Picking a camera

[Craig Seeman]

Panasonic lens should be fine. It's a very sharp lens. While features are often shot on s35 there have been features and independent films shot on s16 that look fine on theatrical screens.

I already explained Nikon on Speed Booster. The Sigma 18-35 is a very good sharp lens.

[Carlos E. Martinez]

The most famous feature shot in Super16 was Leaving Las Vegas. If I'm not wrong it was shot with Panavision cameras and Canon zoom. Things are very critical when using such a small size sensor, and lenses have to be very well designed.

Please allow me to ask further more about the Speed Booster adapter: how does it work, what it does, how it manages to change cropping ratio and reduce minimum stop.

BTW, I found what seems to be an interesting wide angle lenses comparison for the BMCC, which I find could be applied on the Pocket too:

Wide Angle Lenses Compared on the Blackmagic Cinema Camera No Film School

[Thomas Wong]

[QUOTE=Carlos E. Martinez;1825405]
I've seen a YouTube review of the Switronix, and I found it rather rough. Maybe there are other better options using the Sony L battery.
/QUOTE]

I have the ikan battery adaptor using Sony L Battery. I found it soso, I am going to return to B&H and get a switronix one.

I am using NP-F970 6300mAh, it gives me about 2 hours of recording time. And it doesn't seem to charge the internal battery because the icon doesn't show charging, but 100% all the time.

The battery plate is very tight, it is very hard to eject or insert a battery

[Carlos E. Martinez]

According to the Switronix review, the batteries do not lock on the adapter, and they might unplug from their position.

For now it seems that Pocket accessories are rarely mentioned as a type in B&H and others. Lenses, for instance, which have long list on Canon or Panasonic, are not even mentioned. Maybe because it's still a new product?

Cages for the Pocket there are several apparently, at least 4 that I saw.

Going back to the Switronix, I wonder if the height it adds is the same as the spacers most matte-box need above them for the Pocket. The battery adapter also blocks release of the batteries and mem cards.

[Thomas Wong]

the switronix battery i mention is for BMCC, not the pocket camera

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/887730-REG/switronix_powerbase_70_battery_pack.html

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Oh, that's very nice and very expensive too!

A more affordable option, when back in stock, might be this one, by IndiPRO:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1019817-REG/indipro_tools_ipgrid_pksony_dual_sony_7_2v_battery.html

It holds two L-batteries and clamps to the support rods.

I'm discussing cage options on Blackmagic's forum:

Blackmagic Forum • View topic - Pocket Cam - To cage or not to cage

[Thomas Wong]

i wonder if this indiPro will work in BMCC 2.5k

[Carlos E. Martinez]

I think the BMCC needs 12v instead of the Pocket's 7.2v.

To use 7.2v batteries on the BMCC you would need a DC-DC converter.

Edit: OK, I'm confused. To write above I looked at B&H's Pocket specs, and it said to use EN-EL20 type batteries, which are 7.2v. But now I perceived the Pocket needs 12-20 VDC.

The Pocket boosts the voltage internally, and that's why the run out so fast. That's why the external Pocket battery adapters use two batteries: then regulate it down.

Then, yes, you can use the IndiPRO on the BMCC.

[Carlos E. Martinez]

I found myself thinking that using an external battery, and no battery inside the camera, the Pocket might work cooler than what it does with the internal battery.

As the external voltage has to be more than 12v, then the camera does not have to boost the voltage.

Am I right?