The Sound Devices 722 uses about 1 amp per hour of operation. The
largest Sony camcorder battery is the L series NP-970, rated at
Message: 6600mAh.
Subject: So the NP-970 should power the recorder for 6+ hours.
This 6 hour figure was recently confirmed in notes posted by 722
owners on the TapersSection.com forum. The tests were conducted with
continuous recording, using mics that need phantom power, and with the
recorder display backlighting on.
The NP-970 is substantial, weighing 12oz/350g, so it's not the best
choice for a brief recording session. But 6 hours of power should be
plenty for an all-day outing.
The Sony NP-970 costs between $50 (eBay) and $100 (retail store).
There are cheaper batteries with similar power capactiy from other
manufacturers. However, several 722 owners reported problems using
non-Sony batteries. They don't fit the 722 quite as well, and the
battery case is not as strong. So it's probably wise to spend a
little more to get the genuine Sony battery.
Sony makes smaller camcorder batteries that fit the 722. Here are two:
NP-570 2200mAh, 5.1oz/145g, $50
NP-770 4400mAh, 8.2oz/230g, $70
The 722 can also be powered by an external DC power source. Rob D. and
Martyn have both posted descriptions of external batteries that use
rechargeable "D" cells, useful when you plan to be away from mains
power for an extended period. (Rob's will attract the attention of the
bomb squad in any airport you pass through).
One tidbit I learned today is that the 722 can be set to power up and
start recording when the external DC power is turned on. The recorder
will gracefully shut down and save the file when the DC power is
turned off. This feature, plus an external timer to turn the power on
and off, allows the 722 to make unattended recordings on a schedule.
This would be very useful for research -- No need to climb the
100ft/30m Ceiba tree in the dark to capture the dawn chorus!
--oryoki
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