Sony Shooters to Get Two New Official Camera Power Supply Solutions: A New Dual Charger and a Dummy Battery
Sony has unveiled the new BC-ZD1 dual battery charger and the DC-C1 DC coupler for corded power for its Alpha series and Cinema Line cameras that use NP-FZ100 batteries.
Jourdan Aldredge • Oct 22, 2024
For all of you Sony shooters out there, keeping your camera powered and your extra batteries charged has always been a chore. Since the earliest days of digital cameras, this battle with battery life has been long fought, yet with recent innovations in battery technology, we’re starting to see some impressive improvements that aim to help keep you shooting.
Designed for Alpha series and Cinema Line cameras, these new power supply solutions are designed for all shooters using NP-FZ100 batteries. Let’s look at the new BC-ZD1 battery charger and the new DC-C1 DC coupler to see how they could help power your photo and video workflows.
The Sony BC-ZD1 Charger
The new BC-ZD1 can fully charge two NP-FZ100 batteries in around 155 minutes, which would make it one of the fastest chargers for this battery type on the market. The charger itself is quite compact and lightweight, weighing just 5.3 oz (149 g), and it has some nice built-in features, like an indicator lamp that shows the charging status.
The BC-ZD1 charger connects to a USB Power Delivery power supply, which must be 30W or higher. It also features a USB cable with USB PD support. The charger includes built-in heat monitoring and heat dissipation measures that will keep it (and you) safe while charging.
The Sony DC-C1 DC Coupler
The new Sony DC-C1 DC coupler is designed for the same Sony cameras as the BC-ZD1 and provides continuous camera power. The DC-C1 acts as a "dummy battery." At one end, you have the power supply itself which is plugged into a USB power supply. That cable and the USB brick aren't provided. The cable must have USB PD support and the brick must deliver at least 65W of power.
Designed to be compact and lightweight as well, the DC-C1 should be ideal for small camera rigs and those looking to attach it to their cameras easily. The coupler features a locking screw hole and a helpful anchor loop to keep it safely secured and powering your camera.
There are other dummy batteries for Sony cameras available from third parties for far less than what Sony is charging here. However, it's fantastic to have a first-party option from Sony that you can rest assured won't harm your camera.
The Best Storage Solutions for Your Sony Camera
Along with the power supply options above, if you want to make the most out of your Sony cameras for photo and video, there are several OWC products worth exploring. Along with power, you’ll need storage, which means capture cards and external storage. Here are some recommended Sony camera accessories worth checking out:
Sony BC-ZD1 and DC-C1 Price and Availability
If you’re interested in checking out these new Sony power supply solutions, you can pre-order them now and expect shipments soon. The BC-ZD1 is set to retail starting at $119.99, and the DC-C1 will retail at $129.99. You can check out both on Sony’s website here.
