SmallRig Turbo Charging Kit for NP-FZ100: Review

I recently switched from the Sony ZV-E10 to the A6700, which meant finally dealing with NP-FZ100 batteries properly. I needed spare batteries and a charger portable enough for travel, and after looking around, the SmallRig Turbo Charging Kit felt like the most interesting option — and the smallest dual charger I could find. So I got it and I’ve been using it for 4 months now.

Build and portability

The charger is made of matte black PC+ABS plastic, which sounds cheap on paper but feels solid in hand. There’s no flex, no rattle, and the batteries click in firmly and stay put. I’ve carried it loose in a bag without any issues — nothing shifts or comes loose. At 205g with the batteries inside and measuring 83 × 64 × 27mm, it’s genuinely compact. It’s noticeably smaller than Sony’s own BC-QZ1 charger and takes up roughly the same footprint as a deck of cards, which makes it easy to justify throwing in a travel bag.

The two batteries sit side by side in an open-top cradle design — you can see this clearly in the photo — and they don’t stick out awkwardly. The included USB-C cable is also worth mentioning: it’s braided, feels well-made, and is a step above the throwaway cables you usually find bundled with accessories like this.

Display and indicators

There’s no screen, which some might miss, but I don’t find it necessary. Each slot has five LED indicators showing charge level in 20% increments, which is enough to know at a glance where you stand. There’s also a red warning light for critically low batteries. Straightforward and functional.

Charging performance

Both batteries charge simultaneously — not sequentially — which is the right way to do it. Using a 65W USB-C wall adapter and a power bank, both batteries went from flat to full in around 1 hour 50 minutes. The charger supports up to 22.5W input via USB-C with PD3.0 and QC3.0, and it delivered on that with a decent fast charger. One thing worth noting: the included cable performed well, but if you’re using your own, make sure it’s a quality cable that supports fast charging — a basic 5V cable will drop it into slow-charge mode and prioritise slot one before switching to slot two.

The charger got mildly warm during use, as you’d expect, but nothing concerning. No overheating during long sessions or when charging inside a bag.

Note: If you’re using a basic 5V/2.4A adapter, the charger drops into slow-charge mode and prioritises slot 1 first, switching to slot 2 only once it’s fully charged.

Compatibility

It works with the original Sony NP-FZ100 battery without any issues — no pop-up warnings in-camera, full power display, everything behaves as expected. The full decoding chip handles that cleanly. The included batteries also register correctly in-camera.

Battery capacity

The included batteries are rated at 1940mAh versus the original Sony’s 2280mAh — roughly a 15% difference, which isn’t quite “tiny.” In practice though, for the kind of shooting I do — shorter sessions with frequent battery swaps — I haven’t felt that gap. If you’re shooting long continuous takes or events where you’re running batteries down fully between swaps, you might notice it more. For travel and everyday use, it hasn’t been an issue.

Safety

The charger has built-in over-temperature and over-voltage protection, and it holds certifications including FCC, CE, RoHS, and KC among others. I had no issues in use so far.

The batteries discharge down to -10°C, so they’ll hold up in winter shooting conditions. Charging, however, requires at least 0°C — worth keeping in mind if you’re in a very cold environment.

If you’re travelling to or importing from South Korea, India, Taiwan, or Japan, be aware there may be restrictions on carrying or importing battery items. Worth checking local regulations before you pack.

Value

At $69.99 for two batteries and a dual charger, this is solid value. Comparable kits from Nitecore or Newmowa can come in slightly cheaper, but the SmallRig’s build quality, compact footprint, and the fact that it charges both batteries at the same time rather than sequentially makes it stand out. If portability and reliability are priorities, the premium is easy to justify.

Verdict

This kit is a strong pick for travel photographers, mirrorless shooters who want a compact backup charging solution, and anyone upgrading to the A6700 or similar Sony bodies who doesn’t want to rely on in-camera USB charging alone.

It’s less ideal for studio or heavy commercial use where maximum battery capacity matters, or for photographers doing all-day continuous shooting who might feel the 15% capacity difference more acutely.

Pros:

• Genuinely compact and well-built
• Charges both batteries simultaneously
• Works with original Sony batteries
• Good cable included
• Clear LED indicators
• Strong safety certifications

Cons:

• 1940mAh capacity is ~15% lower than OEM
• Needs a good cable and 22.5W+ adapter to get full charging speed
• No screen for precise percentage readout