Where are you getting your extra batteries? at DVinfo.net

Jason McDonald · October 15th, 2013, 07:59 AM

I've seen some packages on Amazon and ebay. The Nikon batteries are about 40 USD here in Japan but there are Chinese brands that are 2 packs with charger for much less, around 20 USD.

When browsing for batteries on the cheap, it was important for me to see know if there was protection in the batteries against heat/current/overcharge etc and they all claim to have it. Still, I'm wondering what others are doing?

I got my Pocket Cam Saturday and today is Tuesday...and I JUST opened the box. Have 1 cheap lens, going to get a cheap adapter to use my EF lenses with (Until metabones gets their speedbooster for EF lenses out). I'm waiting for my SD card to show up in the mail (Cards I have aren't fast enough...)

Jay Bratcher · October 15th, 2013, 01:09 PM

I have always liked Wasabi batteries. However, I was trying to get all my extras into a single order from B&H, and ended up getting their $10 generics. They should be here Friday, but I suspect they will do just as well as any other battery in this camera (which is not very good).

I think the better solution is to use an external 12v battery pack. A 10,000 mAh battery should last at least 8 hours, and if you have multiple external packs, they can be swapped out easily, since the internal battery will keep the camera powered up. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think this is how the camera was intended to be used...

Jason McDonald · October 16th, 2013, 07:06 AM

What external 12v battery pack would you recommend?

Jay Bratcher · October 16th, 2013, 10:06 AM

I'm going to try an Anker Astro 3 pack, because my wife has one that I can borrow while she is not looking :) It is supposedly 10,000 mAh, has 5v and switchable 9v / 12v outputs, and can power multiple devices at the same time (so I should be able to power my Tascam DR-100 at the same time as my camera). It's also only $55... If it's not big enough, I will look into other solutions - there are a lot of them out there it seems.

The downside, of course, is that it is a consumer device, and thus has no mounting options. I think I can work around that though...

Craig Seeman · October 16th, 2013, 01:17 PM

Regarding batteries for the Pocket, I ran some tests.
BMD included battery I was able to run the camera for about 58 minutes straight. 800mAh
Nikon battery 77 minutes.1020mAh
Power2000 35 minutes 1200mAh
Flashpoint 35 minutes 1200mAh

I returned the latter two which was actually 5 total batteries. I also found one of the Power2000 batteries to be slightly off size and stick coming out of the BMPCC battery compartment.

This doesn't mean that you can't find cheap good batteries but apparently the QC is very uneven so purchases of the same off brand may not yet the same results. These batteries where purchased in store from Adorama so there's no online hanky-panky with counterfeits (many major electronics and photo places sell the Power2000)

BMD told me that when they can't use their batteries they use Nikon when showing the camera.
I later was told by their distributor that Nikon is actually making the BMD battery.

The cost of an issue during a shoot far exceeds the savings on cheap batteries. I'm going to stick with BMD for "budget" batteries and Nikon for best results.

Switronix has a nice inexpensive compact solution that mounts under the camera.
Switronix Releases the PocketBase
and
http://www.switronix.com/products?pa...category_id=53

I've heard Bescor will be coming out with something along the same lines.

Chris Joy · October 17th, 2013, 01:35 PM

Sony L batteries on an adapter. I saw it posted elsewhere, someone took a cable and spliced it to the Ikan L battery adapter. Lots of cheap, large capacity L batteries floating around.

October 15th, 2013, 07:59 AM	#1
Jason McDonald Major Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Japan Posts: 295	Where are you getting your extra batteries? I've seen some packages on Amazon and ebay. The Nikon batteries are about 40 USD here in Japan but there are Chinese brands that are 2 packs with charger for much less, around 20 USD. When browsing for batteries on the cheap, it was important for me to see know if there was protection in the batteries against heat/current/overcharge etc and they all claim to have it. Still, I'm wondering what others are doing? I got my Pocket Cam Saturday and today is Tuesday...and I JUST opened the box. Have 1 cheap lens, going to get a cheap adapter to use my EF lenses with (Until metabones gets their speedbooster for EF lenses out). I'm waiting for my SD card to show up in the mail (Cards I have aren't fast enough...)

October 15th, 2013, 01:09 PM	#2
Jay Bratcher Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 110	Re: Where are you getting your extra batteries? I have always liked Wasabi batteries. However, I was trying to get all my extras into a single order from B&H, and ended up getting their $10 generics. They should be here Friday, but I suspect they will do just as well as any other battery in this camera (which is not very good). I think the better solution is to use an external 12v battery pack. A 10,000 mAh battery should last at least 8 hours, and if you have multiple external packs, they can be swapped out easily, since the internal battery will keep the camera powered up. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think this is how the camera was intended to be used...

October 16th, 2013, 07:06 AM	#3
Jason McDonald Major Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Japan Posts: 295	Re: Where are you getting your extra batteries? What external 12v battery pack would you recommend?

October 16th, 2013, 10:06 AM	#4
Jay Bratcher Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 110	Re: Where are you getting your extra batteries? I'm going to try an Anker Astro 3 pack, because my wife has one that I can borrow while she is not looking :) It is supposedly 10,000 mAh, has 5v and switchable 9v / 12v outputs, and can power multiple devices at the same time (so I should be able to power my Tascam DR-100 at the same time as my camera). It's also only $55... If it's not big enough, I will look into other solutions - there are a lot of them out there it seems. The downside, of course, is that it is a consumer device, and thus has no mounting options. I think I can work around that though...

October 16th, 2013, 01:17 PM	#5
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Re: Where are you getting your extra batteries? Regarding batteries for the Pocket, I ran some tests. BMD included battery I was able to run the camera for about 58 minutes straight. 800mAh Nikon battery 77 minutes.1020mAh Power2000 35 minutes 1200mAh Flashpoint 35 minutes 1200mAh I returned the latter two which was actually 5 total batteries. I also found one of the Power2000 batteries to be slightly off size and stick coming out of the BMPCC battery compartment. This doesn't mean that you can't find cheap good batteries but apparently the QC is very uneven so purchases of the same off brand may not yet the same results. These batteries where purchased in store from Adorama so there's no online hanky-panky with counterfeits (many major electronics and photo places sell the Power2000) BMD told me that when they can't use their batteries they use Nikon when showing the camera. I later was told by their distributor that Nikon is actually making the BMD battery. The cost of an issue during a shoot far exceeds the savings on cheap batteries. I'm going to stick with BMD for "budget" batteries and Nikon for best results. Switronix has a nice inexpensive compact solution that mounts under the camera. Switronix Releases the PocketBase and http://www.switronix.com/products?pa...category_id=53 I've heard Bescor will be coming out with something along the same lines.

October 17th, 2013, 01:35 PM	#6
Chris Joy Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tampa Posts: 220	Re: Where are you getting your extra batteries? Sony L batteries on an adapter. I saw it posted elsewhere, someone took a cable and spliced it to the Ikan L battery adapter. Lots of cheap, large capacity L batteries floating around.