I don't believe this was mentioned in the video, my apologies if it was, but something to note is this battery is not compliant with FAA lithium ion battery regulations. If you do fly with camera gear, batteries under 100Wh, or if you don't mind getting airline approval 101-160Wh per battery are going to be the largest capacities allowed on commercial flights. It is something I deal with all the time at airports and would hate for someone to get rejected because they didn't know these requirements.
The built-in power meter is brilliant, because it will always be facing outwards and be easily readable if you want a quick check of how much rig runtime you have left. Now make in a 300Wh capacity, with TRUE USB-PD EPR, SmallRig! Let's see you cram some 5V48A circuitry in there lol.
5 месяцев назад
USB-PD is capped at 5A - to have 240W it uses 48V 5A not 5V 48A - connectors and cables would have to be insanely thick
I have the 99 and its brilliant - my whole rig runs from it for a good couple of hours including the Ninja Ultra, Lumix S5iix and also charges my PDMovie Lidar as well - I'll definitely look at this one as a backup!
Theres always a risk supporting another individual's product (you know of all people how that can go...) But Caleb is awesome. His channel supported likely millions of RUclips/filmmaker careers with quality information and comparisons consistently, for years on end. I hope he makes a ton from this product! I'm a proud owner of the v99 and 155. Without them, I never would have gotten into vmount batteries. If I got this one, Id probably never want to use it! That cable is so pretty lol.
@@KeeganHanksyeah but it did sound like he was saying it, but then again in a pinch maybe but in a professional set I'd just have everything on the plate as again it's easier and faster to pull and swap battery. But yeah maybe in a pinch, but then again it'll be cheaper to buy a normal 200w battery
I've been using a Neewer 99w Vmount battery for a little while and it is in a similar vein to this battery but I got it for 80 bucks. It has USB c charging and a Dtap output with 8v and 12v output. I could use USB power delivery for my FX3 but i have a Dtap Dummy battery and it makes the cable management easier and I use the USB port to charge the gimbal instead. Smallrig sells a v mount lock that hooks on the bottom of my DJI RS2 plate where the Transmitter is supposed to hook into and I balance that bad boy with the gimbal and it powers the Camera and the Gimbal and the monitor all day for my wedding work. It is truly a miracle how it all comes together. I've also made it a handheld rig with another smallrig v mount lock (They can stick a v mount locking plate on basically anything) and it screws into the side of my cage and it balances out my handle. this new generation of v mount batteries are insane.
I have the old 99 and per Caleb's instructions I bought it and it has been AWESOME! Powers my recorder through D-tap and all my recievers through USB-C and even on the longest day it drained to 69% (nice).
Definitely a compelling battery - for Local use, Larger capacity lesser opportunities for hot swap situation, overseas travel can be complicated. - for minimal rigs, rigs with lesser cable. However in a situation where you need to swap the battery, wouldn't want to fumble around changing batteries by unplugging and replugging all the cables to swap battery, more opportunities for cable failure, during peak rush, which is also the reason for a powered battery plate.
It is probably worth mentioning that, if I'm not mistaken, a downside of this beauty is that it can't board a plane, the limit is 160Wh, ain't it? Is a non-signature version available? Nothing against Caleb, I just don't like my stuff signed by a creator (especially if I don't follow them or share their view), I'd rather stick to a brand logo at best. Nice video, nice product!
@@VacMaster1991 From TSA's website "Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. With airline approval, passengers may also carry up to two spare larger lithium ion batteries (101-160 Wh) or lithium metal batteries (2-8 grams). This size covers the larger after-market extended-life laptop computer batteries and some larger batteries used in professional audio/visual equipment. There is a limit of two spare batteries per person for the larger lithium ion batteries described above (101-160 watt hours per battery. For more information, see the FAA regulations on batteries."
I have a smaller smallrig battery. Video is one of my less-used side hobbies, but this battery is just the most universal powerbank you can get. You can plug pretty much anything into it, because it has all the common voltages and plugs. And if you can 3d print a v-lock for it, it will also look gorgeous. It currently powers my telescope, lol. It's awesome, really. I also powered a TS-100 soldering iron with it... The only thing you can't do with it is to force enable USB output for stupid low-current devices.
6:39 Hahaha, I LOVE how Gerald can hardly contain his excitement but tries to so people don’t think he’s a complete dork :D And yeah, it’s silly, but I 100% get it because I too LOVE when things just happen to fit even when they weren’t meant to.
