Clouzen Tainer & Bronine Chargers

Effective aid for creation

We have had the opportunity to test these novelties: simple and efficient devices, designed to make shooting much easier, without the need for large investments.

Text: Luis Pavía

Normally we tend to focus our attention on large equipment that is essential and fundamental in image creation activities such as cameras and optics. And no doubt they should be at the heart of our decisions. But we must not fail to consider that around them there are a plethora of accessories and devices that contribute to improving the efficiency, reliability and even the workflow of production.

And while it is true that we can invest in accessories as much as our budget allows us to, doing so while achieving a balance between profitability, efficiency, improvement of the workflow and reliability is not an easy task.

On this occasion our thanks go to importer/distributor NEOVIDEO, who has made it easier for us for a few days to try some novelties that, in view of their features, seem especially interesting.

The first of these, Clouzen Tainer, a name gives few clues to its purpose, is an interesting stand-alone backup device. What is it about?

Conceptually it is very simple: a handheld device, with an internal battery and a card reader to make copies of our contents without the need for a computer.

Benefits? The main one is the ease of replicating our memory cards by copying them directly to an internal SSD NVMe disk (optional), to an external disk through a USB3 port, or uploading them directly to one of the most popular cloud storage media: DropBox, GoogleDrive and OneDrive.

Best of all, it does not merely to make a simple copy of files; our Tainer has its own patented technology, X-Copy, which facilitates speeds of up to 400 MB/s, also integrating the copy and verification function. This ensures that the copy has been made correctly, because an automatic check is made on 100% of the data transferred.

Connections featured are:

Two memory card sockets: one SD type (UHS) and one XQD type, also suitable for CFexpress Type-B cards.

Three USB ports: a type-C port to charge your battery or connect to a computer; a USB3 to connect an additional card reader or an external disk; and a USB-2 designed for the Wi-Fi dongle or direct connection to the mobile, to access the cloud through a router or our own phone.

Last, a 10/100/1000T Ethernet port allows direct connection to a network or cloud directly at top speed.

All this can be found in a device that fits in the pocket; 106 x 75 x 24 mm in size, less than 200 gr in weight, its 3,500 mAh battery enables completing the transfer of more than 1 Tb of data with a single charge.

By the way, with regards to charging, it also supports charging from autonomous power-bank type batteries, thus facilitating long times of use even in environments without any electrical outlets available. Finally, it also comes with a silicone protector that increases its resistance when conditions of use become somewhat more difficult.

Operation is very simple: The entire control is carried out by means of a single rotating dial to select the menu options, and also through short or long presses on the same dial. Photo and video content can be viewed on the builtin screen, and although its purpose is not to assess the final quality of the image, it is very useful when identifying files or previewing videos.

Our test unit had an optional 2Tb internal drive, but the system is capable of handling capacities up to 32Tb. We liked very much the fact that the computer can be opened by simply removing two screws and therefore users can install the disk by themselves without difficulty. And even, were it necessary in the future, replace the battery with a new one, thus extending the life of our investment without the need to resort to a specialized technical service.

The graphical menu is very simple and intuitive, allowing us to select data source (between the integrated card readers or whatever we have connected to one of the USB) and output (internal disk, cloud service or external disk). Naturally, to use any of the cloud services, identification and connection must be done previoulsy through the configuration menu. But once we have it, it remains available in memory for future connections.

Our test unit had firmware version 1.0 but, by the time these lines see the light, it is expected that version 1.1 will be available, one of whose improvements is especially desirable. According to manufacturer information, this update will enable multicopy functionality, allowing contents to be dumped to internal and external disks simultaneously. In addition, there are other features such as official native support in cloud platforms, customization of folder names, and the app to connect directly to the mobile phone.

The menu contains the main options: device settings, external disk access, cloud access, internal disk access, Wi-Fi access, app access, and sound settings. Each of them opens, as can be expected, the logics in each section. And as soon as we connect a memory card, we immediately have the options to select the destination of the copy.

As for transfer speed, this is always depends on multiple factors, from the speed of our own cards to the selected disk or the bandwidth of our connection or mobile coverage, if we upload content to the cloud. But certainly this speed is not hampered by the transfer capabilities of our Clouzen Tainer and its X-Copy technology.

