Camera Batteries
Camera batteries are one of the most powerful yet often overlooked tools for filmmakers. Using a cheap battery can lead to inconsistent power, affecting performance and causing it to run out of charge quickly. Additionally, cheap batteries often perform poorly in cold or humid conditions, which can be a major issue during long shoots or on location. The most frustrating part is when your camera dies unexpectedly, halting your ability to shoot—sometimes even interrupting the shot you're currently working on. This list highlights some of the major battery brands you’ll encounter, offering insight into the most popular options. While not all brands are covered here, we aim to start with the most widely used models to provide a broad overview, and will continue to expand with additional options in the future. By investing in reliable batteries, you ensure that your gear operates smoothly, and you can focus on your craft without the fear of unexpected power issues.
Camera batteries
Batteries
Having at least one spare battery for your camera is essential, and ideally, two spares are recommended to ensure uninterrupted shooting. With two batteries, you can shoot for over four hours, far beyond the capacity of a single battery. This allows for continuous shooting by swapping out the used battery and charging it immediately, enabling you to shoot for up to eight hours or more without running out of power. For shorter shoots under four hours, this setup provides peace of mind without worrying about battery life. Having a total of three batteries gives you an extra safety net, especially if you forget to charge one after swapping it during a shoot. Batteries are exactly what you’d expect—just batteries—but their quality can significantly impact your shooting experience. When choosing a battery, there are typically three options to consider. The first is the brand’s own battery, which offers the best compatibility and performance, though it may come at a higher price. Well-known alternatives from reputable third-party brands are another option, offering similar performance to the original at a lower cost, making them ideal for filmmakers seeking a balance between price and reliability. For those needing multiple batteries for extended shooting sessions, value packs are a great choice, providing several batteries at a competitive price. Regardless of the option you choose, having reliable batteries ensures that your gear is always powered, allowing you to focus on your craft without the concern of running out of power during a shoot.
Batteries
Sony cameras
Camera batteries
Dummy Batteries
Dummy batteries are often overlooked by many filmmakers, who tend to associate them with streamers who use them to run their cameras for extended periods. There’s also the misconception that they limit portability, but in reality, they serve a far more practical and versatile purpose. A dummy battery is essentially a normal camera battery, but instead of containing lithium or any chemical components that store power, it’s empty, with a wire running out that connects to an external power source. For filmmakers, the best use of a dummy battery is as a backup. If all your regular batteries die, you can plug the dummy battery into a wall outlet or, more commonly, into a portable power source like a pocket juice. The most significant advantage, however, comes when using dummy batteries with V-mount batteries. V-mount batteries are high-capacity power sources that attach to your rig and can power multiple devices—your camera, monitor, follow focus system, microphone, and more—simultaneously. This setup simplifies the camera rig and often allows for much longer shooting times on a single battery, reducing the need for frequent battery changes during shoots.
Lumix camera - Dummy
Lumix G7 Dummy battery
Lumix G7 - Dummy
While the G7 may not require a dummy battery since it’s unlikely you’ll be building a complete rig with it, having one on hand can still be useful. It serves as a great backup or as a way to set up a continuous, long static shot without worrying about your battery draining during the shoot. This ensures you can capture extended footage without interruption, making it a practical accessory for certain shooting situations.
Lumix camera - Dummy battery
BLK22
The BLK22 dummy battery has limited options in the market, with Kondor Blue being one of the few brands offering a reliable choice. However, their selection is restricted, and not all of their products maintain consistent quality. This is applicable for the Lumix GH5II, GH6, GH7, S5, S5II, and S5IIX, the cameras we recommend. Here are the best options found.
BLK22
The Kondor Blue BLK22 D-Tap dummy battery offers a reliable and straightforward power solution with a maximum input of 17V and an output of 8V at 2A. This version comes with a coiled cable that connects to a D-Tap plug instead of a DC port, giving you flexibility in your power setup while minimizing cable clutter. The coiled design helps keep things neat, allowing for a stretch when necessary without creating excess slack, making it easy to use with a V-mount battery that has a D-Tap port.
BLK22
The Kondor Blue BLK22 dummy battery has a unique feature that allows the connection to be separated into a DC cable. This design adds flexibility, enabling you to connect the battery to multiple rigs or switch between D-Tap and DC without needing to remove the camera or battery from the rig, which can save valuable time during shoots. While the setup offers added convenience, for it to make sense practically, you would need to purchase the BMPCC to D-Tap cable separately, which adds to the overall cost. However, you could buy this dummy battery and later purchase the D-Tap cable to upgrade your setup, allowing for more versatility in how you power your gear.
BLK22
The Kondor Blue BLK22 dummy battery with a D-Tap connection is designed to directly connect to a V-Mount battery's D-Tap port, allowing you to power your Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera (BMPCC) through a dummy battery. Like the DC version, this setup gives flexibility, enabling quick swaps between different power sources. If you want to expand its capabilities to also connect through a DC port, you'd need to purchase an additional DC adapter cable. This setup allows you to switch between D-Tap and DC without removing the camera or battery from the rig, saving time and adding versatility during shoots. You could also initially use the D-Tap cable and later buy the DC adapter to complete the set for even more power options. Unfortunately , we could not find any locking DC extensions. regular 2.1mm DC can still be used, but they will not lock.
Dummy batteries
Sony Cameras
There are a decent number of options for the NP-FZ100 dummy battery. We have a Neewer and SmallRig coiled-to-DTap option, which is ideal for limiting cable length and managing cables effectively. Additionally, there is a more common option to DC, with a 60CM non-coiled wire, though it is less compact in terms of cable management.