As much as I value objectivity, the deeper I get into technical stuff, and the more I know about it, the more I'm happy to go, 'What? Gerald likes this? And his buddy too? Sold.' I guess that's the point of an 'influencer'? I just didn't think my own engineering objectivity would finally give way to trust.
Looks like a good battery for a decent price. The only thing that I don't like is that is has just one big flap on top for all the ports. I would prefer little flaps per port so the rest doesn't fill up with dust or whatever
the great thing about V Mount batteries.... you can get them pretty cheap used... i will never recommend anyone buying anything camera related new... doesn't matter if personal or commercial... used is absolutely the way to go
6% over 24h is kind of a lot… BUT if this battery works the same way as other SmallRig batteries… I have the vb99 and when I don’t use it I press the power button once so the display turns on to show me the percentage and then I press and hold the power button 3+ seconds after the display turns off. And checking the battery a week later, it only drains 3-4%. Without having anything plugged in to the battery, of course. I haven’t tested if the battery also shuts down if I have something plugged in 🤔
The SmallRig batteries, and their v-mount adapter, has quickly become the favorite addition to my FX3/FX30 rigs. I bought the original ones right before the pro versions came out and despite lacking the intelligent screen information, their size makes them my go to. I still use Core batteries with my gimbal rig, since the time-remaining information is so important. I look forward to grabbing a couple of these to use with lights, and of course with monitors and cameras. I only wish they were 26V rather than 18V so lights would have more power. Side note, iFootage is on their third iteration of their monopod (of which I still have the 1st version and love it). I'd hoped they'd be releasing a new tripod at NAB to rival the Sachtler Flowtech. Sirui and YcOnion are doing it. And, looks like Gene (Potatojet) was working with SmallRig on a new quick tripod. iFootage needs to get on it!
Hey there, where can I find information about the SDI converter for the plate you had mentioned? that sounds like an amazing add to the product line, and am interested in that solution!
Yeah that sounds like an awesome module to have built into your rig conveniently on your battery plate. Just did a live event where that would have come in clutch for my rigs that didn't have native sdi, so I didn't have to have a converter secured to the tripod the whole time.
The SmallRig batteries are nice and I’m sure they’re high quality but when they cost 3 times as much as other v mounts, also with screens and USB C and stuff, I can’t justify it. Even if the quality might be a bit better and it might have a few more features but still. (I know they get much pricier when going for the battery titans)
When you have a usb-c device connected, and you plug in another usb-c device, eg for charging, does it renegotiate all usb-c ports - meaning it will (temporarily shut off the first connected device as well in order to net exceed the max allowed power)?
I thought about buying the 99Wh smallrig v-mount but the price seemes way to high for what it does. I then realised i can do all the stuff with my way cheaper anker powerbank and a usb-PD to 12v barreljack adapter. Anker Prime 200 has 72Wh with two 100w usb-c ports and a usb-a for 100 bucks and it even has a display to show all the stats
i dont want to recable everything when swapping batteries so I'd rather use a proper plate with all the ports and just a cheaper 200wh batterie from patona etc
I travel to Africa a couple times a year, and 99 is all you can legally fly with. (Yes, people have flown with bigger batteries, but it is illegal, and do you want a $400+ battery confiscated? I think not!
The idea of having a v-mount behind the camera is so ridiculous to me. Anton Bauer has the Titon battery you can easily mount under the camera and it won't ever be in the way. Granted, it doesn't have as much power, but I'm willing to sacrifice a bit of power for a better mounting location. I'd love to hear some alternative views on this.
