Review of the CORE SWX V-Mount batteries

In a previous article, I wrote about why I sometimes use V-mount batteries as they allow me to run multiple devices shooting 4K and sometimes even 4K RAW for an entire day on two or three batteries. I decided to go with two different models from CORESWX.

I initially went with two models from SWIT. The smaller SWIT-8320S and the larger SWIT S-8192S. The smaller ones are pretty cool as they are water resistant and shock resistant. Not that I plan on dropping them from two meters onto concrete or leaving them in water, but it’s nice to know that they can take a licking and keep on ticking. The SWIT batteries are also not that pricey, but are V-mount battery standards so it’s a good compromise.

The larger ones have a rather clever way of getting around the 100w limit on batteries that can be carried on in your luggage. They use two 73w batteries that can be separated for air travel but can be combined to form a 146w battery. This can run my Fs5/7 and Atomos monitor for almost two hours.

So, if these SWIT batteries are so solid, clever and well priced, why did I end up using the CORESWX ones more? Read on to find out.

I initially got two Hypercore 98W batteries. I bought these because the price had dropped and they were only $329 AUD, which, for these batteries, is a really good price. A really cool feature of these batteries is a built-in accelerometer. This detects when the battery is not in use and will put it into a type of hibernation mode to save on battery life.

Something to keep in mind with V-mount batteries is that if they completely de-charge this can damage the battery. This means it won’t fully charge again and, in the worst case scenario, it may not charge at all.

The Hypercore 98w feature a d-tap connection, which I use to power my Atomos Shogun and a USB connection, which I don’t use much, but could be used to power something like perhaps an A7sII? Of course you’d need to rig it up, but this could power an Alpha type camera and a 4K monitor the whole day on a single battery. For my setup, I get about two to three hours.

These batteries worked well, but I was keen to try out the Mini 9 models. These are noticeably pricier at $549 AUD, but they are smaller and lighter any other battery in their class that I can find. The size and weight really make a difference. I can fit three of these in the same space that would fit two of the “standard” Hypercore models. They also have the D-tap and USB connectors.

All Hypercore batteries have two ways of telling how much juice is left in them. They have a button the side with four light indicators which is pretty much the same as most batteries. But to go a level further, they also have digital display what shows hours and minutes left on the charger. I’ve found this to be pretty accurate. I really like how it adjusts depending on use. So it could say 4 hours when you plug it into your camera. As soon as you turn on your monitor, you’re down to 3 hours, and once you start recording you’re down to about 2.5 hours.

So in conclusion, yes some of them cost about as much as a small camera or lens and I need at least two to get them through a day, so the way I work I have three to be on the safe side. But, despite the cost, these batteries are great, I love how I can carry two to three batteries for a day of shooting instead of five or six. It’s also not just the carrying the batteries around, it’s also the fact that I don’t have stop my creative flow to change batteries. Definitely worth the purchase.

I would like to add that I still have the SWIT batteries and use those to power my lights, for shoots that don’t have power for us.