Sony A7C R Battery & Charger Guide

Welcome to my Sony A7C R (ILCE-7CR) battery and battery charging guide where I cover all of the compatible battery and charging options for the compact Sony A7C R mirrorless camera.

What’s in The Box?

When purchased new the Sony A7C R includes one Sony NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (2280mAh) in the box.

However, there is no external charger included in the box and Sony has also stopped including USB chargers and cables.

So unless you already have a USB charger and USB cable with a micro USB connector on one end for the A7C R you will not be able to charge your new camera!

Batteries

The only compatible battery for the Sony A7C R is the Sony NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (2280mAh).

Now, there are many third-party NP-FZ100 batteries on the market but these are not guaranteed to work correctly with the A7C R and may even damage your new camera.

Third-party batteries that do work can sometimes throw error messages and those that work today may stop working correctly when Sony updates the A7C R’s Firmware.

Sony NP-FZ100

The Sony NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (2280mAh) is compatible with the Sony A7C R and also many other Sony Alpha Cameras.

Watson NP-FZ100

Please don’t blame me if it doesn’t work or toasts your camera, but if you really want to take a risk with a third-party battery then one of the more reliable options is the Watson NP-FZ100. However, these batteries might still display warnings and I would still recommend sticking with the official Sony batteries.

Battery Chargers

The Sony A7C R does not include an external charger in the box. If you prefer to charge your batteries externally then here are your options.

Sony BC-QZ1

The official Sony battery charger for the NP-FZ100 battery is the Sony BC-QZ1. With this charger you can charge the official Sony NP-FZ100 battery in around two hours.

Sony BC-ZD1 Dual Battery Charger

The BC-ZD1 is a high-speed charger for Sony’s NP-FZ100 batteries. It can simultaneously charge two batteries in approximately 155 minutes when connected to a USB Power Delivery (PD) compatible power supply with 30W or higher output and a USB cable with USB PD support (3A) or higher current.

• Charges two NP-FZ100 batteries simultaneously in approximately 155 minutes when connected to a USB PD compatible power supply
• Equipped with an indicator lamp that shows the battery charging status in 5 stages
• Width approx. 84.5 mm x Height approx. 29.2 mm x Depth approx. 70.0 mm, weight approx. 149g
• With heat dissipation measures plus built-in heat monitoring and control

Sony NPA-MQZ1K

If you need to shoot for longer then you might want to invest in the Sony NPA-MQZ1K multi battery kit.

This can charge 4x NP-FZ100 batteries in approximately 480 minutes and also power two USB devices and the A7C R at the same time.

The NPA-MQZ1K includes two NP-FZ100 batteries, a cable protector and a mounting plate. 

Watson Mini Duo Charger

This Watson mini duo charger is one of the better third-party charging options. With it you can charge two NP-FZ100 batteries in around 5 hours. It features built-in overcharge, short-circuit, and power surge protection.

This charger is designed for Watson NP-FZ100 batteries, so you will be taking a risk if you attempt to charge the original Sony NP-FZ100 batteries with it.

USB Charging

The Sony Alpha A7C R supports USB PD (Power Delivery) for fast in-camera battery charging via its USB-C port.

Unfortunately Sony does not provide a USB charger nor do they provide a USB-C cable with the A7C R.

USB-C Cables

I expect many of us already have more USB cables at home than we know what to do with. If you don’t already have a cable then here are a couple of options.

Anker PowerLine II USB-C 3.1 Gen2

Use this cable with a USB-C charger. The cable has a USB-C connector on each end and supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 which will enable you to transfer files at the maximum speed that the A7C R is capable of.

Anker USB-A to USB-C Cable

Use this cable with a USB-A charger. It has a USB-A connector on one end and a USB-C connector on the other end to connect to the A7C R. It supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 which will enable you to transfer files at the maximum speed that the A7C R is capable of.

Power Banks

You can use a Power Delivery (PD) certified power bank to charge the battery when the A7C R is powered off. It can also be used to power the A7C R when switched on. Sony recommends using a USB-PD device that is compatible with an output of 9V/3A or 9V/2A.

ANKER 10,000mAh PowerCore Slim PD

The ANKER 10,000mAh PowerCore Slim PD is one of many power bank options that could be used to charge or power the A7C R.

Anker PowerCore III Elite 26K 60W

If you need even more power then the Anker PowerCore III Elite 26K 60W is one to consider.

The massive 25,600 mAh capacity battery will keep your A7C R shooting all day long and night.

Continuous Power

If you need to provide power for longer shoots then here are your options.

Sony DC-C1 DC Coupler

The DC-C1 DC coupler allows for a stable power supply during long shoots or streaming by providing continuous, reliable power to cameras compatible with NP-FZ100 or NP-FW50 rechargeable battery packs using an external power source such as a USB PD (65 W or more) compatible AC adapter and USB cable with USB PD support (5 A).

• Supplies power directly from an external power source such as a USB PD compatible AC adapter (65 W or more) to a camera body that supports NP-FZ100 or NP-FW50 batteries
• To prevent accidental cable disconnection, the DC-C1 is equipped with the locking screw hole, or an anchor loop can be used to secure the cable to the USB port ​
• 1.6m cable connects plug-in plate to the power supply assembly for flexible setup during shooting
• Equipped with Power Indicator Lamp that shows the power supply status
• Width approx. 52.0 mm x Height approx. 70.6 mm x Depth approx. 32.0 mm

Battery Life

The battery life of the Sony A7C R will vary depending on your camera settings and also environmental factors. On cold days the battery will drain much faster than on warmer days.

Battery Life Shooting Stills

The A7C R can achieve approx. 490 shots (Viewfinder) and approx. 530 shots (LCD monitor) (CIPA standard).

These are CIPA standard figures and in the rear world if you are shooting a lot of continuous bursts then you can easily shoot thousands of images before depleting the battery.

Battery Life Recording Video

Shooting movies (actual) will get you approx. 95 min (Viewfinder) or approx. 100 min (LCD monitor) (CIPA standard).

Sony A7C R Guides & Resources

FAQs