SMALLRIG V Mount Battery VB99 SE, 99Wh / 6800mAh mini
SMALLRIG V Mount Battery VB99 SE, 99Wh / 6800mAh mini V-Mount Battery with PD 65W USB-C Fast Charging, with D-TAP, USB-A, Dual DC Port, OLED Screen, for Camera, Camcorder, Monitor, Video Light – 4823
From the brand
The performance of this Vmount battery is really impressive. I use it for powering photo equipment on the go and it’s also useful for charging a multitude of devices. The battery comes with a variety of handy ports. Charging speed is super fast and I appreciate the display that indicates how much charge is left. You can also control the battery/display via the power button. Considering what it has to offer, this battery is compact and not too heavy. Great find!
This SMALLRIG 99Wh V-Mount battery has an OLED display, letting you know the current state of charge or, if there is some electrical activity going on, how much power is transfering between the battery and the outside world. In the photograph, you can see an example where a drain on the USB C supply is taking power and it is drawing 4.2 watts. On the right of the display, you can see the battery status pictorially as well as in numbers but at the bottom is an estimate of how long this can carry on – 22.0 hours. It does this for all of the supplies but it also does it when you are charging it up, giving an estimate of how long it is going to take whether that is days, hours or minutes.
On the back of the battery is the V-Mount itself along with the standard configuration for charging it up on V-Mount charger or fitting onto a dedicated holder on a camera rig.
On one side is the power switch which just switches on or off the display – if it is on and you need complete darkness, pressing it will turn it off for you. On the other side is the D-Tap socket which you can use for lighting or anything else that takes power from the socket.
On the top are USB A, USB C – including super fast charging and, 8V and 12V DC sockets. The lid for both the D-Tap and the top have a little protrusion on them that slots into a groove on the body which then stops them from getting in the way.
V-Mount blocks are useful for so many things photographic, whether that is lighting or running cameras and this one is no exception.
This battery has an edge over similar ones when you look at its versatility and power vs size and weight.
I have a good few items by Smallrig and they do quality and affordable photographic equipment. This battery has the looks – it’s pretty cool. I decided to keep the front cover foil to protect it against scratches for as long as it takes.
It offers a number of charging options, including a PD port and USB-A. It enables the user to charge many types of devices. Another positive is you can do this simultaneously as it has a parallel circuit, so there is no loss of power like with regular power banks.
It has two rubber protection flaps – the side one for the d-tap port is ok, but the top one is annoying as it keeps coming out. It could have been done better.
The display is there and provides useful information about each port, as well as overall remaining power level of the battery. It’s clear, but a little dim, especially in bright light.
I read that this particular battery had charging issues, as in it wouldn’t charge all the way up to 100%. I can confirm this is not the case, at least with the one I have.
The lower level of 6800mAh is decent considering the size and weight. It doesn’t look like much compared to a regular power bank, but as I said – no loss of power when charging multiple devices, variety of charging options for different photographic (and not just) equipment. And it has a few threaded holes for mounting onto cages, tripods etc. And the V-mount of course.
At 180, this battery is way more expensive than a power bank, but on a good level compared with similar products from competition, which often are bulkier and heavier. It’s made of good quality fireproof ABS material. The top cover won’t come out if you pull it up first, then push down the side where the arrow points first. Overall I’m happy to recommend this battery for photographers.
Thank you for reading my review. I hope you found it helpful.
This is a v mount battery with lots of plug in ports for usb c and allows you to charge or run multiple devices at the same time. This is brilliant for any serious camera work.
The V mount slides and secures easily and nice and solid. When clipped in it also gives easy access to all charge ports. So you can attach and detach cables without having to unmount which is great.
We used this for some camera work and used it to power a light ring and separate microphone at the same time, which is brilliant and makes life much easier. You could use separate power banks and tape them to the appliances, but this works seamlessly and feels like a high quality professional bit of kit.
The pack has a good sized capacity that can easily last an afternoon or evening of work. There is a charge remaining display which is easy to read and accurate.
Good quality and value, recommended. Thank you for reading my review. I hope you found it useful
This V-mount battery is a versatile and reliable power solution for various devices and setups.
The 6800mAh capacity provides ample power for extended shoots, and I no longer worry about running out of battery in the middle of an important shot. The battery supports high-power USB-C bi-directional PD, which is a great feature for fast charging and powering other devices.
The multiple ports, including USB-C, USB-A, DC 5.5 x 2.1mm 8V, DC 5.5 x 2.5mm 12V, BP, and D-TAP, offer excellent flexibility. I can connect various accessories and devices without needing multiple power sources. This has streamlined my setup and reduced the clutter of cables and chargers.
