(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best camera & camcorder batteries & chargers

Okay! With those parameters, assets, and budget, you have two good options.

The first, and probably easiest, will be doing exactly what /u/MacintoshEddie has suggested and throwing $400 at a local filmmaker and seeing what they can do with your well developed idea.

The second is, in my opinion, more fun, but it'll also require you to learn a little about filmmaking yourself.

The good news is, you already have most of the tools you need to create a "my first documentary" video and do it well. The camera on the iPhone 7 is better than any camera you're going to purchase below $200, and if you drop a couple bucks on a tripod and iphone adapter you're going to be set.

The biggest downside for you will be audio. Audio is the thing most fresh-faced filmmakers overlook, but it's just as-- if not more-- important as video quality. The onboard microphone in the iPhone is oooookay, but if you're more than 3 feet away from your subject, it'll get dicey. And unfortunately, this is the only place the iPhone falls short of a $250 Canon t2i.

Traditionally, there are two ways to do audio: in-camera and synced. In camera is when the audio and video are recorded together inside whatever camera you're using. This is a little tricky for the iPhone, because it's harder to attach a decent microphone. There are ways, but I'm not fluent in them. If this were a DSLR like the t2i mentioned above, I'd suggest you drop $150 for a Rode Videomic and call it a day. Since that's not an option (that I know of-- there might be a 3.5mm microphone jack adapter for the iPhone 7!), we need to look at the second audio solution: synced.

Synced audio is when you record the audio and video separately, and then synchronize them in post production. First off, post production is a fancy way of saying "editing the video." For professionals, there's a whole lot more than just editing, but for you, this'll be when you're bringing the footage onto your macbook and likely editing in iMovie.

For synced audio, the best option will be purchasing an $85 Tascam DR-05, a cheap microphone boom stand, and this adapter. Attach the DR-05 to the boom, throw something heavy on the base of the stand, and you'll have a good setup to capture audio for interviews and stationary events. However, you will need to "slate" each shot.

A slate is that black and white clapper board you see whenever film is depicted in media. It's purpose to to create a spike in the sound, as well as a visual indicator, so whoever is editing the footage can synchronize the audio and video. You can get away without a slate by simply clapping your hands in front of the camera.

If you go this route, I would suggest ONLY trying to do audio for interviews, and maybe stationary events where your camera won't move around. The audio captured on your iphone for "action" shots or "in the wild" shots will be okay as long as you have decent quality audio for the interviews. This will also save you time while editing, because syncing audio is a pain in the butt.

Now, if you haven't been scared away yet, and still want to spend a little money to make those interviews look extra-sexy, imma talk about some of my favorite lights on the market right now.

I've thrown together a $180 light kit for you that'll help you light your subjects in most lighting conditions. I use the YN600 Air for a key light (main light), and the YN300 for a fill light (remove unwanted shadows, dark background, etc). They're not as bright as some other LED options, but you won't need to worry about modifying the light at all. The YN Air series does a wonderful job of creating a nice, soft lightsource that won't screw with skintones or create harsh shadows. I've also thrown in two good stands that include a bag, and two power adapters to run the lights. If you want, you can spend an extra $60 on NPF batteries and chargers (I'd suggest these and then these ) to make the lights completely mobile). In addition to being excellent video lights, I've found I also keep my 300 set up in my room as a evening reading lamp!

Obviously, the lighting isn't necessary, but I promise you it'd be worth the investment when it comes to the final quality of your video. Both have an extremely easy learning curve, produce excellent results without needing to set up screens of diffuse, and their size makes them an afterthought when traveling.

So now that you're overwhelmed with all that info, let me recap!

Option 1) Have someone else do it!
Pros: You need to learn less, less stressful, less time spent on your end
Cons: Limited scheduling flexibility, $400 won't secure someone for months-on-end

Option 2) Do it yourself!
Pros: Complete control over the final product, working on your own time without worrying about other people, and new toys!
Cons: way more work, way more learning

Overall, you have two solid options to make this work. You could even combine the two: get the tripod and grab "on site" shots while paying someone else to produce your interviews. You'd still be up for editing, but you wouldn't have to worry about the nicer quality audio/syncing. With either option, you're going to end up being the producer/director of this video, which means you'll be doing the scheduling and coordinating, as well as creating the idea and communicating it exactly to everyone else you're working with.

Even though this may all seem really overwhelming right now, the best way to get the documentary done is to simply start working on it. Write up a summary of your vision, start asking around, and trust yourself to create something good. This subreddit is an excellent resource, as well as plenty of youtube channels and other forums out there. Additionally, if you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to shoot me a message. :)

I recently went on a once in a lifetime trip to France for two weeks, so hopefully I can provide some helpful advice/insight.

First, and I cannot stress this enough, have enough memory! I'd recommend bringing at least 16GB, if not more.
I brought two 8GB cards to France and transfered them to my computer each night. I never used the second card, however, if I wouldn't have had the luxury of transferring to a laptop each night, I would have quickly exceeded this.
If you are able to bring a computer or other means by which to back up your photos, I'd STRONGLY recommend it. It's great peace of mind to not have to worry about losing pictures or running out of room.

Second, DO NOT use the Auto mode, that just makes your DSLR a big point and shoot. A lot of people recommend using M(anual), but it can be a little overwhelming if you're not used to your camera. The Av (Aperture Priority) mode is great because it allows you to select the aperture value you want (which will effect what's in focus and Depth of Field) while automatically determining the rest. Constipated_Help gave you some very sound advice on exposure, so follow that if you're able.

Third, make sure you have the right accessories. A tripod would be great for landscape shots. The Dolica Proline is a great value at 40$. At least one extra battery would be good to have, especially if you will not be able to recharge during the trip. An Opteka t2i battery can be had for 12$, and works with your Canon charger.

