Most reliable third-party batteries for the Sony a7R VI mirrorless camera?

Question

So I finally upgraded to the a7R VI for this massive mountain wedding I am shooting in Vermont next Saturday, but man, the battery life with that new sensor is just eating through my two OEM sticks way faster than I expected. I have been shooting Sony for like 8 years now so I know the drill with the NP-FZ100s, but I have heard the newer firmware on the VI is super picky about third-party chips and I am terrified of getting that pop-up warning mid-ceremony where the camera just refuses to work.

I was looking at a few different brands:

Wasabi Power (used them for years on my a7III)

SmallRig (the ones with the USB-C port built in)

Neewer (cheap but hit or miss)

My logic was that with the higher bitrate video I am doing now, I need something that wont overheat or swell up in the heat. My budget is super tight because I just dropped five grand on the body and a new GM lens, so I cant really afford to buy 4 more Sony brand ones at 80 bucks a pop. I saw some talk about those SmallRig ones being great for charging in the truck between locations, but are they actually stable with the new software? Has anyone actually stressed tested these on the VI specifically? I really need to get these ordered by tomorrow so they arrive in time for the rehearsal... just dont want to ruin the shoot because I tried to save a little cash.

Francishew · Accepted Answer

You gotta check out the SmallRig NP-FZ100 USB-C Rechargeable Camera Battery 2400mAh because they are amazing on my new Sony! I have been using them and honestly that USB-C port saves so much money on extra chargers. If you need a bunch for cheap, the Wasabi Power NP-FZ100 Battery 2-Pack 2000mAh is also fantastic and totally stable with the firmware.

SmallRig for easy charging

Wasabi for the best budget deal

ScotstOdy · Answer

If you're worried about firmware blocks, check out Nitecore! They're high-end for third-party. The Nitecore UFZ100 2250mAh USB-C Li-ion is a total game changer because the internal circuit protection is top-tier. Check the Alpha Shooters blog for benchmark data!

Get K&F Concept NP-FZ100 2400mAh USB-C Stick for cheap backups

Use a PD power bank for top-offs Seriously, the Nitecore chip is rock solid on the latest Sony updates. Love it!

KRAkenjap · Answer

Adding my two cents since I just went through this exact stress before a desert shoot last month. I was super worried about that firmware warning too, especially since my old off-brands started acting up on the newer Sony firmware. Honestly, I have been really satisfied with the Watson NP-FZ100 V2 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack 2250mAh. They are a bit pricier than the dirt-cheap ones but still way cheaper than the Sony brand, and they have been rock solid. I ran a test where I just let the camera record 4K until the card filled up and they did not get nearly as hot as I expected. No swelling or weirdness at all. Here is what I found works well:

The Watson V2 series seems to have the chip handshake down perfectly. No pop-up warnings or unreliable battery prompts on my high-res body so far.

I also grabbed a couple of the Neewer NP-FZ100 USB-C Rechargeable Battery 2280mAh to keep in my car. I like that they have a little status light that changes from red to green when they are done.

Tbh, the Neewer ones havent given me any trouble either, even when I am pushing the buffer with high-speed bursts. One thing tho... even with good third party sticks, the battery percentage can sometimes drop a bit faster once you get under 15 percent compared to the Sony ones. Just swap them early and you wont have any issues during the ceremony. Good luck with the mountain light!