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In case you’re capturing with a latest Sony digital camera, odds are you’re utilizing NP-FZ100 fashion batteries. Sony’s OEM battery is sort of costly, however is it value it? On this information, I’ll check out a number of the battery choices for cameras just like the a7R V, FX3, FX30, a7S III, and a1.
NP-FZ100 Batteries
Sony’s Official NP-FZ100
Sony’s OEM battery is the costliest, however can be going to supply the best assure of compatibility with future fashions and firmware updates. Whether or not that’s value it to you is a tricky name – in each testing and use, I discovered little efficiency distinction with third get together batteries, making the value distinction troublesome to justify. Sony’s batteries can be found from B&H for round $78 a battery.
The first cause to select the official NP-FZ100 over any third-party battery is firmware compatibility. Some firmware variations for sure cameras, just like the FX30 V3.0 firmware, have damaged compatibility with some non-Sony NP-FZ100 batteries. Whereas the digital camera nonetheless operates, it would show a warning message, not show a battery-remaining proportion, or different unusual behaviors. The remainder of the batteries on this article are these which didn’t expertise such points in my testing. (If in case you have expertise on the contrary, please let me know within the feedback, since I can’t check each mixture of digital camera + battery + firmware in the marketplace.)
Watson NP-FZ100
Accessible from B&H, the Watson NP-FZ100 is about 65% of the Sony’s value whereas providing an identical capability. When it comes to options, this battery doesn’t have a number of the specialty choices of different third get together choices (extra on that in a second), however does simply slot in as a alternative for Sony’s. Watson batteries can be found from B&H for round $50 a battery.
Nitecore NP-FZ100
Nitecore’s battery has a pleasant high quality of life characteristic: in-built USB-C charging. Charging a spare whereas capturing, and even with the ability to depart the cumbersome devoted charger at residence, is certainly a pleasant perk. The Nitecore battery additionally features a small LED-based readout of battery cost ranges, a useful option to examine whether or not a battery is recent or used without having to load it into the digital camera. Whether or not that comfort is value the additional $10 MSRP over the Watson is as much as you. Nitecore’s NP-FZ100 batteries can be found for round $60 a battery.
SmallRig NP-FZ100
SmallRig’s battery additionally options USB-C charging and a charging standing LED. Whereas the LED on the SmallRig battery can’t be triggered on demand, like Nitecore’s implementation, it’s nonetheless an effective way to see cost standing whereas utilizing USB-C energy. Moreover, SmallRig charges their capability as barely larger than a few of these different choices, at 2400 mAh slightly than 2250 mAh.
This distinction is sufficiently small to not be of main significance (lower than a 7% enhance), however it’s welcome nonetheless, and I observed a small enchancment in my testing. I feel the true worth from the SmallRig battery comes from the mix of an affordable value level for a characteristic wealthy battery, at round $45, mixed with the backing of a recognizable title model.
PowerExtra NP-FZ100
Just like the Watson, PowerExtra’s providing is a simple battery alternative with no further options. The claimed capability is the very best but, at 2500mAh, nevertheless it didn’t yield longer runtimes in my testing. The actual worth comes from the good value per battery. The three pack, with an included triple bay charger, is just $56, placing every particular person battery at lower than $20. At that value, they’re such a very good worth that I’m now not anxious in regards to the threat of future firmware updates.
An Various: USB-C Charging
As a substitute of getting a full set of batteries to maintain your digital camera charged all day (and all journey), another is to make use of the USB energy supply that’s constructed into Sony’s present cameras. You could possibly have only one or two NP-FZ100 batteries, plus an exterior battery pack that you just use for charging over USB-C.
There are numerous such choices, together with the Smallrig VB99 that I beforehand lined on this evaluate and the same FJDynamics V mount battery. Each of these battery packs are costly and unwieldy in case your solely utilization continues to be pictures, however they’re supreme for video rigs the place you’ll be chewing via batteries rapidly (or concurrently charging different gear like lights and mics).
In case you’re on the lookout for a inexpensive possibility, there are a selection of basic use USB-C PD energy banks obtainable at all kinds of costs. Maybe you’ve got one already. If not, I’ve trusted Anker’s merchandise previously, and I’d suggest their PowerCore+ mannequin at $79.
Spare and Substitute Chargers
Sony’s OEM charger is an exorbitant $98. Third-party chargers aren’t solely cheaper, however a lot of them are extra superior, they usually’re comparatively future-proof. (It’s doable {that a} future model of Sony’s NP-FZ100 battery is not going to be appropriate with the charger, solely with the official Sony charger, however this strikes me as pretty unlikely.) I’ll undergo just a few of the choices rapidly to wrap up this text.
PowerExtra Charger
Bundled with the three pack of PowerExtra batteries that I discussed earlier, PowerExtra’s charger is a superb possibility for customers who have to recharge a bundle of batteries rapidly. It has a three-slot design and helps simultaneous recharging. It may possibly take energy by way of USB-C or micro USB. Whereas the show is far more primary than Nitecore’s, it nonetheless offers a three-segment readout of the cost of every battery individually. This charger isn’t obtainable individually on the time of writing, however the low implied value together with three batteries makes that combo a good higher worth.
Nitecore Charger
Nitecore’s FPZ charger is a compact possibility, with a pleasant industrial design and the good alternative of USB for an influence provide. The largest downside is the placement and port for USB. The micro USB port, tucked away on the underside, is each cumbersome to make use of and a regarding level of failure. I’d choose to see a model of this charger with USB-C proper on the aspect of the system. The Nitecore charger is accessible from Amazon for $30.
Watson Charger
Watson produces two fashions of charger appropriate with the NP-FZ100: a twin bay mannequin that takes a micro USB enter, and a single bay mannequin with in-built AC prongs and help for DC automotive charging.
The twin bay mannequin helps simultaneous charging, making it a slight step up from Sony’s official charger, though there could also be some considerations with long run sturdiness, primarily based on buyer evaluations. In the meantime, the AC/DC mannequin is certainly for a specific area of interest – I can’t personally bear in mind the final time I reached for a DC automotive charger. In case you’re in that state of affairs, nonetheless, this might be simply what you’re on the lookout for.
Conclusion
Total, I’m fairly happy with all of the third-party choices I examined, each for batteries and chargers. Sony’s very excessive pricing for alternative batteries or chargers has left a ton of room out there for third-party firms.
Sony has began to implement some firmware-based checks towards these merchandise, nonetheless, so issues aren’t excellent. Nonetheless, even when these batteries do have a shorter lifespan, in some circumstances you possibly can exchange them 4 or 5 occasions for a similar value as a Sony battery and charger. Mix that with added options like built-in USB charging, and I feel it’s completely moderately to get a third-party battery on your Sony digital camera as of late.
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