If you can swing it, a new lens would be good to have since the lens is the determining factor of image quality. If you like to "zoom" and isolate subjects, you'll want a telephoto. The Canon 55-250 IS is a great deal at 240$. If you like wide angle, you'll need an ultra wide. These will typically run above 400$. I have a Tokina 11-16 and I am very pleased. As others have recommended, the Canon 50 1.8 is an incredible deal at 100$ and provides creative options with it's wide aperture.
A nice bag is also a good thing to have. You can buy either a messenger style, a holster or a backpack. Filters would also be nice, but they're not a necessity.

I hope this can help. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'd be glad to (try to) help! :)

The most important accessory that you can get for any mirrorless camera is a couple of extra batteries. The X100T is supposed to have better battery life than previous cameras in the series, but it's still a good idea to have at least a back-up battery -- maybe more, especially if travelling.

I have these: http://www.amazon.com/Wasabi-Power-Battery-Charger-Fujifilm/dp/B005CRHM5C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411507057&sr=8-1&keywords=wasabi+power+x100s (Not sure if X100T uses the same battery as my X100s).

Some things that are ergonomically helpful are add-on grips, such as the lensmate: http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-X100S-Thumb-Lensmate-Silver/dp/B00E259GCC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411507115&sr=8-1&keywords=thumbs+up+x100s , though I use a knock-off: http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER-Thumbs-TU-100S-Camera-Sliver/dp/B00C9UROH6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1411507115&sr=8-5&keywords=thumbs+up+x100s , and it works fine. Another ergonomics helper is a soft shutter release button (the shutter button on the camera is an old-school threaded one), there are tons of these on the market, again I went with a knock-off ( http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JCJO5QU/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1411507202&sr=1&keywords=soft+shutter+release ) and it's fine.

As far as the hood / filter-adapter, I would recommend buying this. I don't really care for the lens hood (though it does cut flare) but instead use the filter adapter and a B+W MRC UV filter. I've never used UV filters on digital before, and still don't on my interchangeable-lens cameras, but being that this is a fixed lens camera and I'm pretty rough on it, I just use the filter and toss it in bags without a lens cap or anything and it's just fine.

A different strap may be good, it's all personal preference. I use a leica non-slip strap and it's great.

Here is a nice neoprene case that will snugly fit the X100s for carry inside some kind of other bag: http://www.amazon.com/OP-TECH-USA-Digital-D-Compact/dp/B0001TSSM2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1411507453&sr=1-2&keywords=op+tech+compact

Fuji makes wide/tele converter lenses for 28mm and 50mm equivilent perspectives. They are supposedly very good but I haven't used them.


Other than that, it's all in what you want to shoot. filters and tripods might be nice for landscape shooters, lighting gear is nice for portrait shooters. Just like any other camera, really.


If you're new to photography, I would recommend picking up some books -- start with Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson and The Photographer's Eye by Michael Freeman. A book about the X100T specifically would be helpful too -- they are sure to come out soon.

I love this v-mount battery plate:

HEDBOX | Unix-BM | V Mount/Lock Battery Adapter Plate, with 1x USB 5V/2.1A and 3X D-Tap 14.8V/148W Power Out, Regulated 12V/50W Power via 20in/50cm Breakaway Cable with 2-Pin Connector for BMPCC 4K https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K1M23QN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_C5tADbDQHV0EM

It has 3 D-Taps and one USB port (powering a small monitor) and it comes with the 2-Pin connector cable that plugs right into the BMPCC4K!

You will need to mount it onto a plate on your rig. I got this camvate and it mounts perfectly but there are others.

CAMVATE Multi-Purpose Mounting Cheese Plate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071YTFZ88/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_99tADbVK192QQ

Finally if you want to save a little money on vmount batteries you can use this alternative until you save up for a good v-mount:

This $20 v-mount adapter attaches the Hedbox to give you the option to use NPF batteries.

Neewer NP-F Battery to V-Mount Battery Converter Adapter for LED Light, Field Monitor, 5D2 Rigs, Alternative Battery Option for Sony V-Mount Gear, Fits for 2-Pack Sony NP-F970, NP-F770,NP-F570 Battery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075R8DMKF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_m6tADbQCDAHW2

And you can buy 2 NPF 970s for $35

NP F975, NP F970, NP F960, NP F950 2X Replacement Li-ion for Sony DCM-M1 MVC-CD1000 HDR-FX1 DCR-VX2100E DSR-PD190P NEX-FS700RH HXR-NX3 (Dual Battery) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J7S0VNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_F.tADbW4H2N5V

Cheap $16 NPF dual charger:

Powerextra Dual Battery Charger with USB LCD Display for Sony NP-F970 NP-F930 NP-F950 NP-F960 Battery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G7MJKRP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yguADbDG636AC

$27 dual charger with LED:

SR SUN ROOM NEW Dual Channel LCD Display Charger For Sony NP-F550 NP-F570 NP-F750 NP-F770 NP-F930 NP-F950 NP-F960 NP-F970 NP-FM55H NP-FM500H NP-QM71 NP-QM91 NP-QM71D NP-QM91D Camcorder Batteries https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CG7P4YQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EfuADbN81BWDN

I run this setup and it works GREAT!

FS7 is a good camera with industry familiarity, but I would check out the Panasonic EVA-1. It does everything the FS7 can do pretty much (except internal 4k60fps 10-bit, it's limited to 8-bit), has better colors (especially with skintones), and is much more lightweight. I just bought it myself over the FS7 because I like the image better and I travel a lot. So far it's been a great camera for me.

Since the FS7 has been out for awhile, check out SmallRig for some accessories. They are a pretty impressive company that makes quality products at a fraction of the price of what Zacuto charges. They have a TON of stuff for the FS7.

