Just posted on the H web site
V 1.17
Hooray! Let's see if it really works. After I installed 1.17 I left the camera on for 30 mins and tethered to Phocus while I cleaned my studio - came back and the battery was 10% lower.... I would have hoped it was like the firewire cameras, where a battery could last weeks before needing to be changed. We will see.
Ben
Well as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't work.
I went from a fully charged battery to 'Replace Battery' in about 3 hours today when shooting tethered with this so-called USB power.
This is not what I expected - can the USB port not supply enough power or something?
As I mentioned in my earlier post, the firewire cameras don't eat batteries and frequently last weeks without needing to be charged if you always shoot tethered.
Hasselblad, please explain!
Ben
Well that's disappointing... I think USB power outputs do vary a bit (much like FW) I wonder if it's worth testing a different socket.
Some info here:
https://www.extremetech.com/computing/159727-how-to-charge-your-smartphone-and-other-usb-devices-as-quickly-as-possible
Hi Nick,
Thanks, very interesting. I might get one of those 'Practical Meters' to test how much power my USB ports can supply.
I also might try getting a wall plug that can plug into my USB extension, and see if that helps.
Ben
OK so I got a Tetherboost Core controller, which is a short USB extension that plugs into a wall outlet. Then you connect your usual 5m USB extension and Hasselblad USB-C cable to that, and it seems to help the battery last a bit longer. I got about 5 hours out of one battery this time, but using live video will run it down more quickly.
So still not what I expected, but better than before this firmware update. It does get power over USB, just not enough power... You still need at least two batteries for one day's shooting.
Ben
https://www.tethertools.com/product/tetherboost-pro-core-controller/
at least it sort of works.
It's correct that most laptop ports will throttle the power/voltage that the USB port provides in order to preserve battery life; that's why things like active USB extensions and tetherboost controllers exist; to provide consistent power, and keep a tethered connection active, as sometimes an idle camera might cause the usb port to dial down the voltage and interrupt the connection.
i would have thought though that USB power meant that the back could be powered via USB (for example, mounted on a technical camera), without the H body present — I guess we're not quite there yet.
After some research and testing I have learned that USB3 will only supply 5v max, and the camera and back requires much more, possibly double. It's ironic that firewire could supply much more voltage when the CCD backs were around, and as far as I understand were less power-hungry.
So I have tested my USB ports and I am getting a solid 5.13v from them, but only .43amps (=2.2W). This may have been when the camera is idle - I should measure again when live video is being used. This means that the camera battery has to take up the slack which means it runs down in a few hours, especially if live video is used.
Maybe I'm not understanding it all - I think the power requirements of the camera are measured in watts, which is voltage x amps. Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) can apparently supply 18v, 0.55amps (=9.9watts). The DC socket on the side of the camera seems to imply it draws 18watts. On top of that, the max length of USB-C cables is a ridiculous 2m. Some websites suggest that USB3 can supply 15 or 100W of power. Is there ever going to be the possibility for one long cable that will supply the camera with all the power it needs? I'd love a Hasselblad tech to contribute here and explain the whole power requirements/usb/cable thing to me.
I am now interested in the external power solution Hasselblad mentioned in the H6 manual (page attached). I can get one of the recommended power supplies locally, rebranded here as 'Comsol'. My dealer can supply the free cable.
But my question is, will this supply power through the DC socket when the back is connected to the body, or is it for view camera use only? The manual is vague about this, and my dealer so far doesn't have an answer. Has anyone tried it?
Ben
Hi
I am not sure whether that idea will work but there is another option. Hasselblad supply a mains power unit to replace the battery. I have one of these and use it when I am in the studio or in a location where power is available. As it is a two part unit - the battery replacement and a DC power source (7.5V at 5A) and uses a standard connecter it should be possible to replace the mains operated part with a multi-purpose battery backup like the power monkey.
Hi David,
Thanks for that idea! It's genius.
I actually already own the DC grip but hate it so much due to the power cable dragging around on the floor that I am desperate for a more convenient solution. I never thought of your idea of powering the DC grip with a laptop Power Bank. I'll let you know how I get on if I get it working.
Ben
Hi David,
After searching the internet for a while it seems that none of these portable battery laptop chargers can supply 5A current. The Power Gorilla is only 3A max, and the power bank that Hasselblad recommends can only supply 4A max current. So not sure if it will be possible to supply power to the DC grip with a portable battery or power bank that is smaller than a car battery jump starter unit.
So it was a nice idea but I might have to go back to square one and find out from someone if the Hasselblad recommended power bank can supply the back with power while it is connected to the camera body.
Ben
I tried new firmware and after 4 hours of shooting over USB cable connected to Imac 27" 5K - batterry dropped only 15%. So quite OK.
With older firmware I would drain completely 2 batteries in 4 hours.
Dagmar
Hi
That is interesting. I have only tethered to a Macbook pro which I think has limited power available via USB. Looks like I need to buy an iMac for the studio and sell the MB Pro.
Hi Dagmar,
Thanks, that is encouraging. I bought a little USB device that measures voltage and amperage output from the port and it looks as though my H6D is only drawing about 2 watts (5v x .4a) from my Mac Pro and Macbook Pro. As far as I understand it needs 18W to operate, so the USB power supply is not helping much in my case. I think the USB can supply about 4.5W so not sure why the camera isn't drawing all that. But even if it did, the camera still needs more power, USB will never be enough.
Ben
Well I'm pleased to report that the Power Bank solution WILL supply the back with power when it is attached to the H6 camera and tethered via USB.
Sorry for the quick and dirty iPhone pics attached, but you can see the Comsol (same at XT Power) power bank clamped onto my camera stand, plugged into the back. It shows about 4-5W being drawn normally, and over 14W when live video is being used. I'll report back at the end of my shoot day to let you know how long this power supply will last, I'm hoping all day at least.
Ben
Well after one day's shooting still-life with some live video the power bank was only down to 50%, so a good result there.
However the camera battery was running down, a little more than I expected. But one battery still lasted all day and was on 35% by the time I finished shooting. It would usually tell me to 'replace battery' at this point, never gets much lower.
So it just scraped into lasting the day without needing to be changed, which is a good result. It's still cumbersome to have cables and a power bank clamped on to the camera stand, but nowhere near as bad as plugging the camera into the wall via the DC grip. Still, I'm jealous of those DSLR users who have one tiny battery that lasts them all day...
Ben
Thta is great news. I have just ordered an XT power unit. Thank you.
Don't forget to get the free cable from Hasselblad.
Ben
Thank you. Got the power bank and now waiting for Hasselblad in Sweden to return from their holidays so they can send the cable to the UK to send to me.
What is this free cable you guys are talking about?
Quote from: Jordan on August 03, 2017, 12:39:16 PM
What is this free cable you guys are talking about?
In the attachment I supplied in reply#7, the page of the manual mentions a cable that Hasselblad supplies to connect the XTPower/Comsol power bank to the H6D back. The power bank doesn't have a suitable cable, so Hasselblad kindly supplies it. Hasselblad's item number is 3054180.
Ben
I'm beginning to wonder if the results of this firmware update are more apparent if you use an iMac or if you have the 100 rather than the 50.
Reason I say that is I have a friend with the H6D-100 and a 2015 iMac and he didn't see his battery get below 50% after all day using it tethered.
Dagmar's experience mentioned earlier also suggests his battery is lasting a lot longer with the new power over USB than mine. Dagmar, is your camera the 50 or 100?
I wonder if the H6D-50 is more power hungry than the 100? I can't imagine the iMac USB port supplies more current than my Mac Pro - it is limited as standard to 900mA and 5v.
Ben