Hi Gerald, undoubtedly many good port features, bar as you say the D-Tap via '3 connectors socket cups' for dual orientation. BUT the ACID test for any battery is how good the cells are and whether the unit has smart charging protocols to maximise the total useful number of charge/discharge cycles? This in effect dictates the useful practical life. Do you have a view on this or can you, as a 'tech savvy' reviewer, start to assess real 'value' (ie accounting for effective life performance per unit of cost)? i.e. Almost literally a "bang for buck" score? Sure there will be difficulties assessing any real value metric. Not least because it takes time to conduct multiple charge/discharge cycles and purchase price will vary over time (dealer to dealer and when on/off promotional events like Black Fri). Yet, surely physics is physics and there is enough known science now to determine what sort of fundamental ingredients go into making a really excellent top flight battery. In the absence of any known objective assessment all we have is our own gut instinct and a trust for what we suppose is a quality brand. I have heard many declare brand X as being good but very expensive, thus of questionable value, vs say brand Y that might be more mid-range on cost. But it's hard to really know. I strongly suspect that the cheapest will prove 'cheap' for a reason. Equally the most expensive not always as good as you might expect - considering that you are also paying to support a well known brand's marketing, advertising, influencer support etc to help 'hype' perceptions. I wonder, if NASA made V-mount cells, engineered for maximum life, how they might evolve and what that would tell us about the optimum mix of chemistry/materials/protocols etc given a (presumably) 'cost no object' approach to engineering the finest technically possible. It probably won't ever be best value but there may well be technical insights and learning, pointing up what best value probably looks like? So, I'm sure there are V-mounts where a manufacture has cut corners on the grade of individual internal cells, used cheaper Li-ion doping elements, cut corners on case robustness and/or wiring integrity fundamentals etc . Net result being that many a cheap (bargain basement) V-mount won't stand up to heavy professional type use, won't work nearly as long as other, more expensive options. Also expensive premium batteries where you pay for the brand name. But, which is which???? What do others think? I have heard many say SmallRig's VB family is 'brand X' in my text above i.e. good but very expensive (thus not necessarily good value unless bought on deal). Then again, I just ordered an original SmallRig VB99 on a good discount, presumably as a result of VB99 Pro just being launched.
Although it states that it has enough power to run a RED camera, it does not work properly and every RED camera I tried it on ended up shutting down within 2-5 minutes. Bummed because it’s compact and looks clean :/
Probably not enough peak power? There's been something similar in the PC space where you actually need an overspecced power supply because some graphics cards need more than their supposed maximum power for sub-second intervals.
Maybe it's time for me to get one of those. But probably not the 212 as they're too expensive at the moment for my liking. But since Smallrig has smaller models which I started looking into... Let's see.
I'm not sure if you mentioned it but PLEASE what length is the USB-C cable you're using for PD for the Sony? I'm using the 12-24" coiled one but there's too much tension on the ends for my liking, and I've also ordered too short in the past, but yours is perfect. Is it the 18" or 24" dual right angle?
the huge capacity which is a big advantage could also be a drawback. I think this product is restricted on most airplanes. (max 100Wh). his lens cap fetish moment is priceless xD. there must be a story behind his reaction to this discovered solution 🤔
@@patriotbarrow I tried that and it still overheated in a room that wasn’t even hot, and It still did after a V90 card only fix I found so far is the ulanzi fan, got over 2 1/2 hours straight no heat warning
That was my immediate thought too. Some materials hold up well and are ok-ish even after 20 years. Others... turn into goo after only two years. Yikes.
True. It has gotten a lot better though. The sex toy industry has caused a major push in perfecting the exact materials and manufacturing process of silicone on hard plastics...
I’m sure he’s mentioned it but I forget, Gerald uses the A7IV because it’s cheap and only used for stationary shots? Does he have an A7SIII for his mobile shots like the studio visits?
HEEEELLLLLPPPP MEEEE. I have a problem, my VB155 doesn't charge anything It's stucks on 75%. It's just happened today. I'm stressed. Now if i connect a device to the USBC or B port it's show's a 3v output 😢. I don't know if i have to let the battery drown to 0% so that i can see what would happen. PLEASE HELP
Can you review the MC-N10 for Nikon video? It's an interesting product and looks like it'd be interesting for rigging but not a lot of people are talking about it
Can you charge these with the 600C V-Mount plates? I've had issues finding what's compatible and what's not. I asked Aputure support and they apparently don't even have a comprehensive list nor would share with me which batteries can be charged with their plate on my 600C :/ Lowkey looking for a replacement for my IDX batteries since they don't charge on 600C's battery plate. When I use my IDX batteries, it doesn't charge and the readout, while attempting trying to charge, is always 100%; normal use has normal readout tho. Anyways, thanks for the vid!