That's a nice tripod but if you are going to stick with 75mm ball, you should get this combo with the FSB 8 instead. It'll give you the better stability and more drag. I just got off my first shoot with that exact same combo and it was a very pleasant experience. Tripods are a life purchase, so why not splurge here?

I own a few Dracast V-Mount batteries and can attest for their build quality over the years. However, the 90wh is simply not enough for a camera with accessories. I recently picked up a few MaxOak V-Mount batteries, which are 177wh and even have a USB out. However if you plan on flying, I'd stick with batteries that have 90wh.

Fujinon is absolutely killing it with the zoom lenses, it's a great choice. Maybe consider getting PL mount to future-proof yourself. Also I think you can get a full-frame look with a speedbooster that way, too.

That lightkit looks a bit weak. You'll need a softbox at least and maybe some panels. The Aputure 300d has my attention, personally. I'd build a kit around that if I was starting from scratch.

If I have any advice it would be to have good casing for everything. Design your cases in a way that an idiot can pack your bag for you. That way, when you have an intern (or a nice client even).

It's a great kit and you are going to kick some ass!

u/fuckmattdamon - with a $2000 budget for events and short films, I recommend an actual video/cinema camera such as the $1295 BMPCC4K plus a $359.99 16mm T2.2 Meike Cinema Lens instead of a still camera adapted for video.

Here is my inexpensive solution for adding external power and storage to the BMPCC4K.

Parts list [Referrals]:

• SSD is the 500GB Samsung T5
  
• Samsung T5 SSD mount is a $6.59 SmallRig 761 cold shoe swivel mount plus a $7.40 tripod adapter for small smartphones
  
• Grip is a $13.99 Photography & Cinema Pistol Grip
  
• Power comes from a $19 SmallRig 1765 NP-F Battery Plate attached to the pistol grip with a $5.99 SmallRig 828 1/4"-20 double male screw and plugged into the camera with a $24.99 Kondor Blue 5.5mmx2.5mm to Weipu power adapter cable
  
• You'll also need at least two NP-F batteries and a dual charger
  
  And here are a few examples of the image quality this camera can produce:
  
  Short Films and Documentaries
  
  
• BMPCC 4K BRAW Strandead (Short Film) - Filmed with Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K by Animus Mentis Studio (4K)
  
• What’s Left of the West - Short Film by Dave Hill (4K)
  
• Lost Generation - Blackmagicdesign Pocket Cinema Camera 4K by Directorsduo Kratzin & Schlierf (4K - CinemaDNG RAW)
  
• "Letter" BlackMagic Pocket Cinema 4K Short Film by SkyVista Productions (2160p)
  
• BMPCC 4K Cinematic Short Film | "The Fable of the Bees" by Luke Neumann (2160p)
  
• “TONAL” - Short film using Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - ECTQ 2018 by Grégory PERSON(1080p)
  
• Awaken / Story in the Pocket by Y3Cubic (1080p)
  
• The Record Player - Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K by Mick Vogels (4K)
  
• HUMMING BIRD III by Walt Lovelace (1080p - shot with the BMPCC 4K and a DJI Mavic drone)
  
• THE DHOW by Jud Nichols (4K)
  
• Film is not dead. BMPCC 4K by Sid Maderazo (4K)
  
• A Life From the Ocean by Two Story (4K)
  
• “The World On A String” short film shot on BMPCC4k by BMPCC4k.tech (1080p)
  
• “Take Flight” - Blackmagic Pocket 4K by Yonder Blue Films (4K - BTS here)
  
• Navigating Your 20's | BMPCC 4K by Laura Dishno (2160p)
  
  Music Videos
  
  
• Scene from "Be the Sun" BMPCC4k Raw Cinema DNG 4:1 by SkyVista Productions (2160p)
  
• [BMPCC 4K] Freddie Fred Don't Fret - ICED TEA (Official Video) by 만 시네마Mann Cinema (2160p)
  
• B.Cloy - Favorite Song | Blackmagic Pocket 4k Music video by Matt Tullo (2160p)
  
  Travel video
  
  
• bmpcc 4k cinematic travel film -Kuala Lumpur by Jeff An (2160p)
  
• The Stranger in Chiang mai / BMPCC 4K by GABWORKS (4K)
  
  Product Video
  
  
• Galatea Award Pendant - (BMPCC 4K) by Sang (2160p)
  
  Commercials and Promos
  
  
• Sambrook’s Brewery Christmas Commercial BMPCC 4K (short version) by Jose Prada (4K)
  
• Splash 25 fashion show backstage. Shot on Bmpcc 4k by Marvin Beig (1080p)
  
• Blackmagic Pocket 4k - Photoshoot BTS by Richie Blasco (1080p)
  
• BMPCC 4K CHROMA KEY by Shamsheed Sobha for Creative Worldwide Agency (1080p)
  
  Wedding Video
  
  
• Teaser: Fabrizio & Omayra / Elopement in Norway (shot on BMPCC4K) (4K )
  
• Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 4k Wedding | Mia and Michael by Roey Yadgar Films (4K)
  
  This camera will give you the widest dynamic range and deepest color palette in this price class. I've shot with the Pocket 4K, and it is a great value for the money.
  
  If you decide to get the BMPCC 4K, you might want to subscribe over at r/bmpcc and r/blackmagicdesign- lots of knowledgeable folks there who can help you get the most out of your new camera.
  
  Hope this is helpful and good luck with finding the right camera for your needs!

