Minifab V-Mount and Gold Mount Battery Plates for Canon EOS C400 Announced

Accessory NewsIBC 2024

by Alexandra ThompsonYesterday

Minifab, previously known as Full Frame Camera Co, has introduced the 400 Series—a new line of V-Mount and Gold mount battery plates, a Conversion Kit, and a Vertical Offset Plate specifically designed for the Canon C400 camera. The GMP400 and VMP400 plates have some significant enhancements from their predecessors, so let’s have a look at the features in this series!

Minifab, aka Alex Stone, is not only a filmmaker, cinematographer, and licensed drone operator—in addition to his work in the film industry, he is also quite the designer/engineer! Identifying a gap in the market for accessories he believed could be improved, he decided to make them himself, producing items like the V-Mount plate and rear cheese plate for the Canon C300 Mark III and C500 Mark II, and Rigfoot 15 and Rigfoot 19 lens supports for specific Canon telephoto lenses. Now, rebranded to Minifab, he’s filled another gap in the accessory market with the 400 Series. In fact, we were so impressed by this accessory that Minifab was announced as the winner of the CineD Best Battery Innovation Award at IBC 2024!

Minifab battery plates – features

A common request from C300/C500 battery plate users was for increased power output. The 400 Series battery plates address this need with two interchangeable auxiliary outputs featuring two standard D-Taps that can be upgraded to 2-pin LEMO connectors. Each auxiliary output provides up to 5A, with a combined 8A total, and both are reversible. The plates allow hot-swapping with Canon batteries, although the GMP400 requires the shorter Canon A30/A30N batteries. The VMP400 and GMP400 feature a common rear case, allowing conversion between V-Mount and Gold mount by swapping out the faceplate using the 400 Series Conversion Kit.

The battery plates attach to the C400 with M4 captive screws and power the camera with a low-profile XLR. The plates are machined aluminum, and the top is recessed so the top handle of the camera can be detached without removing the battery plate.

The 400 Series battery plates work with the C300mkIII and C500mkII cameras, but they sit a bit too low to accommodate Canon batteries. If you need to hot-swap batteries, use the Vertical Offset Plate (VOP) to raise the plates to the correct height. Conversely, the original Full Frame Camera Co. plates also work on the C400, but they will sit higher on the camera. Use the VOP to lower the older battery plates if you prefer a more streamlined look (you will still be able to hot-swap with Canon batteries).

Minifab battery plates – specs

• Dimensions (Core): VMP400: 66x80x24mm / 2.6×3.2×0.9 inches, GMP400: 66x82x29mm / 2.6×3.2×1.1 inches.
• Dimensions (Maximum): VMP400: 72x82x33mm / 2.8×3.2×1.3 inches, GMP400: 66x93x29mm / 2.6×3.7×1.1 inches.
• Weight (with 2x DTaps): VMP400: 192g / 6.8oz, GMP400: 173g / 6.1oz
• Milled from high-grade aluminum, anodized, and secured with stainless steel hardware
• Low Profile 4-pin XLR
• 2x Aux Outputs: DTap or LEMO 2-pin 0B, (Pin 1 ground)
• Unregulated voltage, independently fused, 5A each, Max 8A total
• Soldered and assembled by hand, plus every unit is fully tested before being packaged.

Minifab can also customize your batteries with color options (including a two-toned look) and personalize your kit with custom laser engraving of your name or logo.

Price and availability

Both battery plates are priced at £469/€556, with an extra £49/€58 for the LEMO. The Vertical Offset Plate (VOP) costs £39.00/€46, and the Conversion Kit for the C400 is £149.00/€176. Custom laser engraving will run you £25/€29, and anodizing is £75/€89. All are available for pre-order now directly on the Minifab website and should be shipping by the end of this month (September), according to Minifab.

Minifab is not on any social media platform – according to Alex, that in itself would be a full-time job. However, you can get more information and sign up for his newsletter here.

What do you think of Minifab’s new battery plates? Is this something you might find useful? Is there something else you would like to see Alex design/create? Let us know in the comments!