Looking at the long-term power requirements of the HD transition, IDX redefined its definition of a “top of the line” power source last week with the introduction of a new high-performance, high-load Lithium Ion battery line-up, the E-HL9 series. The company said the battery, with a 10 Amp capacity, delivers nearly 50 percent more power than previous IDX offerings.

“The latest hard drives and removable card technology make it possible for cinematographers and directors to say shooting long is good,” said IDX USA Executive Vice President Tony Iwamoto in a prepared statement. That’s where better batteries come in.

The new models are designed to handle high-rate discharge at up to 10 Amps and 120 Watts without reducing battery life. That fits an HD shooting environment that has increased average battery loads to between 60 and 80W, IDX said. The new models are also intended for high-DC-power-draw situations like on-board lighting. The company said the new architecture extends the battery’s life cycle by almost 10 percent.

The flagship battery is the E-HL9, which can take advantage of IDX’s PowerLink feature to connect with another E-HL9 for a total capacity of 176 Wh. The battery has a five-LED power status display and supports the Digi-View system for reading battery levels in compatible cameras’ viewfinders. The less-expensive E-HL9S is a “stand alone” version with the same power capacity and a three-LED power status display.

For more information: www.idxtek.com