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Which battery does the Sony A9 take?

The Sony Alpha A9 is a professional mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that features a 24.0MP sensor. It is powered by the Sony NP-FZ100, which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery pack. Lithium-Ion batteries offer a high energy density and low self-discharge, and are nowadays found in many portable electronic devices.

Battery Pack

The NP-FZ100 operates at a voltage of 7.2V and has a capacity of 2280mAh. It can be charged from a standard electrical outlet via the Sony BC-QZ1 charger (that can be purchased separately, for example, at amazon). The battery pack measures 39 mm in width, 23 mm in height, and 52 mm in depth. It weighs 85 g. The Sony NP-FZ100 has been on the market since April 2017 and sells at good camera retailers, such as amazon, for about $90. Sony provides the NP-FZ100 in a black outer finish. Generic alternatives (see below) that are compatible with the Sony Alpha A9 can be obtained at substantially lower cost.


Find a generic replacement for the Sony NP-FZ100 at:

 
amazon.com
 
 
ebay.com
 


It is noteworthy, that the Sony A9 supports internal charging of its battery pack via the USB port. This feature can be particularly useful when travelling, as one can re-charge the camera battery simply by plugging a USB cable into one's laptop, rather than carrying a separate battery charger along.

How many shots can I take with a fully charged ?

The number of shots that one can get out of a battery pack depends heavily on the style and imaging practice of the photographer. For example, the extended use of the LCD screen for framing or reviewing will result in reduced battery performance.

Sony NP-FZ100

The Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) has established guidelines that manufacturers are supposed to respect when reporting the battery life of their cameras. According to this CIPA-rating, the Sony A9 can take 650 images on a single charge. Given the relatively demanding energy usage of the CIPA procedures, this rated number should be achievable or be surpassed in most practical situations. However, if the environment is cold, the LCD screen is used heavily, or the camera is turned on and off frequently, battery mileage might drop towards or even below the rating. Also, as the battery pack ages, its performance will tend to deteriorate.

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What about generic battery packs?

Sony sells the original NP-FZ100 battery pack at quite a steep price. This premium pricing strategy has left room in the market for third party suppliers to offer fully compatible battery packs at much lower prices. Savings from buying generic replacement batteries can amount up to 70 percent of the price of the genuine battery pack.

Sony NP-FZ100 Specifications

  • Battery type: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack
  • Compatibility: Sony A9 & other selected Sony cameras
  • Voltage: 7.2V DC
  • Capacity: 2280mAh
  • Number of shots (CIPA) with the Sony A9: 650

Indeed, one can often find a variety of competitively-priced NP-FZ100 replacements from different vendors at major online platforms (see, for example, here on ebay). All these generic alternatives should work fine with your Sony A9. So why would anybody then buy the more expensive original battery? Well, below are some arguments in favor of the genuine Sony NP-FZ100, which can perhaps be summarized as "peace of mind":

  • Assurance that the warranty of the camera will not be rendered void if a battery-related failure occurs;
  • Assurance that the battery pack will indeed have the stated capacity;
  • Assurance that the battery will have low self-discharge rates and, thus, will hold its charge even when not in use;
  • Assurance that the power unit will not trigger any warning messages on the camera and can be effectively charged with the standard charger;
  • Assurance that the manufacturing process has respected the safety guidelines for Lithium-Ion batteries;

If you can live without these assurances, then you are in for some nice savings from buying generic replacements for the Sony NP-FZ100. Unfortunately, the market for generic battery packs is rather fluid, with new trade names popping up regularly while others disappear. Hence it is difficult to keep track of all the suppliers and the quality of their products. That said, in North America, battery packs from Wasabi have gained a good reputation, while in Europe, replacement power packs from Patona have received many favorable reviews. In any case, the existing comparisons tend to find that the cheapest of the generic replacement packs score worse in terms of achieving their rated capacity, holding their charge over time, or allowing for a large number of charge-discharge cycles than somewhat pricier battery packs (or the genuine Sony offer). Thus, the old adage, "If the price sounds too low to be true, it probably is" has some merit with respect to camera batteries also. You can check the current offers and prices for the original Sony NP-FZ100 and its clones by using the buttons below.