Hi Gerald, any help would be nice. I have the VB99, power my GH5 via dtap and dummy battery. All fine there. Then I have the Feelworld F5 ProX. This one is powered via USB C. As soon as the usb is in I have a few seconds to turn on the monitor from standby, otherwise the VB99 stops sending any power and the monitor is no more in standby. Solution is to unplug and replug the usb and quickly turn on the monitor so it stays on. But if I turn it off again it will take a few seconds and the standby led will just turn off. Any idea why? I'm thinking that the dc port (instead of the USB) could be less smart of an output and keep juicing the monitor even in standby, or maybe the VB99 has a feature no matter if usb or dc port that if the port is not sending full power it assumes it should just kill the power altogether for safety. I guess having a battery plate with an on/off switch is one thing but I don't need one. I don't have dc cable, but I'm trying to find one to test and I was hoping maybe you know something about it.
I notice you are running power from your battery to the monitor and to the camera, which also share an HDMI cable. How do you make sure that you don't accidentally damage the HDMI port? I had a wireless HDMI device share a battery with the camera it was connected to, and I ended up frying the wirelss HDMI. Thankfully not the camera. Apparently, power can potentially go down the HDMI, under certain circumstances. Online I found that, at least years back, people were having damaged HDMI ports on their Black Magic cameras due to it. I don't want to risk damaging the HDMI ports on my devices so now I never share batteries between devices that also share an HDMI cable. Perhaps this is overly cautious.
You know you're a true enthusiast when you appreciate little things (eventhough stupid to other people), like the lens cap moment at 6:41.
I won't buy this battery because of his face on it! no, thanks
I don't believe this was mentioned in the video, my apologies if it was, but something to note is this battery is not compliant with FAA lithium ion battery regulations. If you do fly with camera gear, batteries under 100Wh, or if you don't mind getting airline approval 101-160Wh per battery are going to be the largest capacities allowed on commercial flights. It is something I deal with all the time at airports and would hate for someone to get rejected because they didn't know these requirements.
I love how hyped you are for the battery
The built-in power meter is brilliant, because it will always be facing outwards and be easily readable if you want a quick check of how much rig runtime you have left. Now make in a 300Wh capacity, with TRUE USB-PD EPR, SmallRig! Let's see you cram some 5V48A circuitry in there lol.
USB-PD is capped at 5A - to have 240W it uses 48V 5A not 5V 48A - connectors and cables would have to be insanely thick
@ sorry, I was very sleep-deprived when I wrote that lol. I wrote it correctly the first time and then retyped it lmao. Dammit.
I have the 99 and its brilliant - my whole rig runs from it for a good couple of hours including the Ninja Ultra, Lumix S5iix and also charges my PDMovie Lidar as well - I'll definitely look at this one as a backup!
Theres always a risk supporting another individual's product (you know of all people how that can go...) But Caleb is awesome. His channel supported likely millions of RUclips/filmmaker careers with quality information and comparisons consistently, for years on end. I hope he makes a ton from this product! I'm a proud owner of the v99 and 155. Without them, I never would have gotten into vmount batteries. If I got this one, Id probably never want to use it! That cable is so pretty lol.
The only downside I see is, that when you run a rig like Gerald, than you have to pull all the cables, if you have to switch batteries.
yeah, was thinking the same... imagine doing that under bad and hecktic condition
The cables are normally attached to the Kondor blue plate. He only mentioned attaching to the battery because he was showing what it could do
@@KeeganHanks what wasn't a critic. The battery is very versatile in a pinch or on a custom rig.
@@KeeganHanksyeah but it did sound like he was saying it, but then again in a pinch maybe but in a professional set I'd just have everything on the plate as again it's easier and faster to pull and swap battery. But yeah maybe in a pinch, but then again it'll be cheaper to buy a normal 200w battery
They need to do a smart v mount plate that displays all that info and still allows for battery to be swapped without undoing and redoing any cables
I've been using a Neewer 99w Vmount battery for a little while and it is in a similar vein to this battery but I got it for 80 bucks. It has USB c charging and a Dtap output with 8v and 12v output. I could use USB power delivery for my FX3 but i have a Dtap Dummy battery and it makes the cable management easier and I use the USB port to charge the gimbal instead. Smallrig sells a v mount lock that hooks on the bottom of my DJI RS2 plate where the Transmitter is supposed to hook into and I balance that bad boy with the gimbal and it powers the Camera and the Gimbal and the monitor all day for my wedding work. It is truly a miracle how it all comes together. I've also made it a handheld rig with another smallrig v mount lock (They can stick a v mount locking plate on basically anything) and it screws into the side of my cage and it balances out my handle. this new generation of v mount batteries are insane.