In any case, having in your pocket (literally) the ability to get a verified copy of contents in such a simple, safe, fast, comfortable and compact way will provide an extra peace of mind and reliability.

And, moving on to the second piece equipment, we find a battery charger system. We all know what this is and surely we know multiple models with very different characteristics, qualities and prices.

So, what makes Bronine chargers different? Their modular design allows solving many of the frequent difficulties in something as necessary as charging batteries. And they go a step further when it comes to using the latest technology to optimize charging and extend the life of our precious batteries.

In this case, the functionality is divided into three sections: first, the charging unit itself, which houses all the control electronics and the display with information on charging state; then, the power supply, which supplies power to the charging unit; and finally, the support unit for housing the battery.

And what’s the point of doing it that way? We will see now, but we already told you that the result is more than attractive.

In regard to the control unit, there are two models, with 2 and 4 output ports respectively. That is, a single control unit is able to independently and simultaneously charge up to

4 batteries, whether identical or different, and using a single power input connector. On its screen it shows us detailed information on the charging state of each of them, not only by means of the tradtional battery icon, but with precise voltage data in v and intensity in mA.

As for the power supply, again there are two models with two different powers 45w and 65w. Not because each control unit requires one or the other, but depending on the power required by the batteries we want to charge.

Here it should be noted that the connection between power supply and control unit is made by a single USB-C to USB-C cable supplied with the control unit. This facilitates that in certain circumstances, and provided that the energy source provides sufficient power, we can even use “power-bank” batteries to recharge our equipment.

The only thing left is the adapter, the socket where to insert our battery, having a wide catalog for the most frequent models (both in photo and video) from most brands: Sony, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Olympus, Fujifilm,

The modular battery system seems to us a practical, versatile and very suitable solution for those situations where you have to handle many different batteries, thus simplifying management without losing reliability. And maintaining a very comfortable and light size and weight.

Conclusion

Both the Clouzen Tainer copy system and the Bronine modular battery charging kit offer us considerable safety, flexibility and comfort without the need for a soaring budget or overloading our backpack. They seem particularly suitable to us as the material, technical and human equipment is reduced to meet the budget.

The modular battery system seems to us a practical, versatile and very suitable solution for those situations where you have to handle many different batteries, thus simplifying management without losing reliability. And maintaining a very comfortable and light size and weight.

And on the other hand, the simple fact of being able to walk out of a shooting or a photographic session with one (or more than one) copy of the memory cards, the fact that these copies are verified, doing so without depending on a laptop, and that even the device itself can then connect to another computer behaving in that case as one more disk, are features more than enough to put it very high on our wish list.

May not the lack of means, or budget constraints, limit our creations.

GoPro, drones DJI, and lithium-ion cylinders. These are connected directly to the control unit through a wireless magnetic coupling.

For those instances in which, due to the size of the battery, the adapters do not have physical space next to each other, there are also magnetic connection cables, which allow separating the adapter from the control unit while maintaining all its functionality.

When using them we have discovered curious details about the design. We liked some of them, such as the adapters gently coupling together so as to transport them in a compact block in a more comfortable way. And one with some room for improvement, such as relocating the ports along all sides of the control unit to dispense with the interconnect cable even when charging large NP-F batteries from Sony or BP-A from Canon.

What are the benefits of this system? We can think of several: the first is the smart management of the charging process, although this feature is already available from other brands. What these brands do not have is the possibility, by means of a single plug and a single charger, to manage the charge of up to 4 batteries simultaneously, regardless of brand and model. But what is definitely attractive, given its longterm flexibility, is maintaining the entire system even when it comes to renewing or expanding equipment, simply by adding the right socket to the new batteries.

Keep in mind that, thanks to their simplicity, the prices of most of these sockets are around €11, and even the few most expensive models are at €14. To get an idea, a complete kit with charger, two-port control unit, and two sockets is priced around €100. And if we choose most expensive set with 65w feeder, 4-port control unit and four battery sockets, the amount would not reach even €180 (prices before taxes on the importer’s page as of July 2023). 