Multimeter test results: GyroVu continuous power adapter for Panasonic

Eureka! I found my RadioShack Digital Multimeter.

In a recent blog post, I said I would like to use a multimeter to test the actual voltage output of the GyroVu USB TO PANASONIC DMC-GH2 (DMW-BLC12) BATTERY 40″ CABLE w/ 3.1A USB POWER SUPPLY that provides continuous power for my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 superzoom bridge camera. This blog post features the results from that test and more.

Panasonic rechargeable Li-ion camera battery

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 uses a Panasonic DMW-BLC12 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (7.2V, 1200mAh), shown below.

Panasonic DMW-BLC12PP 7.2V Li-ion battery (front).

The positive and negative terminals of the battery are marked on the back of its case.

Panasonic DMW-BLC12PP 7.2V Li-ion battery (back).

I set the multimeter to measure voltage and touched the black test lead to the negative (-) terminal, then touched the red test lead to the positive (+) terminal. The LCD on the multimeter displayed a voltage of 07.29V, as shown below. That’s good!

Voltage output from Panasonic 7.2V Li-ion battery.

GyroVu continuous power adapter

Next, the GyroVu “USB Charger” (shown below, to the lower-left) was plugged in a 120V AC electrical outlet. The GyroVu dummy battery was connected to the 3100mA USB connector on the GyroVu USB Charger.

Product image courtesy GyroVu.com.

Although the positive and negative terminals of the dummy battery aren’t marked on its case, they are in the same places as on the Li-ion battery.

Once again I set the multimeter to measure voltage and touched the black test lead to the negative (-) terminal, then touched the red test lead to the positive (+) terminal. The LCD on the multimeter displayed a voltage of 08.36V, as shown below.

Voltage output from GyroVu dummy battery for Panasonic.

GyroVu says the output voltage of the dummy battery is 8.0V, so 8.36V seems to be within specs.

For what it’s worth, the Owner’s Manual for the model of RadioShack Digital Multimeter that I used specifies the accuracy of the multimeter is +/-0.8% of the reading, or in this case +/-0.07V.

Therefore I think it’s safe to say the GyroVu dummy battery has a slightly higher voltage than the Panasonic Li-ion battery. Is the higher voltage cause for concern?

Perhaps the more important question is whether amperage matters more than voltage. Regular readers of my blog might recall that I used my Drok USB Tester to measure an amperage of 0.45A drawn by the camera when it was connected to the GyroVu adapter and powered on. Is that amperage safe for the camera?

I’m not sure of the answer to either question, although I am certain further investigation is required.

Anker external power bank

Each GyroVu “dummy battery” adapter cable features a USB connector that can be used to connect your digital camera to an external power bank such as the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W), shown below.

Product image courtesy AnkerDirect.

My Drok USB Tester was connected to one of two USB ports on the Anker power bank. The output voltage of the power bank was 5V, same as the GyroVu “USB Charger.”

The GyroVu dummy battery was plugged into one of two USB ports on the Anker power bank. Once again I set the multimeter to measure voltage and touched the black test lead to the negative (-) terminal, then touched the red test lead to the positive (+) terminal. The LCD on the multimeter displayed a voltage of 08.36V (shown above) — exactly the same as when I used the GyroVu “USB Charger” as the source of continuous power.

Voltage output for GyroVu dummy battery for Panasonic connected to Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W.

At this point I think it’s safe to say the Anker power bank is safe to use as a source of continuous power for my Panansonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 camera, that is, assuming the ~8.0V output of the GyroVu dummy battery isn’t a problem.

Related Resources

This blog post is one in a series of posts related to continuous AC power and long-lasting battery power for select Canon, Fujifilm, and Panasonic digital cameras.

• Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W
• Will it work? Is it safe?
• Continuous power: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
• Continuous power: Fujifilm X-T3
• Continuous power: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
• The best of both worlds at bargain prices

Copyright © 2021 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

The best of both worlds at bargain prices

“GyroVu” sells inexpensive adapter cables and power sources that enable continuous AC power for studio photography and long-lasting battery power for field photography.

After a month of exploration and experimentation with several gadgets similar to the GyroVu product line (see Related Resources at the end of this blog post), I strongly endorse GyroVu as the most flexible solution and best value for your money.

AC power

For Canon cameras that use a Canon LP-E6N battery, USB adapter cable only ($35.99)…

Product image courtesy B&H Photo.

For Canon, cable and power supply ($43.95)…

Product image courtesy B&H Photo.

AC power supply, compatible with adapter cables for both Canon and Fujifilm…

Product image courtesy B&H Photo.

Both GyroVu USB adapter cables featured in this blog post use the same AC power supply (MODEL: KeKe-F16C). I recommend buying a “cable with power supply” for one camera model, and “cable only” for other cameras you own.