I've had great success with the Anker 2nd Gen Astro Pro. At 15000mAh, it's truly an all-day battery. And it should be, as 15000mAh is nearly 19 times the stock battery, and over 12 x the Wasabi Power EN-EL20 aftermarket batteries that I also use. Upon receiving the Anker, I ran the BMPCC for a 7-hour bench test before deciding "that's good enough", and turning it off to go to bed - ha! I've also taken it on several shoots, and never had to worry about how long I left the camera on. The only fiddly bit is that you still need to rely on a a non-locking barrel connector (I had previously wired up my own adapter from parts), and that doesn't make for the most reliable connection. But, if you keep an internal batt in the cam at all times, you're protected.

The Anker's also big and flat, making it less than optimal for rigging. I used it at the back of a DIY run-n-gun rig, but I'd like to have a smaller option for more stripped-down scenarios.

I had a few Sony NP-F style batteries, and hoped that at 7.4v they might run the BMPCC with an inexpensive battery plate, but no such luck. If you want to use NP batts, which are a great, small form factor, you need a battery holder that steps up the voltage to 12v. Ikan makes one they charge up the nose for.

Hey... not too much to ask at all -

​

Here are the links to the battery mount and cable I am using. Here is the one similar on Amazon that has the correct cable attached but this is not the setup I have.

​

Here is the smallrig mount that is on the Crane 2 that my battery mount is attached to.

​

I have also mounted this SSD case directly on the crane 2 under the camera and it works perfectly since the ssd and crane move together so you can use a short USB-C cable.

​

Hopefully that helps. Good luck setting your up. I'm loving it!

Amp Hours (Ah) is not a cross platform measurement of capacity. 5Ah for your phone is likely at a different voltage than the 2.6Ah LPe6 battery.

Amps*Volts=Watts

Watt hours is a true measurement of capacity because you can extrapolate the amps and volts.

What I use is an NPf 970 battery on a Blindspot plate with a 12v dc out to weipu 2 pin cable.

Companies get cute with what they quote as the "MAh capacity" of a given battery, but the Sony standard for a 970 battery is 6600MAh at 7.4v I believe, which is 48.84 Wh. I haven't really seen truly higher capacities than that despite what manufacturers say.

The Pocket 4k draws *roughly* ~25Wh of power (from my tests), depending on screen brightness, codec, frame rate, and attached accessories. So one of those batteries gets you perhaps up to 2 hours if you're lucky. If you need endurance longer than that, I HIGHLY recommend getting a VMount or Gold Mount battery instead of a battery bank, because it will allow you to expand to other cameras and lights in the future and they will provide much more power. You can get VMount batteries that go up to roughly 100Wh. These are professional cinema batteries the industry standard.


NPF batteries allow you to power other things like lights and monitors as well, plus they are small enough to gimbal mount or go handheld if you need to. Banks and VMount will be larger and heavier. That is why I chose NPF.

I use:

Battery (DSTE and Powerextra have been fine for me):https://www.amazon.com/DSTE-Replacement-MVC-CD1000-DCR-VX2100E-NEX-FS700RH/dp/B00M3P9YBQ/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=npf970&qid=1572497795&sr=8-3

Plate:
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Junkie-NP-F-Blind-Spot/dp/B07NF14XW4/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=blindspot+npf&qid=1572498095&sr=8-3

Cable:
https://www.amazon.com/KONDOR-BLUE-Adapter-Juicebox-Blackmagic/dp/B07Y5S6S86/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=pocket+cinema+4k+power+cable&qid=1572498113&sr=8-7

They come with 2 non-rechargable cr123s. I'm not too confident on rechargeable options, but I know that whatever charger you're going to get needs to be able to adjust to correct voltage of batteries and protect against overcharging.


NITECORE i4 (New 2014 version) Intellicharge universal smart battery Charger For Li-ion / IMR / Ni-MH/ Ni-Cd 26650 22650 18650 18490 18350 17670 17500 17335 16340 RCR123 14500 10440 AA AAA AAAA C types with Ac and 12V DC (Car) power cords, 2 X EdisonBright AA to D type battery spacer/converters https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KBGDK8M/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_20zyub109G7SE

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EDIT: here's a link to some batteries - 12Pcs Tenergy Propel CR123A Lithium Battery with PTC Protected https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003EOMVX8/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_04zyub066SV4Q

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Also, another commonly recommended flashlight on this sub is olight's s10 or s20. Similar specs as 47s, but a little cheaper with a different button layout and UI that people seem to like... I've never owned one myself (don't like the side button), so I can't give any more details on it. This one doesn't come with batteries though Olight S20 Baton LED Flashlight 470 Lumens - Use Two CR123A or One 18650 Battery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AJNSL5O/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_v8zyub125ZVNP

--

Bonus for this light is that it can fit an 18650 battery, which will last a very long time.

I've used power extra and Opteka and Wasabi power

Initially they'll all perform the same as the OEM battery but wont last more than a year or two depending on how often you use them.

I'd go with wasabi they have reasonable brand recognition. Pretty popular 3rd party gopro battery supplier. Probably lasts longer than the other lesser known brands but I managed to loose my wasabi battery so I can't vouch for it's longevity.

Still better than buying a bunch of Canon batteries if you're going to be going through a bunch of them in a day.

But if you just need an extra battery you might want to just invest in the Canon branded one since it will last for years.

Since I usually just use my t3i for Macro stuff in a more studio-ish environment. This is a life saver. highly recommend you get one if you use your camera indoors and on a tripod often.

The Altatac store on eBay has the Hero 3+ Black w/remote on sale for $350 periodically. I got mine from them and its a 100% genuine unit.

Quality memory cards are the must have accessory. I use all Sandisk Ultra/Extreme cards. Be careful where you buy these from, lots of knockoffs online. The couple geniune GoPro accessories you'll want to buy are the Suction Cup and Chest Mount. The chest rig will also get you pretty good hiking footage.

As for batteries, I put in an order for the Wasabi Power 2 Pack they have on Amazon. Pretty good reviews, mine are coming in this week.