I have the old 99 and per Caleb's instructions I bought it and it has been AWESOME! Powers my recorder through D-tap and all my recievers through USB-C and even on the longest day it drained to 69% (nice).
Nice😂
So happy for you both. Your work with Kondor Blue & Caleb's with CineBack & Smallrig... so great.
❤😊🎉
Looks like a bigger VB99 Pro with an extra D-tap
Nice, but a difficult choice in terms of price
Definitely a compelling battery
- for Local use, Larger capacity lesser opportunities for hot swap situation, overseas travel can be complicated.
- for minimal rigs, rigs with lesser cable. However in a situation where you need to swap the battery, wouldn't want to fumble around changing batteries by unplugging and replugging all the cables to swap battery, more opportunities for cable failure, during peak rush, which is also the reason for a powered battery plate.
It is probably worth mentioning that, if I'm not mistaken, a downside of this beauty is that it can't board a plane, the limit is 160Wh, ain't it?
Is a non-signature version available? Nothing against Caleb, I just don't like my stuff signed by a creator (especially if I don't follow them or share their view), I'd rather stick to a brand logo at best.
Nice video, nice product!
According to the TSA the limit is 100wh.
@@VacMaster1991 From TSA's website "Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only.
With airline approval, passengers may also carry up to two spare larger lithium ion batteries (101-160 Wh) or lithium metal batteries (2-8 grams). This size covers the larger after-market extended-life laptop computer batteries and some larger batteries used in professional audio/visual equipment. There is a limit of two spare batteries per person for the larger lithium ion batteries described above (101-160 watt hours per battery. For more information, see the FAA regulations on batteries."
black tape works
@@SaxSpy Yeah, I know, I'd rather not spend almost $500 only to put some ugly tape to cover this, that's why I asked. :)
@@FabioPansera use gaffer's tape while traveling (not legal advice)
Lmao at the lens cap moment. It's the little things.
I won't buy this battery because of his face on it! no, thanks
I have a smaller smallrig battery. Video is one of my less-used side hobbies, but this battery is just the most universal powerbank you can get. You can plug pretty much anything into it, because it has all the common voltages and plugs. And if you can 3d print a v-lock for it, it will also look gorgeous. It currently powers my telescope, lol. It's awesome, really. I also powered a TS-100 soldering iron with it...
The only thing you can't do with it is to force enable USB output for stupid low-current devices.
Sooo, that A74 is nice, but how about the A7S3 FX3 firmware update ?
6:39 Hahaha, I LOVE how Gerald can hardly contain his excitement but tries to so people don’t think he’s a complete dork :D And yeah, it’s silly, but I 100% get it because I too LOVE when things just happen to fit even when they weren’t meant to.
Great to see amazing useful tech like this.
I've been loving my Small Rig Batteries, just got the giant 155 on sale for like 220 lasts me pretty much all day
As much as I value objectivity, the deeper I get into technical stuff, and the more I know about it, the more I'm happy to go, 'What? Gerald likes this? And his buddy too? Sold.' I guess that's the point of an 'influencer'? I just didn't think my own engineering objectivity would finally give way to trust.
I still go back to the old videos of caleb just to get inspired to diy something on my camera rig!
Looks like a good battery for a decent price. The only thing that I don't like is that is has just one big flap on top for all the ports. I would prefer little flaps per port so the rest doesn't fill up with dust or whatever
Oh yesss! Awesome smallrig 😍 Thank you and great reviews Gerald
Fascinated how he explained how kondor solves swaping by pluging to the wall and this small rig cannot solve swaping problem still you need kondor
The only thing missing is wireless charging like on the FXLion Nanos...
the great thing about V Mount batteries.... you can get them pretty cheap used... i will never recommend anyone buying anything camera related new... doesn't matter if personal or commercial... used is absolutely the way to go
Love my VB99 for BMCC4K and Osee 7"
SmallRig must have partnered with Anker with that battery interface because it looks identical to their latest generation of "Prime" battery packs.
Or smallrig just copied it. If they partnered smallrig added a huge premium on the pricetag
You sold me on the plate. The battery … ehhh… I’ll look at it but for me it’s all about KWh/$ - especially with the plate that you talked about.
