Batteries & Power Banks – Without These, Outdoor Video and Photography Fails
When filming outdoors — sailing on the Thames, shooting wildlife, running science demonstrations on location, or covering events — one thing is always true:
If your batteries die, your shoot dies.
No power = no camera, no audio, no drone, no wireless kit, no lights.
At Philip M Russell Ltd, we carry a full battery ecosystem for our cameras, drones, audio recorders, lights, and phones. Power planning is just as important as lenses and microphones — because the best shot in the world is useless if the equipment stops running halfway through.
Why Portable Power Matters
1. Cameras Are Power Hungry
Mirrorless cameras like the Canon R5C or Sony bodies burn through batteries quickly, especially:
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when using IBIS
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when powering external mics or XLR units
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when shooting in cold weather
Without spares, a day’s filming collapses fast.
2. Drones Drain Fast
Drone batteries are limited by size and safety.
Each flight might give only 20–30 minutes.
If you want multiple angles, you need multiple batteries.
3. Audio Needs Its Own Supply
Recorders, wireless transmitters, and XLR interfaces like the Tascam CA-XLR2d all take power separately.
If your audio dies, your footage becomes unusable.
4. Phones & Tablets
For navigation, drone apps, camera control, playback, scheduling, and notes — mobile devices must stay topped up.
5. Lighting & Accessories
Small LED panels, monitors, gimbals, follow-focus units — everything drinks electrons.
Outdoor video production is powered by a backpack full of batteries.
The Power Bank Strategy
1. Carry Multiple Banks
We take:
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high-capacity USB-C PD power banks
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smaller pocket banks for phones
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rugged banks for sailing and wet environments
2. Look for USB-C Power Delivery (PD)
This allows:
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fast charging
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powering cameras via USB-C
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running monitors and LED lights
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top-ups between takes
PD banks can rescue an entire shoot.
3. Charge Everything the Night Before
Every battery.
Every bank.
Every device.
No exceptions.
4. Label and Rotate
Number your batteries.
Rotate them evenly.
Remove any battery that behaves oddly.
5. Keep Banks Warm in Winter
Cold kills battery performance.
For winter sailing, we keep power banks inside an inner pocket.
The “Full Power Kit” We Take to Shoots
Our typical setup includes:
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Spare camera batteries (at least 3–6)
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Drone batteries (3 minimum)
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USB-C PD power bank (20,000–30,000 mAh)
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Rugged waterproof bank for boat and outdoor shoots
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AAA/AA batteries for wireless transmitters and audio
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Charging cables for every device
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Power strip for indoor top-up
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Battery-powered lights as backups
Everything lives in a single labelled pouch so we can swap quickly.
The Hidden Benefit: Creative Freedom
When you aren’t worrying about power:
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You film longer
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You wait for better light
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You redo takes for accuracy
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You focus on teaching rather than equipment
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You capture spontaneous moments — the ones that really matter
Power is what lets creativity breathe.
The Takeaway
Outdoor filming succeeds or fails on battery management.
With spare batteries, reliable power banks, and a clear charging routine, you can film confidently anywhere — on the river, in the woods, on a school field, or at a community event.
Batteries aren’t an accessory.
They are the foundation of any portable media workflow.
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