Like other users said, the app is sufficient for setting up shots and adjusting settings. I use the Android app and don't own the LCD back.

Hey u/Zak, late reply, but how do these Tenergy's look?

[Amazon(https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B003EOMVX8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2AOMP7GTQZFW0&psc=1)

[They're available on Fenix-Store and have good review there(http://www.fenix-store.com/cr123a-tenergy-propel-3v-w-ptc-lithium-battery/)

I can't seem to find much info about them online, other than this review which detracts me from purchasing:
CPF Review


Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

I'm not a dashcam expert, but dashcams are typically powered through the cigarette lighter, and are made to shut off when the car shuts off. They have a tiny battery or capacitor that is designed to only last 30 seconds to 3 minutes after the car shuts off. It sounds like you want night-long survaillance so the typical dashcam setup wont work.

There are battery packs for dashcams, but they can cost up to $300. Shit's overpriced. I found a better solution: Make sure you get a dashcam that is powered via USB (most of them), Ditch the 12v adapter that comes with the dashcam, get a 12v USB adapter, a generic powerbank(just make sure it has a seperate port for charging than for discharging), and a long USB cable.
The power bank will charge and power the dashcam when the car is on, and power the dashcam when the car is off. And in this particular example, the powerbank lasts 3-5x longer than actual dashcam batteries.

Power Magic Pro is not a battery pack. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong as I don't have a dashcam myself (yet).

The Power Magic Pro is a energy management system. It cuts off power to your dashcam when your CAR's battery reaches a point that you program it.

 

I believe right now, the most wide used and trusted external battery source is the Cellink Battery B. The way this works (from what I've learned) is that you wire this to your fuse box and it can get a full charge in 4 hours of driving. A full charge is worth about 24 hours of constant recording. You hook your dashcam to the battery and it can detect when you're driving so it'll use the power generated from the alternator. When you turn off the car, it'll use the power from the battery pack.

 

Pretty hefty price to pay. Most people tend to get these battery packs if they want a dashcam with a good parking mode and to protect your vehicle's battery. I personally want to get that battery park and BlackSys CH-100b or the new CH-200. But I drive an 07 Corolla that still has manual door locks and hand crank windows. I don't know if such a big investment is a good idea for that car. I should get a dashcam of some sort regardless though since I only have liability.

so I have one of these. and I just bought one of these. The camera doesnt last long on it's own batteries and I'm trying to power it to do a good 12 hour time lapse for a project I'm working on for a show. The anker battery should be able to run the Sony camera for that long but I'm trying to be good with my cable management and keep my connector cable length nice and shorter. I have Deans connectors for all my drone shit but I power some lights and other things off of my Anker batteries so I would rather standardize with that. Any ways... Also just want to make some DC cables as well and mod other things to work with the battery but I find that all the female connectors are flimsy and shitty but I did find a guy who had nickle plated female connectors and they where great.

Any ways thanks for the help

Easy, get something like this and connect it with a standard audio cable to this, or do the job of both with this.

Use something like this to power that, and you have yourself a portable stereo system, that you can attach any passive bookshelf speakers to. It would be easy to attach that equipment inside a wooden/plastic box, and create a mechanism of sorts to clip or strap down the speakers, so you have an easy to carry package.

When done with portable use, detach the speakers, carry them over to your 5.1 setup in the living room or whatever, and place/reconnect them for use there.

• A suction cup mount is great to mount your GoPro inside and outside of your car. Just make sure to tether it when it's outside. I'd recommend the [GoPro suction cup] (http://amzn.com/B00F19Q7YI)
  
  
• There are a lot of great tripods out there. I have a Slik tripod that I have used with my GoPro and it's great. It's fairly compact and not too heavy. [Slik Tripod] (http://amzn.com/B000HZH6W8)
  
  
• Yeah the battery life isn't great on GoPros. I'm not sure which generation you're planning on buying but if you're going with a 3+, you can get the [Brunton All Day power pack] (http://amzn.com/B00LUKNM5E). If you're going with a Hero 4, the Brunton won't work with those so you could get a [GoPro Battery Bacpac] (http://amzn.com/B00NIYJFRO).
  
  
• You can plug a USB cable into your GoPro while recording. You won't be able to do that with the regular housing though so you'll need [the frame] (http://shop.gopro.com/mounts/the-frame/ANDFR-302.html#/start=1) or the [Skeleton Housing] (http://shop.gopro.com/accessories/skeleton-housing/AHSSK-301.html#/start=1)
  
  
• Always tether. ALWAYS!
  
  
  

How many batteries/SD cards does everyone have?

I've just gotten into the GoPro scene and started with a 64GB and 32GB SD card and it feels like I have to pull the video off the cards each day. It's very easy for me to go hiking for 4+ hours and fill up the 64GB card and start to eat into the 32GB card. Then in the evening, I need to spend half an hour downloading the video to a computer or else I'll have no space to shoot the next day. Even something as simple as biking to work eats an hour of footage and fills up a good part of the 32GB card.

I'm looking at a pair of 64GB or a single 128GB card to allow 2-3 days of heavy shooting without having to spend time to download the footage off the cards.

On the battery front, I have 3 batteries and seem to be doing ok. Three Batteries gives me ~4-6 hours of 1080p footage which is the limit of my SD cards. My main issue here is charging them up at night because I can only charge in the GoPro and a 2 battery Wasabi charger which eats up a ton of USB ports.

A Smatree 3 battery charger and 3 batteries seem like a good investment to give me breathing room if I forget to charge up the batteries for one night.

Edit/Update: Picked up the Smatee 3 batteries and battery charger, a GoPro Bacpac, and a 128GB Lexar 633x Micro SD Card.