6% over 24h is kind of a lot… BUT if this battery works the same way as other SmallRig batteries… I have the vb99 and when I don’t use it I press the power button once so the display turns on to show me the percentage and then I press and hold the power button 3+ seconds after the display turns off. And checking the battery a week later, it only drains 3-4%.
Without having anything plugged in to the battery, of course. I haven’t tested if the battery also shuts down if I have something plugged in 🤔
Love the functionality of the battery myself and may pick up a couple. You forgot to mention that it charges from 0 to 100% in just 2hrs 😋
The SmallRig batteries, and their v-mount adapter, has quickly become the favorite addition to my FX3/FX30 rigs. I bought the original ones right before the pro versions came out and despite lacking the intelligent screen information, their size makes them my go to. I still use Core batteries with my gimbal rig, since the time-remaining information is so important. I look forward to grabbing a couple of these to use with lights, and of course with monitors and cameras. I only wish they were 26V rather than 18V so lights would have more power.
Side note, iFootage is on their third iteration of their monopod (of which I still have the 1st version and love it). I'd hoped they'd be releasing a new tripod at NAB to rival the Sachtler Flowtech. Sirui and YcOnion are doing it. And, looks like Gene (Potatojet) was working with SmallRig on a new quick tripod. iFootage needs to get on it!
Great job on the video Gerald! Thanks for making it.
Hey there, where can I find information about the SDI converter for the plate you had mentioned? that sounds like an amazing add to the product line, and am interested in that solution!
Yeah that sounds like an awesome module to have built into your rig conveniently on your battery plate. Just did a live event where that would have come in clutch for my rigs that didn't have native sdi, so I didn't have to have a converter secured to the tripod the whole time.
This... Is.... Wild... perfect battery.
The SmallRig batteries are nice and I’m sure they’re high quality but when they cost 3 times as much as other v mounts, also with screens and USB C and stuff, I can’t justify it. Even if the quality might be a bit better and it might have a few more features but still. (I know they get much pricier when going for the battery titans)
Geez this is where I’d love to have known something was in works. I just bought two of the 99Wh versions.
When you have a usb-c device connected, and you plug in another usb-c device, eg for charging, does it renegotiate all usb-c ports - meaning it will (temporarily shut off the first connected device as well in order to net exceed the max allowed power)?
6% is kinda a big number, especially if you are traveling. Anyhow, you are definitely paying for a premium product.
I thought about buying the 99Wh smallrig v-mount but the price seemes way to high for what it does. I then realised i can do all the stuff with my way cheaper anker powerbank and a usb-PD to 12v barreljack adapter. Anker Prime 200 has 72Wh with two 100w usb-c ports and a usb-a for 100 bucks and it even has a display to show all the stats
Came for the battery, stayed for the kondor rig!
i dont want to recable everything when swapping batteries so I'd rather use a proper plate with all the ports and just a cheaper 200wh batterie from patona etc
Legends stamp of approval🎉 can i power atleast this version directly with my Zhiyun Molus G200 😭
Just seen this at NAB and it’s dope. Not too much heavier or bigger than VB 99
charging the internal battery while recording does not get your camera to overheat?
Would have been cool to see in practice some examples of how to mount it without the standard vmount plate.
What’s the weight of it? Sounds/looks hefty?
I travel to Africa a couple times a year, and 99 is all you can legally fly with. (Yes, people have flown with bigger batteries, but it is illegal, and do you want a $400+ battery confiscated? I think not!
I have a couple of 50s and 99s...Now I need the 212 💸
male DC barrels on the adapter - good for a shock and fit nothing?
as someone who doesnt use lens caps.. that lens cap placement is UNHINGED.
The idea of having a v-mount behind the camera is so ridiculous to me. Anton Bauer has the Titon battery you can easily mount under the camera and it won't ever be in the way. Granted, it doesn't have as much power, but I'm willing to sacrifice a bit of power for a better mounting location.
I'd love to hear some alternative views on this.
The real test of a battery is over time
Hi Gerald, undoubtedly many good port features, bar as you say the D-Tap via '3 connectors socket cups' for dual orientation. BUT the ACID test for any battery is how good the cells are and whether the unit has smart charging protocols to maximise the total useful number of charge/discharge cycles? This in effect dictates the useful practical life. Do you have a view on this or can you, as a 'tech savvy' reviewer, start to assess real 'value' (ie accounting for effective life performance per unit of cost)? i.e. Almost literally a "bang for buck" score?
