V-Mount Batteries for Cameras - SmallRig Range

Bilaal Rasheed By Bilaal Rasheed - updated October 23rd, 2024
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As the world of camera technology continues to advance, it also becomes more demanding. Those who spend a lot of time around a camera will already know that not being prepared in the battery department can quite literally ruin a shot, the whole shoot in fact. Having some extra battery up your sleeve (or in your backpack should we say), removes the stress that comes with battery issues and enables you to focus on getting the content you need. One of the most popular options to help you with this is a V-mount battery. As the name suggests, V-mount batteries are designed to be attached to a camera with V-shaped thread and provide power on the go. There are a few brands out there with V-mount camera battery solutions, but today we’ll take a look at some new arrivals to the NZ market from SmallRig.  

Before we get into the SmallRig line-up, there are a few things to consider…

Portability:

Put simply, V-mount batteries are portable and designed to be used on the go. The thing to ‘weigh-up’ though is weight, and the bigger you go, the more mass you’ll have to carry around. Therefore, it’s important to balance your power needs with the needs of your body and ensure you’re not carrying around more than you need. If you’re moving the camera around a lot, then you may decide to go for a lower capacity, and thus lighter, option. This could either be a smaller V-mount battery, or you may just be suited to a power bank or similar alternative. It must be noted though that while a power bank may be a lighter option, if it’s one that won’t securely mount to your camera like a V-mount will, perhaps it isn’t as convenient for moving around. 

Price:

As is often the case with high-end products, V-mount batteries typically cost more than power banks and similar alternatives. This is justified though, given the V-mount battery will, more often than not, have a way higher capacity than a power bank. Still, if cost is an important consideration for you, then forking out a bunch of money on a high capacity backup power option instead of various other camera needs may not be the smartest idea. This would especially be important for those who are just getting started with photography or videography, especially as a job or business.

Compatibility/Capacity:

The world of cameras is vast. Before purchasing a V-mount battery, ensure that your camera has a V-shaped thread and also ensure the voltage and power output matches your camera’s requirements. As well as this, be sure to check the power consumption rate of your camera itself. This may seem obvious but the last thing you want is to fork out for a V-mount battery that is too small for your power-hungry camera. It’s helpful to consider how long your photography/videography sessions typically are, as well as the power consumption of the camera itself. One of the other benefits to a V-mount camera is the ability to also charge your secondary devices. This could include lighting, monitors or a wide range of other accessory items. So, make sure that the accessory ports on your desired V-mount battery will be compatible with any secondary devices you may have.

Use Case:

It’s worth noting that while many V-mount batteries are capable of charging other devices such as phones and laptops as well, the V-mount design is really targeted at those who use cameras. If you do, then a V-mount could be a great option for getting all your devices charged, but if you aren’t a camera user and are looking for a portable battery, you would probably be better off looking elsewhere. Power banks and power stations would be a better option, given it likely won’t be accompanied by the large price tag of a battery that has to stay compact, light and compatible for mounting to a camera.

Picture of V-mount Battery
So, what options does SmallRig have on offer?

SmallRig VB99 SE Mini V-Mount Battery (6800mAh)

Starting off with an entry level solution – the SmallRig VB99 SE Mini will charge a Canon EOS R5 C for about 7.4 hours or an iPhone 15 Pro about 5.5. times, with the VB99 model name indicating a 99Wh (98.8) capacity. This number is by design, so if you are travelling on an airline with a 100Wh limit on batteries, you don’t end up in a pinch. Given its smaller capacity, the VB99 is a great portable option. It does however have an entry level design, so if you’re looking for something a little more premium, to impress your client or even just yourself, you may want to read on.

SmallRig VB99 Pro Mini V-Mount Battery (99Wh)

The VB99 SE Mini also has a twin brother (who’s slightly better) – the SmallRig VB99 Pro Mini. While capacity remains pretty much identical, it is ever so slightly more. As per SmallRig’s website – while the SE Mini will charge an iPhone 15 Pro about 5.5 times, the Pro Mini gets similar results for an iPhone 15 Pro Max. It has bi-directional 100W USB-C PD fast charging, compared to the SE Mini which is advertised at 65W fast charging. The Pro Mini is also about 25 g lighter than its entry-level twin, ensuring it remains portable and doesn’t tire you out. SmallRig claims the VB99 Pro Mini is approximately 70% smaller than a standard V-mount battery, although given they haven’t accompanied this claim with any insight into how they define a ‘standard’ V-mount battery, this is hard to put into any real context. Either way, it’s certainly portable at just 570 g.

VB155 Mini V Mount Battery (155Wh)

SmallRig’s VB155 Mini V-Mount Battery has the specs to really call itself a big brother. With a much bigger 155Wh capacity, you’ll still be able to fit under the 160Wh limit that many airlines have. Keep it in hand-luggage though, unless you want to be met with anger-inspired ‘carry-on’ from the folks at security. In keeping with the iPhone-based examples, SmallRig claims the VB155 mini will charge an iPhone 13 Pro Max about 8.2 times. Now before you tell us this is a different comparison to above; the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a pretty similar battery capacity to the 15 Pro Max (the 13 Pro Max is around 90 mAh less), so this statistic from SmallRig is still super relevant, and shows a decent jump from the VB99 Pro Mini. To use a camera-based example, the VB 155 Mini will charge a Canon EOS R5 C for about 10.9 hours, which is a fair bit more than the VB99 SE Mini which could only manage 7.4 hours. With all the extra ability, the VB 155 Mini comes in heavier than the earlier options, but remains manageable at 990 g.

SmallRig x Caleb Pike Camera V-Mount Battery

SmallRig x Caleb Pike VB212 Mini V-Mount Battery (212Wh)

This special edition made as a collaboration with film personality Caleb Pike, who founded DSLR Video Shooter, has an even bigger 212Wh capacity. Pike says it “represents freedom - the freedom to power and charge every device on or off set, eliminating charge anxiety.” The special edition has some cool design traits alongside its versatile I/O and 140W of PD 3.1. The 140W fast charging is a big jump from the earlier models mentioned, and will be welcomed by professionals and enthusiasts alike. In fact, although it has a much bigger 212Wh capacity, the VB212 can still be charged in 2.5 hours just like the VB99. All thanks to its 140W of PD 3.1.

We hope our guide has helped you better understand V-mount camera batteries and perhaps even pointed you towards exactly what you need. While finding the perfect model can take some time, there is no doubt that V-mount camera batteries are worth a look, whether you’re a seasoned camera professional or a weekend hobbyist. 


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Bilaal Rasheed

I love computers and cars, so long as they're fast

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