Congratulations. Treat yourself and your camera
to make an X100T really rock, and be an extension of your arm get yourself a thumgrip and a wrist strap. I wont sugar coat if for you. you want a Lensmate thumb grip....which costs an astounding $60. yup, trust me on this. You also want a Gordy's wrist strap. a bit cheaper there. not only are these outstanding accessories, they also make your camera look cool. Oh, love my Fuji but he battery charger is probably going to break. Get this. wall charger, with car and European adapter plus 2 extra batteries. you will need those too. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CRHM5C?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

It's definitely possible, ESPECIALLY if you're willing to buy refurbished.

Canon 60D

Canon 70-300mm IS USM

meFOTO tripod

SanDisk 16GB memory card

Camera bag

2 extra batteries and an extra wall charger/car charger

Lens Pen (to clean your lenses)

Rocket blower (to clean your camera)

Done. All under $1500 (when I did the math it came out to ~$1400 for all of this). And you can even buy a cheaper bag or use one you already own if you so choose. Or a different brand of tripod. I just chose that one because it can fold up compact and it's pretty light so it's easy to travel with.

Apart from the beard trimmer, just buy a good USB charger. You can buy the Apple iPad charger and the world travel kit, and only bring the 2 adapters you'll need on your trip. Cheap, good USB cables from Anker or Monoprice. I replaced my DSLR charger with this guy. Much smaller, works great, and takes USB.

I purchased a 7 inch unit with a 'Feelworld' sticker on it for $135 and it works surprisingly well. I also bought some batteries (Sony L series) and a charger as well as a magic arm and a carrying case. I am very pleased with it and the only gripe I have with it is that the power button is more like a standby button. I have to remember to pop the battery out so I don't end up with it being dead.

Here's some links:
Magic arm - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QTIVL82/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8

Clamp - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01CM5SNY0/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Case - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0196JV89C/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Huge battery (one last all day about) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00M3P9YBQ/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Inexpensive HDMI cable - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B014I8SIJY/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Smaller batteries and charger - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CPYXQ2S/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And finally, the monitor - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00SV5K9WA/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Let me know ow if you have any questions!

Yes, you'll want to pick up a few decent memory cards. I'd run into issues with some of my old cards which I had no idea were too slow and my video was randomly shutting off without me knowing. I personally recommend SanDisk Extreme Pro cards which are about as fast as you can go for SD cards that your camera supports. Ever since switching, I no longer had any video issues.

As far as batteries are concerned, unless you're doing a ton of video you'd be surprised how long a single battery will last. My 60D was able to shoot a day-long even with over 1000 shots and it still had a good amount of juice in it. If you want extras, you effectively have two options: official Canon batteries which are expensive, or cheaper 3rd party batteries which aren't nearly as pricey. Personally I buy 3rd party Wasabi Power batteries and of the 7 I've purchased, only one has ever failed me and I suspect bringing the camera into some extreme cold this past winter might have had an impact on that. Even so, for the price of one Canon battery I can get four Wasabi Power, so I generally just go that route.

2 cams is a must. Forget an fs7, that's overkill and it's going to eat your budget-- I would rent a gh5. It will match your g80 very well (use cine-d) and it has dual card slots.

Shoot 4k on both cameras, and occasionally punch in on them in post to effectively have 4+ POVs in 1080p.

Also, sound is going to be your biggest issue. Ideally, you can plug in a field recorder into the soundboard and get as clean a signal as possible, from the source.

If I were in your shoes, I would rent/buy:

gh5 (rental)-- $50-$100

Tascam dr-o5/Zoom h1 recorder (rental) -- $15-$30

Male/male 3.5mm jack (buy) -- $10

x4 128gb SD (buy) -- $200

x1 64gb micro-sd (for the audio, doesn't need to be fancy) -- $20-$30

x2 Panasonic Dummy batteries (buy) -- $50

x2 Tripods (borrow?)

X1 Lumix 42.5mm f1.7 (rental) -- $30-$50

With those things, you can make it work well.

Gonna be trying this with: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0083EQS3I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Definitely seems like the way to go! thanks!

Love my Surefire, I use these and they work just as well as the brand name batteries and for a fraction of the price.

12 pack

40 pack

I just searched Amazon for "Canon 80D power adapter" and found a few 3rd party options that I never tried before and unsure if they actually work. But something like this looks like a possible solution.

Overheating depends on the camera, on a Canon 7D it will overheat after a while but I can run constant video from my 5D Mark II's and Mark III's for hours. Easy to try, just turn on the video liveview mode at home, and see how long before the camera turns off by itself.

That article from Planet 5D which /u/kickstand linked is what I used to get started as well, worked for me when I needed it and I streamed video to a ustream.tv channel that people were able to log in to.

I use the ACK-E6AC adapter to plug my Canon's into the wall when I stream so I don't have to worry about power issues. This adapter works for any LP-E6 battery so just get the right one for your camera. http://www.amazon.com/Canon-ACK-E6AC-Adapter-Mark-Digital/dp/B001KBZ3PK/

I use this cheap Chinese charger from Amazon.

Though, I really wanted this Nitecore charger.

There is not much actual difference. Nitecore is just a name that I trust more.

Each brand makes dual USB chargers for different camera batteries. They charge a wee bit slower, but they're effective.

There is nothing wrong with buying off-brand batteries as long as they're made to the appropriate specifications (which, they are--they wouldn't stay in business if they burned out themselves or cameras).

What's the difference between dtap and ptap? I have several of these batteries.

I need something like this, right?

The idea is to use the battery weight at the bottom rather than have it at the top and have to put even more weight on the bottom.

Thanks for the response!

So you're going to need an A/C adapter.

The one I use

Canon official

You need a mini HDMI cable. I purchased this adapter so my screen isn't completely covered and I can use any HDMI cable I have laying around.

That plugs into an Elgato Cam Link but any capture card should work.