Sure there will be difficulties assessing any real value metric. Not least because it takes time to conduct multiple charge/discharge cycles and purchase price will vary over time (dealer to dealer and when on/off promotional events like Black Fri). Yet, surely physics is physics and there is enough known science now to determine what sort of fundamental ingredients go into making a really excellent top flight battery.
In the absence of any known objective assessment all we have is our own gut instinct and a trust for what we suppose is a quality brand. I have heard many declare brand X as being good but very expensive, thus of questionable value, vs say brand Y that might be more mid-range on cost. But it's hard to really know. I strongly suspect that the cheapest will prove 'cheap' for a reason. Equally the most expensive not always as good as you might expect - considering that you are also paying to support a well known brand's marketing, advertising, influencer support etc to help 'hype' perceptions.
I wonder, if NASA made V-mount cells, engineered for maximum life, how they might evolve and what that would tell us about the optimum mix of chemistry/materials/protocols etc given a (presumably) 'cost no object' approach to engineering the finest technically possible. It probably won't ever be best value but there may well be technical insights and learning, pointing up what best value probably looks like?
So, I'm sure there are V-mounts where a manufacture has cut corners on the grade of individual internal cells, used cheaper Li-ion doping elements, cut corners on case robustness and/or wiring integrity fundamentals etc . Net result being that many a cheap (bargain basement) V-mount won't stand up to heavy professional type use, won't work nearly as long as other, more expensive options. Also expensive premium batteries where you pay for the brand name. But, which is which????
What do others think? I have heard many say SmallRig's VB family is 'brand X' in my text above i.e. good but very expensive (thus not necessarily good value unless bought on deal). Then again, I just ordered an original SmallRig VB99 on a good discount, presumably as a result of VB99 Pro just being launched.
it showing how long you can run at the current power draw is awsome.
Although it states that it has enough power to run a RED camera, it does not work properly and every RED camera I tried it on ended up shutting down within 2-5 minutes. Bummed because it’s compact and looks clean :/
Probably not enough peak power? There's been something similar in the PC space where you actually need an overspecced power supply because some graphics cards need more than their supposed maximum power for sub-second intervals.
Maybe it's time for me to get one of those. But probably not the 212 as they're too expensive at the moment for my liking.
But since Smallrig has smaller models which I started looking into... Let's see.
Thanks, @geraldundone. Could you please review DJI's new Lidar "Focus Pro", and "RS 4 Pro" Gimbal ? Thanks.
I'm not sure if you mentioned it but PLEASE what length is the USB-C cable you're using for PD for the Sony? I'm using the 12-24" coiled one but there's too much tension on the ends for my liking, and I've also ordered too short in the past, but yours is perfect. Is it the 18" or 24" dual right angle?
The lens cap scene had me dying! Quick question, how long is the shooting time on the battery for that setup?
the huge capacity which is a big advantage could also be a drawback. I think this product is restricted on most airplanes. (max 100Wh). his lens cap fetish moment is priceless xD. there must be a story behind his reaction to this discovered solution 🤔
How do you run the A74 without overheating it?
Powered externally via USB-C. Solves the vast majority of overheating issues.
@@patriotbarrow I tried that and it still overheated in a room that wasn’t even hot, and It still did after a V90 card only fix I found so far is the ulanzi fan, got over 2 1/2 hours straight no heat warning
I have an A7IV and I've never had an overheating issue after switching the option for high temperature. You should check if you have that activated. 😉
@@Bruno_fyi did that too, I shoot 10bit 4k in slog and i shoot a proxy too at 720 so that might be it
Looks awesome! And also, Caleb is awesome ❤
Can you fly with these?
silicon skin on plastic tend to get sticky and then a complete mess in a few years. i will gladly skip every product with that threatment
That was my immediate thought too. Some materials hold up well and are ok-ish even after 20 years. Others... turn into goo after only two years. Yikes.
True. It has gotten a lot better though. The sex toy industry has caused a major push in perfecting the exact materials and manufacturing process of silicone on hard plastics...
I’m sure he’s mentioned it but I forget, Gerald uses the A7IV because it’s cheap and only used for stationary shots? Does he have an A7SIII for his mobile shots like the studio visits?
