The current state of camera batteries.

[TYLER STOOKSBURY]

Hello everyone!

Im looking at buying some fresh batteries for my kit. The battery market is really interesting at the moment because some of the less premium brands are the ones driving innovation at the moment it seems like. Let me explain.

We have our nice RED Approved batteries that I prefer. (Core, GDU, Anton Bauer, Etc). Most have a couple of P-Tap ports and MAYBE a USB-A port. Then you have some batteries from companies like smallrig that are making decent batteries with things like USB-C PD. This is a pretty useful thing for many. You can charge the batteries with it, which is really nice for people like myself who fly to jobs with like 5 pelican cases. Not having to travel with a V Mount charger would be a big deal for me.

I really would prefer to stay with approved batteries, just because i know the quality control is there, and I like having the battery readout on the camera's monitor.

When do you think we will start seeing some brands like ,Core SWX, start implementing some of these features into their batteries? I've not really paid too much attention to how the battery product cycle goes. Is this something that'll take years to happen?

 

[M Harvey]

Hey Tyler-- it's a good question. Like you, I mostly buy Core and also have some GDU (which I believe were made by Dynacore). But I've also dipped my toes into the water with the other brands, purchasing a few 50wh FXLion batteries for using a Komodo on a gimbal. The compact size was what got me in the door, but the physical quality appears to be on par with the familiar brands, and I really like the display and the USB-C charging option as well. (We'll see if they last as long.)

I don't have any special information, but I can't imagine it'll be long before Core and others implement USB-C, particularly as Apple and others have moved to standardize on it. And hopefully charging capability comes at the same time. At the same time, you could consider acquiring a d-tap charger or two, since Core/GDU/Dynacore and others have in recent years added that capability-- they're not for situations where you'll be tearing through limited batteries, but they are compact, and so I often take one for travel. And there are models with improved capabilities: Dynacore makes a double d-tap charger (for 2 batteries at once), and Bebob makes a unit with higher amperage that can charge a single battery fast or can connect to a double v-mount plate and offer similar charge speed to a standard charger.

 

[TYLER STOOKSBURY]

Hey Tyler-- it's a good question. Like you, I mostly buy Core and also have some GDU (which I believe were made by Dynacore). But I've also dipped my toes into the water with the other brands, purchasing a few 50wh FXLion batteries for using a Komodo on a gimbal. The compact size was what got me in the door, but the physical quality appears to be on par with the familiar brands, and I really like the display and the USB-C charging option as well. (We'll see if they last as long.)

I don't have any special information, but I can't imagine it'll be long before Core and others implement USB-C, particularly as Apple and others have moved to standardize on it. And hopefully charging capability comes at the same time. At the same time, you could consider acquiring a d-tap charger or two, since Core/GDU/Dynacore and others have in recent years added that capability-- they're not for situations where you'll be tearing through limited batteries, but they are compact, and so I often take one for travel. And there are models with improved capabilities: Dynacore makes a double d-tap charger (for 2 batteries at once), and Bebob makes a unit with higher amperage that can charge a single battery fast or can connect to a double v-mount plate and offer similar charge speed to a standard charger.

For sure! the Core and GDU batteries are my current favorites. The FX Lion batteries seem really nice. I noticed they're actually on the approved list now for V-Raptor. Which i didn't realize. My only gripe is the D-Tap placement.

I've used those D-Tap Chargers. Honestly, that's the best lightweight solution for sure if you don't have USB-C. Im just excited to be able to bring a big USB-C brick and use that for most of my kit lol.