talking pixels

Apple’s current line of MacBookPros do not have interchangeable batteries. Commonly we find ourselves on a location photo shoot for 10+ hours without a place to “plug in.”  We used to carry multiple Apple MBP batteries and a great desktop charger. Now we use Battery Pads to get that all day power. External battery pads have been on the market for a number of years but they are now becoming essential to location workflow.

We are happy to see more options on the market than ever.  BatteryGeek, HyperMac, and now Versatile Studios offer solid options for the digital tech that requires all day juice.  Running Pixels has both BatteryGeek and Versa battery pads available for rental. Contact us for more information.

BatteryGeek has been around the longest and has proven itself with quality battery pads of many different sizes. Offerings from 75W (12 ounces and $189) to 444W (9 pounds and $999) give you lots of options for battery size and life.  We have 130W Battery Geek PowerStations and find them to be a good balance.  The 222W pad is also a good option for those looking for a bit more juice.

BatteryGeek pads allow you to manually select the output voltage for use with devices beyond your MacBookPro.  Cables from a few years back did not charge the laptop as well as power it; however, BatteryGeek’s new cables do charge the internal laptop battery as do the systems from HyperMac and Versatile.

Although their website recommends the 16V setting, we have found better performance at 19V.  Stock MBP chargers dynamically switch between 16.5V and 18.5V depending on the usage of the computer.  The 16V setting is probably fine for “regular folks” but on set we are always running full steam with tethered shooting, card downloading and file processing.
BatteryGeek also includes a quality leather carrying case for the battery pad and offers $100 off their 100W car charger when purchased with a battery pad.  The carrying case is well made and is very convenient for travel.  Neither HyperMac or Versatile offer carrying cases with their pads.

HyperMac’s battery pads appear very similar those designed by BatteryGeek. The unit, displays and ports are nearly identical and it would not surprise us if they are made in the same Chinese factory.  The main differences are color and voltage selection. The HyperMac automatically selects voltage just like the stock MBP chargers do. This is very convenient and you won’t need to manually select the voltage each time you power up the battery.  The HyperMac battery also has a 10W USB out to charge the iPad.

HyperMac also offers a variety of pad sizes and includes a similar car charger free of charge with every pad purchase.  No carrying case is included.  Despite appearing to be the exact same cable as BatteryGeek (even the photo looks the same), the HyperMac replacement cables are $99.  You don’t want to misplace that cable.

Versatile Studios’ Versa is the new entry to the battery pad market and they are quickly gaining ground. Their batteries are simple, lightweight and competitively priced.

We have not tortured our Versas on set as long as the BatteryGeeks but so far they are performing like champs.  The Versa outputs 19V and is only offered in a 190W size.  As do the others, it also has a USB port to charge an iPhone and charges the internal laptop battery.  The Versa does not come with a carry case nor is a car charger available. Recharge time on the Versa is much quicker than our BatteryGeek pads.  Overall we have been very impressed with the Versa battery and have heard good reviews from other digital techs around the country.  The only negative we have noticed is the lack of right angle plug on the power cable.

The weak link in all of these battery pads is the power cable that goes from the battery to the MacBookPro MagSafe port. Due to Apple’s copyright, the cable cannot be legally reproduced so the battery pad manufacturers are forced to purchase retail MacBookPro chargers and harvest the cable for their needs.  Therefore, these cables are very expensive to replace when they are damaged or lost.  Replacement cables from each manufacturer vary from $65-100 each.

Battery Geek and HyperMac supply cables with a right angle plug.  Versatile Studios cable is a straight plug.  We are told Versatile is working on a right angle plug and we hope it is released soon.  The straight plug can put unnecessary pressure on the port and cable when pushed up against the side of a laptop case.  We believe this will eventually fray the cable or cause damage to the port itself.  Unfortunately in our line of work equipment is constantly tortured and smart design for a long life is very important.  A right angle cable is a much better solution and a big plus to the HyperMac and BatteryGeek systems. Unfortunately the HyperMac/Battery Geek cables are not interchangeable with the Versatile system.



Battery pads have become an essential part of the location digital capture kit.  We are constantly looking for new products to make shoots run smoother.  If you have any suggestions about battery pads or know of any other products out there, we would love to hear from you.

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Think Tank Photo has quickly grown a reputation for serious camera bags built with great quality and a keen eye on the needs of the traveling photographer.  We have been very very happy with our Airport International rollers.

Now Think Thank Photo has released a much larger roller bag called the Logisitcs Manager built to carry more stuff and still grace your travel with a superior bag.  Watch out Tenba.  If Think Thank starts making shipping cases for computers and monitors you will have serious competition.

Here’s an article on robgalbraith.com reviewing the new Logistics Manager roller.

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The most important part of securing your photo files is simple:  backup, backup, backup.  Your security is only as good as your backup.  A well planned frequent backup system is your best friend in photo storage.  Whether or not you do this manually or automated, backing up  your files frequently is the smartest thing you can do for your photo security.

Here is a basic photo workflow that creates multiple copies and allows for both “portfolio” storage and “jobs” storage.  This is simple, cost effective and a great way to organize your images.

For years, MacGurus has provided photographers and videographers excellent products and tech support for data storage.  Don’t underestimate the value of top notch customer service & tech support. You really do want someone to answer the phone when you need them.

Over the years, MacGurus has discussed client workflow with us and provided the best storage systems for our clients.  Everyone’s storage needs are a bit different and we highly recommend talking with them about how you want to work.

Take a good read through the MacGurus Photo Storage System article.  Great advice about simple and secure file storage for photographers. Do you really need a RAID?  Probably not.  But if you do go the RAID route, know that you must back it up.  No storage system is secure with a true backup.

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Our new favorite book on Green matters is “The Urban Homestead” by Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen.  

Anyone interested in being a bit more self-sufficient and eco-responsible should check it out.  Addresses everything from raising chickens in the city to installing grey water systems to redirect waste water to your landscaping.

The book pushes reconnecting with our food sources and encourages everyone to grow food.  Excellent ideas are presented for apartment dwellers as well as those lucky enough to land to cultivate.  Bread-making.  Cleaning without toxins.  Making Yogurt.  Home brewing.  Rain barrels.  There is an unbelievable taste difference between greens grown in your yard and those in a plastic bag that came from where?

An easy read with excellent graphics, diagrams and resource lists, ”The Urban Homestead” will make you think about the usefulness of everything you touch.  We must reduce what is going to landfill.  Seen Wall-E ?  Cute, but a bloody scary view of our ever expanding landfills.

Buy a copy for yourself and get three more for friends.  

Evolution starts in your home.

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