either an extra battery pack or belt, or the light has either been low powered or way to bright. To be able to power a lamp from a self-contained power source would be ideal and this is what Hawk-Woods have achieved with their DV Link Battery-System. At the heart of the DV Link system is the F970L battery. This is designed to do the job of the Sony NPF series which has been used for the PD-150, PD-170 and Z1 cameras and several others in the Sony range. This battery does more than power the camera, it can also power the light or a receiver pack for a radio mic via a series of battery linking power adaptors & mounts. This review focuses on the function of the battery system incorporating the light, as I have yet to test powering a radio mic using the DV Link system which is also possible. Having shot with the battery and light for three days on location I can say that the batteries give excellent running time. To quantify this, a fully charged battery according to the display on my Z1, will give 427 minutes or about 7 hours. Of course, in operation this will not be absolutely accurate, particularly if the one uses the light a fair bit. However, this is a good guide to go by. I tested the light on camera to see how much light one can expect and achieved continuous use of 2 hours and 27 minutes. This is excellent. It means, take two or three batteries and you can shoot all day, with light pretty much whenever you want or need it.
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Pro's:
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Well priced battery, simple to use, a way to power extra equipment.
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Con's:
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I have only one complaint which is the system only works for the Sony NPF battery series. The system would be equally useful for Panasonic, Canon and JVC users if the battery would fit. As it stands, at this stage, the DV Link Battery-System is for the Sony range only.
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What would your brief summary be on this product?:
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I give full credit to Hawk-Woods for this product. They have created several things here: a well-priced battery which stands up to Sony’s on performance, and a way to power a radio mic and lamp. This all simplifies one’s workflow. I was reviewing the: DV-F970L Link Battery; DV-CA12 Step-Up Adaptor; DV-MC Fast Charger; DV-RH1 Radio Holder (Sennheiser)
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About you – please tell us about you, your background, your company and any credits you or your company may have :
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Rick Young is a cameraman director who makes his living shooting with a Sony Z1 and editing with Apple's Final Cut Pro. A former live-television director, Rick made the switch from the studios to the field when the DV revolution kicked in during the late 1990's. He regularly works for clients in the UK and internationally. The DV Link Battery-System is available now. For more details visit www.hawkwoods.com or call +44 (0)1233 638 715
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