When I decided 2 years ago to buy the then H2D system, I always had in the

back of my mind to eventually upgrade to a Cambo, Alpa or similar system,

working with the H2D and the upgraded version H3D have paid off well

and now I am chasing up a new system.

First step would be to power the 3D back. The Hasselblad images bank seems

quite expensive for a simple hard drive and some power and I was wondering if

any of you might know of some alternatives.

thanks
marc

I was too in the same boat as you until I spoke to my young nephew in Irvine CA to check these guys out: http://www.bigwavepower.com/ especially the one with the firewire. I'm waiting for mine to arrive from US-Aust. Hasselblad reps here are eager to see how it works, of course, on their digital backs! All the specs seem to check out all okay according to any firewire power source. I'll let you know!

Richard

That looks more like a reasonable price for power!
thanks for the link and please let me know how you go with it
much appreciated
m*

Which model has firewire connectivity.
Sorry, I don't see it.

"titan I"... you need to click onto the operating specs link or see below (cut-n-paste):

EnergyPORT


Operating Specifications


Output: USB Port 5V (6v with booster included) @ 1000mA, Firewire 1394 Port 9V @ 1000mA,
Input: 5v-6v @ 1000mA
Size: (inches) 4.1 x 2.4 x .69
Weight : 4.8 ounces
Battery: 4000mAh Lithium Ion (2x 2000mA) @ 3.7v Plus Parallel Patented Technology
Warranty: 2 years
Operation Temp Range: -20c to + 60c
Storage Temp Range: -20c to + 45c
Safety Approvals: UL1642 (cells), Unit CE, FCC

...just been told by on-line seller that this is now "discontinued"... bugger!

bugger indeed!
anyone else any other options?

cheers
m*

I think I may have found something else... I will get back to you. Need to chat to mfgr on Monday to confirm that the device isn't "discontinued" and does what it does.

marc

1) Spoke to Mike of BigWavePower (the initial "discontinued" device) and it is NOT discontinued, so good news there.

2) Kekkeon MP3450 (readily available) but the Firewire adapter (not included - only sold directly from them and will NOT ship outside US - so you may need to work out that logistic) is what I think will do a better job. This is a bigger and heavier duty.

I'm getting both so once I have received them and tested it out with the reps here, will let you know. If you get it before I do, let me know (or anyone out there!)

Would these Nexto Ultra & CF products with Firewire connectivity & optional battery be a possible solution?

http://www.nextodi.com/en/product/ultra_en.html

very possible... this particular ext-HDD specs mentioned "to recharge internal/external battery" via usb or firewire (6pin). Most ext-HDDs with own power sources are only to drive its own HDD and not for recharging devices. So the Nexto should work. The HDD would be useless though BUT at least you have the CF slot to download what you have shot with the back.

Are you going to get one and try it yourself?

I don't use Hasselblad very often (yet?)

I'm just exercising my brain trying to help you folks.

thanks for the leads
will follow it up later
off to shoot now
m*

Just tested out the BigWavePower Firewire model and works! How long? Don't know, but certainly would need two sets of battery - definitely will be longer than the battery grip. Further advantage is that the device can also be charged from a laptop! Although "made in Taiwan", certainly has better QC than "made in China".

Also tested the Tekkeon and works as well. However, a bid bulky and one has to "TAKE CARE" that the voltage is set accordingly to the firewire setting, especially when the battery has been used with other charging devices with higher voltage supplied. Great for laptop (Apple). The greatest advantage is that the power supply capacity is much much larger than the above model.

If you have seen the new Hasselblad draft design adapter for view cameras and price, I think @ US$99 option, BigWavePower is a winner.

All the best guys!

I like that "made in Taiwan" probably I can buy it just round the corner then!!
marc

Interesting conversation about powering a Hasselblad digi back..... been there / done that and have had this discussion for years. As someone who has been in this game for a long time (too long to mention) I was very resistant to drop $2,000 US for an Image Bank II to power my 39mp back on any number of my large format setups. This decision was not only financial, but based on history with using the Image Bank I - in short the Image Bank I was a disaster as it crashed at the absolute worst times and held up shooting and in general was clunky. And note, I am not one to proudly endorse any manufacturer, even if fairly compensated unless I 100% can do so in good conscience. Read any of my previous posts.

