AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 – Anton/Bauer, a brand of The Vitec Group, and the world’s premier provider of professional camera batteries, chargers, lighting and other mobile power systems, gave professional handheld camera operators attending IBC 2008 an up-close-and-personal look at its signature ElipZ® family of battery, light and grip products. Strategically designed to enhance the runtime, performance and ergonomics of handheld DV and HDV cameras, the ElipZ system is an innovative and powerful set of tools delivering a variety of benefits, including all-day camera battery power, versatile on-camera lighting and effective, flexible camera support.
The ElipZ system, which includes the ElipZ® 10k battery, the ElightZ® on-camera light and the EgripZ® camera support, was developed in response to customer demand for more professional-quality solutions for the smaller, handheld cameras.
According to Michael Accardi, president of Anton/Bauer, “We created the ElipZ system to offer additional options to handheld camera pros. Anton/Bauer values its customers and listens to their concerns and needs. With the ElipZ, we’ve responded with a product that offers a higher level of quality and performance.”
The ElipZ 10k battery delivers all-day operating times for a typical 10-watt handheld camera, freeing the operator from being cabled to a beltpack or adapter. Its unique patented under-the-camera mounting design allows one face of the lightweight ElipZ battery to quickly attach to the camera through a shoe-type mount similar to quick-change tripod adapters. When coupling Anton/Bauer’s 5.4-ounce versatile ElightZ with the ElipZ 10k battery, there is no need for a separate battery, pouch pack or cables to hinder camera handling.
The other face of the battery has a universal 1/4-20 mounting thread, creating an easy standard interface with monopods and tripods. The ElipZ 10k battery forms a stable and strong camera platform, lowering the center-of-gravity of the camera while handheld. It delivers as much as nine hours of runtime to the most popular handheld camera models, including the Sony HVR-Z1U, Canon GL2 and Panasonic’s AJ-DVX-100 and AG-HVX-200.
Complementing the new ELIPZ 10k battery is Anton/Bauer’s ElightZ, the first six-volt on-camera light specifically designed to work with a handheld camera battery without power converters, adapters or cumbersome belt packs. The ElightZ, based on Anton/Bauer’s Gold Mount concept of sharing battery power with the camera, provides this same ability. The ElightZ weighs only six ounces and draws just 10-watts (both five and 15-watt bulbs are available) with outputs that more than 75-foot candles at five feet. Its unique folding design features a two-stage arm that can be adjusted to a wide array of positions to adjust light angles and avoid lens shadowing.
The third piece of the ElipZ system is Anton/Bauer’s EgripZ camera support, a comfortable, flexible grip that offers virtually limitless operating positions to assist the camera operator in stabilizing the camera without adding unnecessary weight or constraint. New full-featured handheld cameras are sometimes handheld in name only, weighing up to six pounds. EgripZ attaches easily to any camera, weighing only 12 ounces, providing the freedom to make creative camera movements without the impediment of added size, weight or tethering of the camera to the operator’s body. A 1/4-20 mounting screw below enables the EgripZ to be mounted to a tripod, monopod or other camera support for quick and easy stationary support when needed.
ABOUT ANTON/BAUER
Anton/Bauer is recognized as the world’s premier provider of professional camera batteries, chargers, lighting and other key mobile power systems for the broadcast and video production markets. Headquartered in Shelton, CT and established in 1970, Anton/Bauer’s superior-quality camera batteries, chargers, and mobile power systems have become an industry standard. Since its inception, Anton/Bauer has expanded its product offerings to include many signature lines such as its leading Gold Mount® system, which includes the Interactive chargers, HyTRON® 50, 100 and 140, and Dionic® 90 and 160 batteries, as well as mounts, compatible with virtually every camera brand on the market today. Other Anton/Bauer performance products include the Ultralight®, the ElipZ®, ElightZ®, CINE-VCLX™ and its new CINE VCLX/2™. For more information on Anton/Bauer, visit www.antonbauer.com.
ABOUT THE VITEC GROUP PLC
The Vitec Group plc is acknowledged as a global leader in the supply of equipment and services to the broadcasting, entertainment and photographic industries and has established a reputation for technical excellence and superior engineering along with an astute business strategy which has seen it grow by acquisition. Innovation is a cornerstone of the Group’s activities and the organization is committed to a policy of continuous product development. With revenues (2007) of $546m (£274m) and over 2200 employees world-wide, its products are distributed in almost 100 countries, through a strong, fully-resourced distribution network or direct to the end user or corporate customer. More information can be found at www.vitecgroup.com.
