Sony NP-FW50

The NP-FW50 has been Sony's go-to mirrorless battery for over a decade, and it remains the factory cell in a large share of the APS-C Alpha lineup still in daily use. Rated at 7.2V and 1020 mAh, it uses Sony's InfoLITHIUM technology to report an exact charge percentage and remaining shooting time, not a rough estimate.

Coverage runs across the Alpha A6000, A6100, A6300, A6400, A6500 and A5100, the full-frame A7, A7 II, A7R, A7R II, A7S and A7S II, the RX10 II through RX10 IV, and the ZV-E10. Check the exact body before buying, since not every Sony mirrorless takes this cell.

Going with the genuine Sony battery avoids the two most common complaints with off-brand cells: a camera that refuses to recognize the battery, and a charge readout that cannot be trusted. Built-in protection against overcharge and overheating adds a further margin of safety. A second or third NP-FW50 in the bag is cheap insurance against a dead battery mid-shoot, whether on a wedding, a hike or a full day of travel photography.