Find a generic replacement for the Sony NP-FZ100 at:

 
amazon.com
 
 
ebay.com
 


Which other cameras use the Sony NP-FZ100?

The A9 is not alone in using the Sony NP-FZ100. Several other cameras from Sony are powered by the same type of lithium-ion pack. The adjacent table lists some of them along with a selection of their headline specifications.

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Cameras using the Sony NP-FZ100
  Camera
Model
Battery
(name)
Battery life
(CIPA)
Sensor Size
(type)
Resolution
(MP)
Weight
(g)
Camera
Launch
Launch Price
(USD)
Street Price
(USD)
1Sony A1Sony NP-FZ100530Full Frame49.8737Jan 20216,499amazon.com
2Sony A7 IIISony NP-FZ100610Full Frame24.0650Feb 20181,999amazon.com
3Sony A7 IVSony NP-FZ100580Full Frame32.7659Oct 20212,499amazon.com
4Sony A7CSony NP-FZ100740Full Frame24.0509Sep 20201,799amazon.com
5Sony A7C IISony NP-FZ100540Full Frame32.7514Aug 20232,199amazon.com
6Sony A7C RSony NP-FZ100520Full Frame60.2520Aug 20232,999amazon.com
7Sony A7R IIISony NP-FZ100650Full Frame42.2650Oct 20173,199ebay.com
8Sony A7R IIIASony NP-FZ100650Full Frame42.2650Apr 20213,199amazon.com
9Sony A7R IVSony NP-FZ100670Full Frame60.2665Jul 20193,499ebay.com
10Sony A7R IVASony NP-FZ100670Full Frame60.2665Apr 20213,499amazon.com
11Sony A7R VSony NP-FZ100530Full Frame60.2723Oct 20223,899amazon.com
12Sony A7S IIISony NP-FZ100600Full Frame12.0699Jul 20203,499amazon.com
13Sony A9Sony NP-FZ100650Full Frame24.0673Apr 20174,499ebay.com
14Sony A9 IISony NP-FZ100690Full Frame24.0678Oct 20194,499amazon.com
15Sony A9 IIISony NP-FZ100530Full Frame24.0702Nov 20235,999amazon.com
16Sony A6600Sony NP-FZ100810APS-C24.0503Aug 20191,399amazon.com
17Sony A6700Sony NP-FZ100570APS-C25.6493Jul 20231,399amazon.com
18Sony ZV-E1Sony NP-FZ100570Full Frame12.0483Mar 20232,199amazon.com
19Sony ZV-E10 IISony NP-FZ100610APS-C25.6377Jul 2024999amazon.com

Sony NP-FZ100 FAQ

The Sony NP-FZ100 is the standard power source for the A9. As such it is an indispensable camera accessory. Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular aspects of the battery pack and Lithium-Ion power units more generally.

Is there a car charger available for the NP-FZ100?

Sony does not offer a travel charger, but third party suppliers might do (see here on ebay).

Can I use the NP-FZ100 in any of my other electronic devices?

No, the battery is specifically designed for use in the Sony A9 and other selected cameras from Sony.

How should the NP-FZ100 be stored?

Lithium-ion batteries can hold a charge for a long time. However, these battery packs have a safety mechanism built-in that disables any re-charge if the voltage drops below a certain minimum level. To avoid this safety-trigger to be activated, the battery pack should be charged at least once every few months.

How should I discard my old Sony NP-FZ100 battery pack?

The contents of Lithium-Ion batteries is under pressure and the packs can explode if exposed to extreme heat. Lithium-Ion battery units should therefore never be incinerated and should not be thrown into the household trash, but put into the recycling stream. Most places that sell camera batteries will also accept them back for recycling.

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