For example, I bought a “Cable with Power Supply” for my Canon EOS 5D Mark II and a “Cable Only” for my Fujifilm X-T3.

For Fujifilm, USB adapter cable only ($29.95)…

Product image courtesy B&H Photo.

Battery power

Each GyroVu “dummy battery” adapter cable features a USB connector that can be used to connect your digital camera to an external power bank.

Product image courtesy AnkerDirect.

Related Resources

This blog post is one in a series of posts related to continuous AC power and long-lasting battery power for select Canon, Fujifilm, and Panasonic digital cameras.

• Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W
• Will it work? Is it safe?
• Continuous power: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
• Continuous power: Fujifilm X-T3
• Continuous power: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300

Copyright © 2020 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Will it work? Is it safe?

As promised in a blog post on 12 October 2020, this is the first of several follow-up posts related to using the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W battery as a power source for select Canon and Fujifilm digital cameras.

The power bank is one of two recommended by Fujifilm, so it’s reasonable to assume the battery is safe to use. That being said, I must admit I was hesitant to test the battery with a relatively expensive digital camera like my Fujifilm X-T3!

“GyroVu” sells adapter cables that enable an external battery to be used as the power source for several makes and models of digital cameras. I recently ordered GyroVu adapter cables from B&H Photo for my Canon EOS 5D Mark II and Fujifilm X-T3. The following warning was included in the package for the Fujifilm adapter.

Specifications for proper operation.

Naturally I wondered whether the Anker battery meets the specifications to function properly with the GyroVu adapter cables. The specifications for the battery are printed on its textured case, in tiny letters that my tired old eyes are unable to see without using a magnifying glass!

Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W battery

Notice the specifications highlighted by the red rectangle superimposed on the full-size version of the preceding photo. [USB] Standard Output is 5V at 3A, within specs for the GyroVu adapter cables.

What are the take-aways?

Knowing the battery should work, and more importantly, should be safe to use, I was encouraged to test the battery as the power source for my Canon EOS 5D Mark II and Fujifilm X-T3 digital cameras. I’m pleased to report both cameras work as expected. More later in a series of follow-up blog posts.

WARNING

The B&H Photo Web page for the GyroVu USB to FUJIFILM NP-W126 Dummy Battery Intelligent Cable (40″) says the cable is compatible with Fujifilm X-T1 digital cameras (see the section entitled “Overview”). THAT’S INCORRECT! The page also says the cable “allows the use a USB power source to power devices that use a FUJIFILM NP-W126 battery.” THAT’S ALSO INCORRECT!

Fujifilm X-T1 digital cameras use an NP-W126 (7.2 V) battery; Fujifilm X-T3s use an NP-W126S (8.4 V) battery. The names for the two batteries are similar but similar is not the same, as indicated by the difference in their voltages.

The GyroVu Web page for the USB TO FUJIFILM (NP-W126S) BATTERY 40″ ADAPTER CABLE says the cable “Connects any power source with USB female connector to Fujinon Cameras using NP-W126S battery” and specifies the output voltage as 8.4 V. That means the GyroVU cable will work with Fujifilm X-T3 digital cameras and will not work with Fujifilm X-T1s.

Bottom line: I tested the GyroVu adapter cable (SKU: GV-USB-126S) and Bescor NP-W126S Dummy Battery & AC Adapter Kit for Select FUJIFILM X-Series Cameras with my Fujifilm X-T1 digital camera and the camera DOES NOT POWER ON. Buyer beware!

Post Update: Further testing shows an NP-126S battery can be used to power-on my Fujifilm X-T1. I cannot explain why the Fujifilm brand battery works and the GyroVu and Bescor power sources don’t.

Related Resources

• Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W
• Continuous power: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
• Continuous power: Fujifilm X-T3
• Continuous power: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
• The best of both worlds at bargain prices

Copyright © 2020 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

When is close too close?

A Swift River Cruiser dragonfly (Macromia illinoiensis) exuvia was collected on 27 May 2017 along the Potomac River at Riverbend Park in Fairfax County, Virginia USA. This individual is a female. The prominent horn on the head — a key field mark for exuviae from Family Macromiidae (Cruisers) — is noticeable in the following photo, although maybe not recognizable.

27 May 2017 | Riverbend Park | Swift River Cruiser (exuvia)

This photo is one of several test shots using “The Macroscope,” my nickname for the Laowa 25mm Ultra Macro Lens. The Laowa lens was mounted on my Canon 5D Mark II digital camera with a 12mm Kenko extension tube between the lens and camera body.