One aspect I particularly appreciate is the V-mount backplate with 1/4″-20 & 3/8″-16 threaded holes, along with the 1/4″-20 threaded hole on the bottom. This allows for secure mounting on different rigs and setups, enhancing the overall stability and usability of my equipment.
However, the battery’s weight is a bit on the heavier side, which can make handheld shooting a bit cumbersome.
Overall, this V-mount battery is a fantastic addition to my gear, providing reliable power and versatile connectivity for various shooting scenarios.
I recently purchased the SMALLRIG V Mount Battery VB99 SE, and it has exceeded my expectations in every aspect.
The build quality of this battery is excellent. It feels solid and well constructed, ensuring durability for long-term use in various professional settings.
Installing and setting up the VB99 SE was straightforward. It seamlessly connects to my camera and other equipment, making it hassle free to get started.
This battery is highly user friendly. The OLED screen provides clear information on battery status, and the multiple output options (PD 65W USB-C, D-TAP, USB-A, Dual DC Port) make it incredibly versatile for powering various devices. The fast-charging feature is a significant bonus, ensuring minimal downtime.
Considering its performance and features, the SMALLRIG VB99 SE offers great value for money. Its 99Wh capacity and 6800mAh power ensure long lasting usage, making it a reliable choice for professional photographers and videographers.
I highly recommend the SMALLRIG V Mount Battery VB99 SE for anyone in need of a high quality, reliable power solution for their camera gear. It’s a fantastic investment that enhances efficiency and productivity on set.
PROS
-so many useful ports, it’s ideal for me (see NOTES below)
-very well built (typical smallrig quality)
-low enough capacity that it can be taken on most commercial airlines (who usually have a 100Wh limit)
-has 1/4″-20 threaded holes and a 3/8″ hole in the body, very useful
-charges very quickly
-very useful display, I can see what each port is drawing, and an estimate of how much is remaining at that power drain level
CONS
-I find that the “locking groves” of the two silicone covers don’t work at all (that’s ok, I’m used to floppy silicone covers getting in the way, my camera has three)
NOTES
-this is an ideal battery to run my motion-control timelapse equipment: the 65W PD USB-C will drive the pan/tilt/slide motors, the 8V port will run my camera (via a dummy battery), the DTAP port will power my focus motor, and the 12V port will power a dew-heater. This used to take 3-4 batteries. I’m going to invest in this battery’s bigger cousin, to run my gear for a longer time.
-I also use it to power my various video lights, a few of which have a v-mount clamp built in to their ballast.
-a very rare 5 stars from me, this is an exceptional product.
MY STAR RATINGS:
1* substandard, mostly cons
2** barely acceptable, cons outweigh the pros
3*** meets the basic requirements, cons balance the pros
4**** good product, pros outweigh the cons
5***** exceptional, all (or almost all) pros
a great little v mount battery pack, great to keep the camera running when on shoots and using the camera for long periods of time.
The various inputs are just what you need, and the led display showing you what each port is doing is great.
the best thing about this pack though is the fact i can use it to power other devices too, so gives me extra power where its needed, the V mount is great and works really well as does the screw mount.
great value, would recommend
This product was sent to me for review, as part of Amazon Vine. The below is my own real-world experience of using it.
I was particularly drawn to it, because I am a keen hobbyist photographer, who sometimes likes to use a camera for longer periods of shooting. The versatility of this type of charger is especially appealing.
In terms of build quality, the battery is a robust, slightly heavyweight piece, but, it comes in a fairly compact design. It would be easy enough to slot inside a larger camera bag (of course, depending on how many other items you already have in there). I was a little surprised to discover that it does not come with a charging cable, however, the USB-C compatibility makes it easier to use whichever cable you prefer.
I have tested the battery in a number of different scenarios – firstly, I decided to charge my Nintendo Switch with it. I would say that a 0-100% charge took around 2-3 hours. I also have a number of dummy battery connectors for the different cameras I own, so I used the 8v port and a dummy battery to power my Panasonic G80, which worked perfectly (there is also a 12v option for more power-hungry cameras). Throughout each charge, the voltage information was clearly displayed on the LCD screen – a useful diagnostic tool, should you ever need to check whether something is charging efficiently.
It does take some time to recharge the unit itself, but that is to be expected for a battery of this size.
In summary, a good value item that is a worthy addition to any photographer’s/videographer’s kit.
One assumes that if you are reading this you know what a V mount battery is, it then follows that you are also aware of Smallrig.
Put the 2 together and you can’t really go wrong.
I use V mount batteries extensively in my studio to power lights, cameras, monitors and mics, this being one of the better ones I have used, particularly given it is mini V mount.
A full compliment of output ports, including my go to, D-Tap, pretty much covers all the equipment I use whilst the handy from LCD allows me to monitor usage and drain.
A 5 star product if ever there was one.