Pixol Media: Video Production | Cheap Pocket Camera Battery Solution
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July 3, 2015 In BMPCC, Camcorders, Commercial Video Production By Drew Curran

Cheap Pocket Camera Battery Solution

I’ve been looking for a good battery solution for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera (BMPCC) as having around 30 minutes battery life with the internal batteries is a little limiting at times. I found fairly expensive solutions on the market, and some cheap alternatives from countries outside the UK but was put off by having to pay import duties (I’m cheap!). Eventually I found this battery plate on Amazon UK for £17 and decided to give it a try as I own several copy Sony NP- F970 batteries used for powering LED video lights. The plate comes with a mounting bracket and 2 cables. One cable fits the BMPCC 12v socket.  After a week of use I have found some positives and negatives.bmpcc_plate_01

bmpcc_plate_02
On the positive side the plate has powered my BMPCC for nearly 4 hours on 1 battery. This time may be longer but I was finished for the day. This was not continuous shooting like a concert or event, but filming cutaways and short interviews with the camera turned on and off between locations. Previously I would have used 2-3 internal batteries in the same period. A second positive is the Sony battery also charges the internal battery and the LCD confirms this with the blue charging icon.

bmpcc_plate_close01

On to the negative side of the plate. When the internal battery is not installed, the BMPCC battery meter permanently reads 100% and does not change – ever! On my first outing with the plate shooting BTS footage at a seminar, the camera suddenly switched off with no warning even though it read 100%. After a bit of research online I found a solution. If I put an internal battery in the BMPCC and insert a Sony battery in the plate plate after turning on the BMPCC (this order is important!) the battery power % changes when power begins to drop or when charging the internal battery.

All in all its been a good cheap solution for giving longer battery life to this great little camera. The last thing I want to do is find a better mounting solution for the plate as I can no longer mount my RODE VideoMic Go.

 

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Drew Curran

Director at Pixol
Drew is a filmmaker and designer and the founder of Pixol. Pixol produces corporate and commercial promotional films as well as graphic design and print for clients across the UK and Ireland. Drew is also a freelance cameraman and video editor for other production companies as well as a self-confessed camera nerd.
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