Make sure the camera is set to video mode. I'm not at the camera now so I can't get you my exact settings but disable any auto shutoff and HDMI interface. There is no way to disable the side screen from shutting off after 30 minutes max.

Bonus: I've got it clamped to the back of my monitor with this mount.

I have had good luck with the following items. I am getting around 4 hours out of it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M189SS0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006733DB2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FEU8YEE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This. This is the easiest/cheapest way to go. This plate and take your pick of battery capacity from this brand, DSTE.

The NP-F 970s last about 3-4 hours depending on conditions and the much smaller NP-F 550s last over an hour, up to 2, again, depending on conditions.

I found using a cage for the BMPCC like this was helpful for attaching it. It’s definitely not a perfect solution but absolutely one of the cheapest. The biggest fault I’ve found would be that the Battery plate gets absolutely no feedback from the camera, so it constantly drains the battery until you physically unhook it from the plate, even when not charging/powering the camera.

I’ve also heard great things about this battery/power solution from a lot of guys who use the BMPCC and BMCC but haven’t used it myself. I can confirm that a 12v usb battery bank will also do the job, I use the same cord from my battery plate to connect it but you can order them separate simply by searching amazon for “BMPCC Cords”

get something like this, www.amazon.com/dp/B0083EQS3I/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I2QAQFXKWFOQY2

then a battery pack with dc output like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HFMUBYG/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I2DH2C7QW3L3G8 or this https://www.amazon.com/Poweradd-Pilot-Pro2-23000mAh-Smartphones/dp/B015OAJFOC/

you will probably need a wire adapter like this also since i'm not sure what comes with the battery pack. https://www.amazon.com/Valley-Enterprises-2-1mm-5-5mm-Adapter/dp/B00GPVWRRC

You could get a quick charger for some rechargable battery types that can recharge in 1 hour, but for other types of batteries you're kinda stuck with whatever the manufacturer has provided for charging.

Hopefully sometime in the near future some kind of miniaturized fuel cell technology will be perfected which can hold a charge longer, be recharged faster, and in general be more efficient. Among other things, batteries and chargers both radiate some waste heat which is just wasted energy drifting away.

I don't think so, but it depends on how often you intend to take photos. The link I sent you, I took a photo every thirty seconds for an hour. Battery life can be extended greatly by using the economy mode that turns the camera off after two seconds, I think it will turn back on for your next timed picture, but you'll have to test it. You'll have to use an external battery solution like this if the battery won't last for your entire time lapse.

I actually had an old v-plate that I had lying around and repurposed for the rig. The SmallRig v-plate should work fine, but it's a dead plate. Has no d-tap of it's own, so would need batteries with dual d-taps or a splitter.

This one I've also heard is good, but can't vouch for it first hand. Wouldn't need the cable I provided earlier either as it's built in. Do something with dedicated d-taps to make switching batteries easier (no unplugging cables form battery)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K1M23QN/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_V3NMDb2FYEKRQ

This is the shoulder wedge I have it attached to (both are vertical) in order to press into the front of my shoulder for controlled movement.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N4OZUPO/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_q6NMDbRY0D66N

So, its not as cheap as a v-mount plate. But I'd suggest getting a HEDbox V-Mount adapter for the BMPCC4K. Its a fantastic plate, and I use it currently. It has a direct power connection to the Camera itself, which allows you to keep a Battery in the camera, in case there is any sort of drop out. Not overly expensive, and a good product. It has 3 d-tap ports, and a USB port along with the power cable, so it has a lot of options to use other peripherals.

HEDBox Unix BM - $125 + 15 s&h.

SmallRig Battery Plate- $36-ish

SmallRig 15mm Mounts - $15

And of course your V-Mount Battery of Choice.

Hopefully this helps!

I Highly recommend Wasabi Batteries. They are inexpensive and might last longer than the gopro ones. For a memory card I would also recommend the Lexar 633x

Oh! I used to set it so it would shut off once the battery voltage hit 12V, but that seemed to give me some trouble starting every now and then. I set it to 12V or 6 hours and haven't had that problem since.

In all honesty the PowerMagic Pro is not the best way to do it. (Not very good for the car battery) I want to get a Cellink but I don't feel like spending the money.

I don't know, I still prefer having a separate powerbank and flashlight+headlamp than a combination for redundancy's sake.

Right now, I carry Thrunite TH10 and the TN12 with a 18650 powered powerbank.


I typically carry 8 18650 cells with me but, the headlamp/flashlight can pretty much last a whole weekend trip on one pair while the other 4 are used to charge my phone/kindle/DSLR batteries.

I just found these 1.6v Nizn I am waiting for them to arrive! My flash and point and shoot will hopefully benefit!

I've heard that these batteries are magical. In all seriousness, this seems like a good bet. If not this, V-mount all the way. This battery has served me well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RN76282/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yad-yb1X8C6K2

> Canon doesn't have an external brick that runs on it's own power?

You could get the AC adapter for your camera, which would power the WFT. OEM is $120, the third party is $20. I paid the toll and got the OEM, I'd rather not gamble with 120 volts in this situation.

is there a specific reason you are buying gopro batteries? i bought these and love them. cheaper, last almost as long (minutes shorter), comes with chargers. i see no real reason to use gopro branded batteries with these available. and they are in stock. who knows if gopro will restock the 3+ batteries.

Wouldn't this and this be easier? I actually had my frame covered in LEDs for a few years (burner style bike in default) and it did okay but I had to resolder somewhat regularly.

I fully Recommend this kit, They last pretty much as long as the OEM GoPro batteries (about 5-10 min less depending).

ninja edit= some math I had wrong so I redacted a statement.

