I Spent $829.91 While Making This Review - Nitecore UFZ100

Nitecore is already well known for charging and lithium ion batteries, and they've now release their second generation FZ100 battery for Sony mirrorless cameras, the UFZ100, which includes a built in USB C charging port! But how does it hold up, when we already have such a long history of third party FZ100 batteries being mediocre at best? Let's find out!
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[@hudson5768]

Great video Wes - glad I found your channel. I also have an A74 and have been looking for 3rd party batteries and charger (like your video on the ISDT NP2 Air charger). I have a question regarding the Nitecore NFZ100 operation in the camera - when using the Nitecore is it 'transparent' as using the Sony battery, i.e. do you notice any: error messages; display reads battery charge levels etc?

[@WesPerry]

yeah, unlike the RAVPower, the camera has no idea there's a different battery in there.

[@IWTBFOY]

You're doing good work brother! Would be great if you can review the Watson battery too which is a reputable battery maker.

[@WesPerry]

Yeah I haven’t been able to find them in Canada as of yet

[@hegelsholiday1981]

I enjoy your battery videos. I know little about them but use them all the time now, so the more I know the better. Is there some kind of meter that one can use in the field away from AC current that one can get useful, more detailed information, about the condition of a battery? I don't find the four LED lights on my batteries very useful, although I see some V-mount batteries are starting to have LED displays showing more information.

[@WesPerry]

The isdt np2 air charger as seen in this video (and in my review of it) can be powered by just about anything usb, tho preferably usb c power delivery. As such it’s pretty easy to take on the road. Analytics provided to your phone through Bluetooth. Or do you mean any battery in general?

[@mamumonkan]

any update on batteries ?

[@WesPerry]

After 20-30 charge cycles it’s not great. I don’t understand why no one else can make an equivalent battery to OEM at any price…

[@mamumonkan]

@@WesPerry Lensrentals are a good indicator of what works and the only 3rd party battery they carry for Sony is the SmallRig 2040mAh version (not the 2400)

[@mamumonkan]

@@WesPerry ... BUT that 2040mAh battery seems to have been discontinued ?

[@mamumonkan]

@@WesPerry just bit the bullet and bought 4x NP FZ100 for my 2x A9m2 ( $1 per day if I keep them a year )... but I am still not convinced that the BC QZ-1 is the way to go to charge them ( slower charging might be better ? )

[@davidrachuig3601]

Have you had a chance to try the new smallrig batteries?

[@WesPerry]

They have FZ100 batteries?? I saw their v mount ones, and they were supposed to send one but it never appeared 🤔

[@davidrachuig3601]

@@WesPerry ya, they’re very new. 2 batteries and a charger for $50 so I’m skeptical but other KZbinrs seem to like them. I haven’t found a video comparing those and the Nitecore though.

[@WesPerry]

I’ll have to get right on that

[@WesPerry]

They should be here on Tuesday. Haha

[@mamumonkan]

@@WesPerry any update?

[@Entropy512]

The behavior you mention @6:18 is a classic red flag of a failing battery - or (something that is common for third party batteries), a battery that lacks internal balancing circuitry in a system that expects balancing to be in the pack. (Sony FW50 and FZ100 batteries both require the pack to do balancing. So far every time one user on DPReview (matttelz) has torn down a third-party battery he's found the cells to be severely unbalanced. I was hoping Nitecore would be the first company to actually bother with balancing, but your comment there makes me nervous in this regard.

[@mamumonkan]

so are there any 3rd part batteries you would recommend?

[@sh8736]

Interesting I only buy Sony batteries after having issues in my Nikon days with a 3rd party battery made by a company who is a household name for all battery types not just camera ones and who I expected to be good. I recently got the A7R5 and had a card where the camera could not create the image index or what ever they call it. However the pc happily could read the files. I reformatted the card and it seems ok now, but have not done any shoots where image loss would be an issue. I did however in the first week of owning the new body manage to break the battery compartment door. The camera was not available in some parts of the world at that time ! I’ve not broken any kit before honest…. Anyway it means whilst I wait for a replacement I have a single battery gaffer taped into the body and it gets recharged in the body. Hasn’t got down to less than 40% though so over heating not really an issue. My A9 is old has had a lot of use, even though the automatic power off is set for a few minutes it doesn’t seem to work. Leave the body on by mistake in a few hours the battery will be completely dead…. Didn’t know you could get battery stats 😊 and agree50% is too low as an indicator..

[@IWTBFOY]

Was it Wasabi?

[@Battlem0nk]

NC-BP002 are 25% cheaper than UFZ100. Assume they are equally as good? Doesn't have the fancy LED or usb-c. Don't see many people reviewing them. Nitecore, despite being a Chinese company, is pretty reputable in the flashlight mod community. Not surprised their batteries perform better than generic 3rd party brands. When I was using Fuji cameras I tried wasabi, neewer, ravpower and several other lesser known 3rd parties. They all poop out in less than 6-12mo. Either charge capacity doesn't hold or worse swells up not fitting in the camera anymore. Think I have about 20-25 dead batteries.

[@WesPerry]

I get into a lot of disagreements with people who have tried other 3rd party batteries for like 3 charge cycles and declare them wonderful. That’s just not how this works 😂

[@punkrachmaninoff]

PRO TIP: DON'T BUY 3RD PARTY BATTERIES.

[@WesPerry]

Yeah, I have Always said this, even years ago in the dark days of the FW50 battery. They’ve all been hot garbage up until now. This is the first one I’ve found that wasn’t.

[@WesPerry]

BUT I’ve spent over $1000 on those Sony first party batteries, and that hurts for such a small accessory, especially one that really has a limited life span. They’re wear out, just a consumable at the end of the day.

[@punkrachmaninoff]

@Wes Perry Oh, I like that company for their battery banks, but I have just had too many bad experiences with 3rd party batteries to put one in the camera. If I were to guess, I would assume it is an inconsistent voltage issue, specifically when the card is being written to. Have you tried the Promaster Dually Chargers?

[@punkrachmaninoff]

@Wes Perry sony build quality is trash. You should rent a Pentax K3 and do a review on the differences in build quality with your A9.

[@WesPerry]

Oh I did very careful analysis of voltage and correct levels in all circumstances to see if and where the issues were. It was a few days of testing with no anomalies found. And I can say I’ve Ever liked using a DSLR. If I reviewed it, although the build quality would score high, everything else would be pretty merciless 😂 I actually waited for Sony’s original mirrorless lineup before even getting into photography. It was rough to start, but we made it ;)