There is a lot of power required for video recordings, often more than a normal camera battery can deliver for an extended period of time. An external battery can be the answer to that problem. I have reviewed the excellent SmallRig VB99 Pro Mini V-Mount battery.
Perhaps SmallRig is best known for its cages and accessories for video rigs, but that’s not the only thing they offer. Among their many other products are the SmallRig VB99 Mini V-Mount batteries. One of these is the VB99 Pro Mini V-Mount, which SmallRig kindly provided for review.
First, a disclaimer: Although SmallRig provided the product, the findings and conclusions are not influenced or controlled by the company. This is my own honest opinion. With that out of the way, let’s look at this small 100-watt V-Mount battery.
The Design
The SmallRig VB99 Pro mini V-mount battery is a small block that features versatile V-Mount connectivity. It measures 107.2 x 73.2 x 55.2 mm and weighs 660 grams. This makes the battery relatively small despite its 100-watt capacity. The housing is made from scratch-resistant polycarbonate and acrylic composite materials.
What’s special about this battery is the wide range of available connections. It features an 8 VDC and 12 VDC 2.1 mm barrel connector, two USB-C ports that support PD3.0, one USB-A connector, and one 14.8 V D-tap.
A color OLED screen offers a lot of information about the operation of the battery, including the output voltage per connection, the remaining charge percentage, and a real-time remaining operation time per charge.
Energy Distribution
The SmallRig VB99 Pro mini V-mount has eight built-in LG A-grade 18650 batteries with 3,500 mAh each. The charging and power delivery are regulated by an intelligent Battery Management System. It protects the SmallRig VB99 Pro against over-discharge, overload, over-current, over-voltage, over-temperature, low-temperature, and short-circuit, ensuring stability for both voltage and current.
The battery can be charged through the D-tap connector or the USB-C port. If the latter is used, the battery can be charged with a 100 W GaN fast charger in approximately 2.5 hours. It is possible to use the battery while charging.
The OLED Screen
The SmallRig VB99 Pro Mini V-Mount offers a lot of operational information. Most importantly, the bright color OLED screen shows the amount of charge in percentage. This is a huge improvement over the regular LEDs that are found on many standard V-Mount batteries.
If the battery is charging, the remaining charging time is displayed. If the battery is in use, the remaining time will be displayed. This time is updated in real-time and changes if more devices are connected or removed.
The OLED screen provides information about the amount of voltage per connection in use and the total wattage. If the total wattage reaches or exceeds the maximum 100 watts, the letters TDP (Total Discharge Power) will be highlighted in red. If the battery reaches 45 degrees Celsius, a yellow HT (High Temperature) warning lights up. There are also warning signals for low temperature, over-current, and over-voltage.
The OLED screen remains dark if the battery is not in use. If you need to know the available charge, a button on the side can be pressed. The OLED screen lights up and shows the amount of charge.
The SmallRig VB99 Pro Mini V-Mount Battery in Use
Most V-Mount batteries require a battery plate with connectors, making the use of a V-Mount battery rather bulky. The SmallRig VB99 Pro Mini V-Mount can also be used on a battery plate, just like regular batteries.
However, because the SmallRig VB99 Pro features its own connectors, a bulky battery plate is no longer necessity. This allows for a smaller and more compact video rig. SmallRig also offers compact connection plates, of course.
Thanks to its connections, the SmallRig VB99 Pro also functions as a power bank. The capacity is large enough to charge a 14-inch MacBook Pro completely or multiple devices at once.
I’ve been using the SmallRig VB99 Pro to power a camera through the 12 VDC or USB-C connector for prolonged night photography and time-lapse photography. At the same time, an anti-fog belt can be connected, or any other device that accepts USB-C power delivery.
The battery can also power a video light, such as the SmallRig RC 60B COB LED light or the Zhiyun Molus X100. The latter allows for the maximum 100-watt output on the SmallRig VB99 Pro battery for more than 40 minutes. For comparison, the original Zhiyun battery offers only 30 minutes of power.
Conclusion
At first, I thought the SmallRig VB99 Pro Mini V-Mount battery was just another battery. After using it for a while, I discovered how versatile this small but powerful battery really is. Its strength lies not only in its compact form factor but also in the excellent information displayed on the color OLED screen.
There are a lot of accessories for V-Mount connections, which makes it convenient to place the battery onto a video rig, a light stand, or a tripod. The V-Mount adapter also features a 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch tap.
Although using it on a regular V-Mount battery plate is possible, a smaller setup is achievable with this battery. This is perfect for handheld video recording without making any concessions. I have used the SmallRig VB99 Pro to power an Atomos Ninja V, an audio recorder, and a camera, with room to spare.
SmallRig has paid attention to small details, like fixing the rubber flap on top of the battery. On the other hand, the glossy material on the front of the battery is susceptible to fingerprints. Although it looks slick at first, the surface becomes smudged very quickly.
The SmallRig VB99 Pro mini V-mount battery is not cheap, but I believe the many benefits make it worth it. It’s also worth mentioning that the battery doesn’t require the purchase of a battery plate for the connections, and all the additional accessories for fixing it onto a video rig are included.
What I Like
- Compact form factor
- Excellent connectivity (USB-C, USB-A, 8 VDC, 12 VDC, D-tap)
- Excellent color OLED screen
- Extensive information displayed on the OLED screen
- Fast charging possible with a 100 W GaN charger (2.5 hours)
- Battery Management System adds protection
- 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch holes in the V-Mount connector
- 240-watt USB-C cable included
- Rubber flap can be fixed in an open position for easy access
What Could Be Improved
- The 12 VDC connection is not compatible with some Atomos external screens and recorders (although the 8 VDC is)
- Exchanging the battery in a video rig requires reconnecting all the devices separately
- No protective cover for the bottom contacts for battery plates
- Glossy finish is susceptible to fingerprints
The SmallRig VB99 Pro mini V-mount is also available in a smaller 50-watt version. However, if 100 watts is not enough, you might be interested in the 155-watt or 212-watt versions. Keep in mind, these are not Pro versions. Whatever capacity you need, I can recommend this amazing battery.