I got this to hook directly into the intercom:
http://www.amazon.com/GoPro-Aircraft-Cable-by-Nflightcam/dp/B00GLZXCW6

But I can see how that would be an issue if you're using the USB port to charge the battery.

Looks like if you have a BacPac battery that you get an access to an extra USB cable, so maybe you could run both?

http://www.amazon.com/GoPro-Battery-BacPac-Camera-Included/dp/B00NIYJFRO/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1426285445&sr=1-3&keywords=go+pro+bacpac

Just get an NPF adapter and a couple NPF batteries. It would probably cost you around $60 and accomplish the same thing with a much smaller footprint.

https://www.amazon.com/SmallRig-Battery-Plate-Adapter-BMPCC/dp/B01EFSUK98

https://www.amazon.com/DSTE-Replacement-MVC-CD1000-DCR-VX2100E-NEX-FS700RH/dp/B00M3P9YBQ

https://www.amazon.com/Wasabi-Power-Battery-Charger-NP-F730/dp/B00FPZY0BK

One of those batteries will keep you going for several hours.

If you're savvy with electronics, there are a TON of 12v battery options out there.

If you want something ready-made, you should look at something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/TalentCell-Rechargeable-Amplifier-Multi-led-indicator/dp/B00MHNQIR2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1526141297&sr=8-5&keywords=rechargeable+12v+battery

Like this? https://www.amazon.com/Glorich-Replacement-Adapter-Cameras-Fully-Decoded/dp/B00VNJLBPK

Just get these

I use that brand for both my GoPro and my 70D. Superior to OEM batteries in both cases, at a significantly lower cost.

Get multiple batteries (Wasabi are nice aftermarket) http://www.amazon.com/Wasabi-Power-AHDBT-201-AHDBT-301-AHDBT-302/dp/B00I2VIR2M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396992006&sr=8-1&keywords=wasabi+go+pro+battery

Get a few charging blocks.

http://www.amazon.com/10000mAh-Portable-External-Smartphones-USB-charged/dp/B009USAJCC/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1396992067&sr=8-7&keywords=portable+charger

Do you want to record video every second of a 5 hour session or would a time lapse be OK? (1 photo every minute maybe)

Most cameras have a battery adapter option, basically it plugs into the camera where the battery usually fits, the other end plugs into the wall for constant power.

Unfortunately I don't know the proper search term for these adapters, here's a knockof version for Sony mirrorless https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-AC-PW20-SLT-A33L-SLT-A55V-SLT-A55VL/dp/B0083EQS3I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421608307&sr=8-2&keywords=sony+ac-pw20

I didn't learn about it until I was fine pumping but someone recommended getting a battery and taking it to the S2 to make it more portable and putting it in a tote bag. Still big and awkward but at least you're not chained to the wall.

https://www.amazon.com/TalentCell-Rechargeable-Amplifier-Multi-led-Indicator/dp/B00MHNQIR2

You need the battery wall AC adapter. They'res one on Amazon for $16

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083EQS3I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9iJ5BbM0HPJ8K

I bought these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M3P9YAC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and I have been shooting the heck out of them for a few months. No issues yet, and I have not noticed them dying faster than any of my authentic sony batteries.

edit: They take like 8 hours to charge with that charger. Just wanted to include that

I had originally purchased a 12v light strip and lithium battery pack, but the problem is that I need the battery pack to be very light.

This is because I need to fasten this on to the bottom of a longboard with Velcro, and the battery pack I got was too heavy and came off if I hit a bump. ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MHNQIR2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_WgOLAbPH8BAZ7 )

So I thought finding a 5v strip so I can use a light weight battery pack would be better

External as in Backpack?
If you looking for battery's id go with Wasabi

one of these coulde be useful

I would give this a look see http://www.amazon.com/Wasabi-Power-Battery-2-Pack-Charger/dp/B0049XGNKK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396493818&sr=8-2&keywords=canon+6d+battery

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RN76282/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The GH5 has no recording limit other than your SD cards. You may save space recording in 1080p (or lower resolution) instead of 4k and maybe picking a compressed format (quality may suffer, you will have to try and see what works for you there). To be sure that the SD cards are formatted correctly, you can format the cards from the camera the first time you use them.

As far as I know it's not possible to charge the battery while it is inside the camera, but you could use an AC adapter instead (like this one) and use your camera for hours, as it would only require you to have it plugged in. That said, the battery in my camera lasts way more than an hour so you may not need any adapter.

Sure. I'm talking about this kind of battery: https://www.amazon.com/MAXOAK-12000mAh-Battery-Camera-Camcorder/dp/B00RN76282/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1518431268&sr=8-5&keywords=V.BATTERY

12000mAh it's about 3x a normal battery. The problem is: You need a converter from V-Bat to your laptopcharger. But it shouldn't be a great issue, i assume it is not hard to adap V-Bat to any kind of connector. You already can found a lot of it:
https://www.amazon.com/SOONWELL-Mounting-Splitter-Battery-Adapter/dp/B01M6552K7/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1518431500&sr=1-2&keywords=V.BATTERY+7D

I recently went to Portugal for 12 days and managed to go through it without charging my accus. I took 3 with me - original and 2 Wasabi batteries. I wasn't constantly shooting - I was turning it off and on.

http://www.amazon.com/Wasabi-Power-AHDBT-201-AHDBT-301-AHDBT-302/dp/B00I2VIR2M

Something like this - USB charger charges 2 batteries at the time, but I'm not sure if solar panels will be able to generate over 3 amps. Check it. Other than that - keep them close to body in a ziplock plastic bag. You can throw in some silica gel bags http://www.ebay.com/gds/Using-Silica-Gel-and-Desiccants-/10000000000898409/g.html


Disclaimer - I never took my gopro to as harsh environment as Himalayas. Maybe try to find on youtube/vimeo people who actually went there and used GoPro.