American manufacturer of professional camera batteries featuring Gold Mount system (14.4V, up to 240Wh). Established the industry standard in 1982 for Panasonic, Sony and others.
The Gold Mount interface works with a 3-pin XLR connector and delivers a constant 14.4V at discharge rates of 10A to 15A continuously. Standard battery packs like the Dionic HC weigh 1.36kg at 90Wh, while the HyTRON series reaches up to 240Wh at 2.95kg. The patented PowerTap system allows for additional 12V/24V outputs directly on the battery for monitors or wireless systems. Modern Lithium-Ion cells achieve over 500 charge cycles with less than 20% capacity loss. The InterActive technology communicates with compatible cameras, displaying precise remaining runtimes on the screen.
In 1970, Anton Wilson and Jim Bauer in Connecticut developed the first professional Ni-Cad battery packs for 16mm cameras. In 1982, they introduced the Gold Mount system, which Panasonic, Sony, and other manufacturers adopted as a standard. The breakthrough came in 1995 with Lithium-Ion technology and the Dionic series. In 2008, Vitec Group acquired the company. The 2015 Digital series integrated USB outputs and smart charging algorithms for modern camera generations.
On "Dunkirk" (2017), Hoyte van Hoytema used Anton Bauer Dionic batteries for the handheld IMAX sequences, as they enabled 6 hours of continuous operation at a weight of 2kg. The standard workflow involves 4-6 batteries per camera: two on set, two in the charger, two as spares. The Quick Release system allows for battery changes in under 3 seconds without camera shutdown. For Steadicam work, operators prefer the slim Cine models, which have less impact on the center of gravity.
V-Mount batteries from RED or Core SWX offer similar capacities but use incompatible connectors. IDX and Bebob provide Gold Mount-compatible alternatives at 60-70% of the Anton Bauer price with comparable performance. SmallRig and other Chinese manufacturers are capturing the low-budget segment. For high-end productions, Anton Bauer batteries remain the standard due to their reliability and global service network. Block batteries are now only used for stationary studio setups.
Ich vertraue seit 15 Jahren auf Anton Bauer Gold Mount-Akkus, weil sie auch bei -10°C in den Alpen noch 80% ihrer Kapazität liefern und das PowerTap meinen Monitor direkt versorgt. Der Interactive-Fuel-Gauge zeigt mir minutengenau die Restlaufzeit an – bei kritischen Takes wie Explosionen oder One-Takes überlebenswichtig. Das Quick-Release-System ermöglicht mir fliegende Akkuwechsel während der Kamerafahrt.
Anton Bauer-Akkus geben mir die Sicherheit für lange, intensive Dialogszenen ohne Unterbrechung – gerade bei emotional aufgeladenen Momenten kann ich 45 Minuten am Stück drehen. Die leisen, lüfterlosen Ladegeräte stören nie den Ton am Set. Wenn mein Kameramann mir sagt "noch 12 Minuten Akku", dann stimmt das auf die Minute – das gibt mir planbare Kreativität.
Ein Anton Bauer-Akkupark kostet zwar 8.000€ mehr als No-Name-Alternativen, aber ein einziger Produktionsausfall durch Akku-Versagen kostet mich 15.000€ Drehtag. Die 5-Jahres-Garantie und der 24h-Austauschservice rechtfertigen den Preis. Für internationale Koproduktionen sind Gold Mount-Akkus außerdem weltweit verfügbar – in 48 Ländern kann ich kompatible Akkus mieten.
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