Which usb C cable is the one powering the camera that you show ?
I've got the 50 and 99Wh ones. Might need to grab one or two of these.
I like small rig batteries, they work well.
HEEEELLLLLPPPP MEEEE.
I have a problem, my VB155 doesn't charge anything It's stucks on 75%.
It's just happened today. I'm stressed. Now if i connect a device to the USBC or B port it's show's a 3v output 😢.
I don't know if i have to let the battery drown to 0% so that i can see what would happen.
PLEASE HELP
This is random but I just realize you look like Chris Pratt aft finish watching brides war 😂
Can you review the MC-N10 for Nikon video? It's an interesting product and looks like it'd be interesting for rigging but not a lot of people are talking about it
What do you think about kondor blue dummy battery?
Hi, can it power the Zhiyun Molus X100 at 100%?
Which capacity version would be enough for a 72mm lens cap? Thanks
🤣
why no ANDYCINE Lunchbox II on the ninja V ?
Thanks for sharing it. ✌️
So how long does it last while filming till it dies ?
LOL! I like this episode :) I may pick one up.
Does anyone know where you can get one of the Kondor Blue Sony Lp to v mount plates?
does it still have usb C issues? All smallrig V mounts usb C ports fail miserably after 6 months of partial use
That’s false in my opinion. Been using mine over a year.
@@rodneyturnerphoto all the ones I used have huge issues
Nice review ❤
Great review
Great reviews !
Wow, anyone else thought there was some sexiness to the way Gerald said "I'm done." this time? Or was it just me?
Very cool! And great timing, since I’m shopping for a versatile battery pack for photo/video and general use.
Here is my biggest beef... It's huge. I would love to see them innovate and make the darn things slimer and shorter, but that's just me.
Can you charge these with the 600C V-Mount plates?
I've had issues finding what's compatible and what's not.
I asked Aputure support and they apparently don't even have a comprehensive list nor would share with me which batteries can be charged with their plate on my 600C :/
Lowkey looking for a replacement for my IDX batteries since they don't charge on 600C's battery plate.
When I use my IDX batteries, it doesn't charge and the readout, while attempting trying to charge, is always 100%; normal use has normal readout tho.
Anyways, thanks for the vid!
Hi Gerald, any help would be nice.
I have the VB99, power my GH5 via dtap and dummy battery. All fine there.
Then I have the Feelworld F5 ProX. This one is powered via USB C. As soon as the usb is in I have a few seconds to turn on the monitor from standby, otherwise the VB99 stops sending any power and the monitor is no more in standby. Solution is to unplug and replug the usb and quickly turn on the monitor so it stays on. But if I turn it off again it will take a few seconds and the standby led will just turn off.
Any idea why? I'm thinking that the dc port (instead of the USB) could be less smart of an output and keep juicing the monitor even in standby, or maybe the VB99 has a feature no matter if usb or dc port that if the port is not sending full power it assumes it should just kill the power altogether for safety.
I guess having a battery plate with an on/off switch is one thing but I don't need one. I don't have dc cable, but I'm trying to find one to test and I was hoping maybe you know something about it.
I notice you are running power from your battery to the monitor and to the camera, which also share an HDMI cable. How do you make sure that you don't accidentally damage the HDMI port? I had a wireless HDMI device share a battery with the camera it was connected to, and I ended up frying the wirelss HDMI. Thankfully not the camera. Apparently, power can potentially go down the HDMI, under certain circumstances. Online I found that, at least years back, people were having damaged HDMI ports on their Black Magic cameras due to it.
I don't want to risk damaging the HDMI ports on my devices so now I never share batteries between devices that also share an HDMI cable. Perhaps this is overly cautious.
I brought 3 of the new smallrig 99wh. 2 has problem including not outputting anything but takes input😂 it’s a bad QC
6:33 you haven't adopted Velcro eh
SmallRig is really changing the game with there products..
For how long can it hold the power for exactly this rig ?
Not at NAB this year?
Is there a description of how to make the complete rig Gerald is showing in the video? With links to necessary parts?
We can help with that!
We have a live chat on our website to help walk you through all this.
Yep, okay, getting two of these.
We buying this one for the culture lol
It's a 14v v mount, wish it was a 26v v mount
Best part of the video is ironically not the battery.As amazing as this battery is.
It’s Gerald trying to remove the battery.