Battery life on 5diii (and other questions)

[Dannington]

I'm doing a charity shoot in a few weeks with my 5diii.  It's just a day shooting an event - probably 3 to 6 hours of rushes depending on my self discipline.  I'm really a video editor with a photography hobby so although I know what I need to get, I dont have that much experience shooting with the 5d.  I've got sound covered with an R-26 and a boom, and I've got a loupe/evf type thing (which is great actually).

Anyway, I wondered if anyone knows what kind of battery life I can expect shooting with a non-is lens using focus peaking?

Also, has anyone shot with/ can recommend a variable ND?

And finally - i'm probably going to hire some kind of rig with a shoulder mount and a focus doo-dad - any ideas from experience?

Cheers,

Dan.

[a1ex]

Shoot for a few minutes with your settings, then look in Debug menu. The estimation should be pretty accurate.

[Dannington]

Thanks very much.  You are crazily across this forum!

Any thoughts on the other stuff would be v. welcome.

Dan.

[Dannington]

Just looking at this battery grip.

http://www.phottix.co.uk/Pages/grips.html

I don't really know how power consumption works but if a normal canon LP-E6 battery supplies 7.6 volts with 1800 mAh then how does that compare to 6x1.5 volt AA batteries at 6x3600 mAh each? (Lithium AAs)

Bags of shooting time or nothing like it?

Dan

[vickersdc]

As far as the batteries go, you'll end up 3600mAh, as they will be connected in series, rather than parallel. So, you'll double the [current] capacity in relation to the LP-E6.

But, 6x1.5v is 9v, whereas with rechargeables are often 1.2v(?) which would supply 7.2v. I assume the apparent over-voltage is taken care of by circuitry.

[xRun]

Actually the two LP-E6 batteries in the grip are connected in parallel, doubling the amps.
When using AA batteries they are connected in series to add up to the right voltage, and the amps for each of these batteies is as stated on them. I gather the small excess voltage is regulated by a diode, dropping it down to a safe voltage.

[LucaBrasi]

I can recommend Genustech Variable ND filter Eclipse. Affordable and easy to use (usable from 0-80% maby, then the X thing shows up) buy the size diameter that fits your biggest diameter lens and then step up rings for your smaller diameter size lenses.

[frank007]

get a battery grip to extend the battery life

[tokkok]

anyone tried this?