With that said and no sensible alternatives available, I hunkered down and purchased an Image Bank II well over a year ago and could not be more pleased with it's operation and the ID [industrial design] is pretty nice too. Yes, I said it - I could not be more pleased with it's operation. Not only has this little piece of equipment allowed me to shoot with my back on my large format systems in difficult conditions under a very fast pace, but it also opened up how I shoot my H system. Shooting to a 200 gb drive allowed me to shoot without without swapping CF cards. Not only that, for my workflow shooting on-location where being untethered is the only option it is a breeze to connect the Image Bank II to a laptop do a quick confirmation of my work via phocus or flexcolor and then continue shooting or simply copy my 3fr files to a laptop. So I am a HUGE fan of the Image Bank II.

However, yes you Hasselblad guys know this was coming..... I don't mind paying $2000 US for a 200gb drive with a lithium-ion battery connector if for that price it also carried a no less than 36 month full replacement guaranty, shipped with a battery and battery charger. If an accessory piece of equipment has a price tag that has a double digit multiplication factor of similar equipment (i.e. drives and enclosures) than back it up. Standing behind a guaranty gives the proshooter/consumer confidence you'll be there for them and opens the door to purchase a pricey little drive. Also, Hasselblad has to ship the Image Bank II with a battery and charger. Not doing to is simply ridiculous.

For you guys/gals considering a $100 power solution that is not designed for your $35,000 back... ask yourself is failure in the field an option?

michael

BTW: The earlier backs that you were referring to were NOT power source issue - they were storage issue! The earlier backs using Firewire (as USB was not available and even USB1 wasn't up to scratch) were for fast data transfer. When USB2 came into the scene, it wasn't as stable as Firewire. The SCSI back when I started out back then wasn't a power issue either, but fast data transfer - at least faster than firewire. CF wasn't conceived. Imacon was the first to come to the rescue, then the price of a CF drop like current oil price and thus the game has changed for MFDB designers! Hasselblad is the ONLY one that source power from the camera - same marketing principle with their HC 28mm. No prize for guessin why Sinar (ArcTec) is not producing H-mount? Perhaps implied pay back for Hasselblad lock-out marketing direction - I am just a fly on the wall. Horses for courses.

Final note, just make sure the sony batteries used with the imagebank is not generic - made in China!

[two Big Wave Power - EnergyPORT - for sale]


Hello,

I have two Big Wave Power - EnergyPORT in spare here in Germany.
They worked with my H3D-50 for some pictures.

So if you do need your view-camera all the time - buy an Imagebank II.
But if you need your view camera only for a few outdoor shots - ask me for those devices

I will also add an european power supply to charge them.

Greetings
Barkeeper

We sell the current version of this device from BigWave Power as the HD+ FireWire power supply.

Energy for H3DII (larger screen) is 1825 shots at 50% power capacity remaining. Corresponding power remaining by the Hasselblad Li-Ion grip was 85%. This extends the Li-Ion grip by around 400% (a little more, but better to be conservative.)

In situations where you have access to AC and use the AC charger, continuous power is provided over the 6-pin FireWire port and shoot to CF card - such as when the H3D/H2D is mounted on a large format camera or the Alpa, etc.

Separately, also powers my iPhone, but have had one case where an iPhone had to be connected to the host Mac before it would charge from the HD+.

John
Hotwire-Digital (dot com)
Atlanta GA USA

I've been using this power supply for a few weeks now, I was planning on doing a power test to see how many shots I can get on a charge, but after 2000 shots I gave up, figured that would be more than I would ever need between charges!

FYI, for those of you who are not working with a view/technical camera, this will extend your untethered shooting on an H3D as well. As you know, with the 7.2 volt Li-ion grip you can get in the neighborhood of 400-500 images shooting untethered, this is with the grip powering both the body and the back. Using the BigWave, it will power the back for thousands of shots, meanwhile the grip will only be powering the camera body, allowing you to easily shoot for a full day on one grip battery.