Camera batteries with built-in USB-C charging ports are the most effective concept I’ve heard all 12 months

There’s a number of good causes to contemplate third-party options when changing or augmenting the rechargeable battery that got here along with your digital digital camera. The most blatant is worth, because it’s typically less expensive to ditch the identify model when changing a useless battery. But Nitecore has introduced one more reason to kick Sony’s personal digital camera batteries to the curb: a built-in USB-C charging port.

Although most digital cameras will cost the inserted battery when linked to an influence supply, photographers often depend on a number of batteries to get them by means of the day, which additionally means they’re often carrying round a proprietary charger so a number of batteries may be topped off as wanted. As everyone knows, proprietary chargers are annoying at finest, and may trigger complications when one goes lacking.

A greater resolution is what Nitecore is providing, with its new UFZ100 rechargeable battery designed to interchange Sony’s FP-Z100 battery which is utilized in all the pieces from the Sony a7 III, to the a9 collection, to even the not too long ago introduced 4K FX3 compact cinema digital camera. Although the Nitecore UFZ100’s 2,250 mAh capability is definitely barely lower than the two,280 mAh capability of the comparable Sony NP-FZ100, it may be simply charged utilizing a USB-C cable linked to virtually any energy supply—from the USB port of the laptop computer you’re modifying pictures on, to a multi-port wall wart that may be shared with the remainder of your units in want of a cost.

We’re additionally awarding bonus factors to Nitecore for not solely the inclusion of an onboard cost standing LED, however one that gives three colours throughout a battery take a look at so it’s simpler to grasp your battery’s remaining cost degree: purple if it’s under 10%, blue if it’s under 50% (however over 10%), and inexperienced if it’s over 50%. During a cost, this LED additionally blinks purple till it turns strong inexperienced, indicating the battery’s utterly topped off.

What stays to be seen is whether or not or not the Nitecore UFZ100, with its added performance, will nonetheless be a less expensive different to official Sony-branded batteries, as the corporate hasn’t revealed particular pricing or availability particulars simply but. We’ve reached out to Nitecore for extra particulars and can replace this put up when they’re out there.