My new Laowa LED Ring Light was mounted on the front of the lens, powered by an Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W battery. The Laowa LED Ring Light was used to light the subject. A Sunpak LED-160 Video Light was used as a focusing aid. A Godox TT685C external flash was used to backlight a translucent white plastic background, using the “Meet Your Neighbours” technique. The flash was triggered wirelessly by a Godox X2TC.

The image is full-frame (5616 by 3744 pixels), that is, uncropped. The lens was set for f/4 (the “sweet spot” for the lens) at 4x magification. The camera was set for single point focus and spot metering, centered on the right eye of the exuvia.

Look closely at a full-size version of the image. At this magnification, the depth of field is very shallow: remnant ommatidia are clearly in focus; most of the image is out of focus.

In order to provide some context for what is shown in the first photo, the last photo shows the entire specimen. The photo gear used to take the shot is specified in a previous blog post.

27 May 2017 | Riverbend Park | Swift River Cruiser (exuvia)

When is close too close?

Close is too close when most of the subject is unrecognizable. At 4x magnification, it’s essential to use focus stacking to create a composite image.

The bigger take-away from this test shot is the Laowa LED Ring Light seems to work fairly well, albeit a sample size of one.

Related Resources

• Laowa LED Ring Light for 25mm Ultra Macro Lens
• Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W
• As promised…

Copyright © 2020 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W

In my experience, digital camera batteries are the weak link during extended macro photo shoots — it seems like they never last long enough and always go dead at the worst possible time! So I started searching for portable power solutions that would solve the problem.

I stumbled across an FAQ page on the Fujifilm Global Web site that provides information regarding two mobile batteries recommended by Fujifilm. Warning: Be patient — the FAQ page takes a LONG TIME to load!

Both batteries are made by Anker; the more powerful model is no longer available. As far as I can tell, the PowerCore+ 26800 PD 30W version of the battery featured on the FAQ page was replaced by a new model (Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W). Editor’s Note: One or more upcoming blog posts will be related to using the Anker battery as a power source for select Canon- and Fujifilm digital cameras.

The same battery can be used to power the Laowa LED Ring Light that is featured in my last blog post. When I was doing my homework before deciding to buy the ring light, the first thing I noticed is it doesn’t feature an On/Off switch. I thought, “No problem, the Anker battery has one.” See that big button on top of the battery, shown below? Naturally I assumed it’s an On/Off switch. Wrong! The fact is, I have NO IDEA what that button does other than indicate whether the battery is fully-charged. This battery is essentially a fire hose of power that’s always on when a device is plugged into one of its USB ports. Needless to say, that’s less than ideal for use with the LED ring light.

Product image courtesy AnkerDirect.

Similar to GoPro’s dizzying array of nearly identical action cameras, Anker sells so many types of batteries (including variants of the same model) that it can cause decision paralysis! For what it’s worth, I bought the PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W that includes an AC charger.

Product image courtesy AnkerDirect.

If you have purchased a product from Apple, then you know the unboxing experience is one of life’s simple pleasures — the attention to detail is astounding! And so it is/was with the packaging for the Anker battery I bought. Regrettably the joy ends abruptly when you attempt to read the documentation provided with the product — it’s practically unintelligible! Seriously, I have learned more about the battery by watching independently-produced YouTube videos than by reading the User Manual.

Product image courtesy AnkerDirect.

On/Off Switch

After an exhaustive Google search, I discovered a (relatively) short USB extension cable that features an on/off switch. The product is sold in a two-pack of cables.

Product image courtesy RIITOP Store (on Amazon).

In my opinion, it’s important to choose a USB extension cable that can be used for both data and power in order to maximize the usefulness of the cable.

Product image courtesy RIITOP Store (on Amazon).

A USB power cable is provided with the Laowa LED Ring Light. I connect the Laowa cable to the LED ring light, then connect the other end to one of the RIITOP cables with an On/Off switch. Finally, plug the RIITOP cable into the Anker battery.

What are the take-aways?

In my strong opinion, the Laowa LED Ring Light would be greatly improved by adding two inexpensive features: an On/Off switch; and a dimmer switch. C’mon Laowa — my suggestions are a no-brainer!

And if Venus Optics (Laowa) were feeling ambitious, they should engineer a solution that would enable the LED ring light to be powered directly from the hot shoe of a digital camera. Hot shoe pin-outs vary by brand of camera, but the middle pin is always used for power so one connector should work with all types of cameras. Do it!

And while I’m talking about no-brainers, c’mon Anker — is there a compelling reason your mobile batteries don’t feature an On/Off switch?

Related Resources

This blog post is one in a series of posts related to continuous AC power and long-lasting battery power for select Canon, Fujifilm, and Panasonic digital cameras.

• Will it work? Is it safe?
• Continuous power: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
• Continuous power: Fujifilm X-T3
• Continuous power: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
• The best of both worlds at bargain prices

Copyright © 2020 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.