Battery Issues with the new SONY α700

[DonSchap]

A few people, including myself, have asked the question:

Q: "I already have a couple of batteries for my α100 ... can I use these (NP-FM55H) batteries in the α700 or the α700's VG-C70AM Vertical Grip?"

The answer is ... NAH! :(

The batteries for the α700 (NP-FM500H) have a 5/6th-length groove cut down the back of them to allow them to slip into the α700 battery slot and the twin battery slots of the VG-C70AM.


NP-FM500H
29709


The α100 batteries (NP-FM55H) have no such groove and will not slip into the α700 or VG-C70AM.


NP-FM55H
29710


Q: "Can I use the α700 (NP-FM500H) batteries in my SONY α100 camera body or DiCain VG-1 Grip?"

The answer is: a definite YES. :D Neither the α100 or the VG-1 have anything to prohibit placement of these type of batteries in the battery compartment.

Well, how about that α100, eh? :rolleye: More bang for the buck!


Remember: The VG-C70AM Vertical Grip does NOT come with the two batteries needed to make it operate. You will have to buy these proprietary batteries (NP-FM500H) in addition to the grip.

[TheObiJuan]

ahem, Dremel!

[orbitcorbett]

The dremel method won't work. Those (censored) engineers at Sony have done it again. I have the vertical grip for the A700 and removed the two little plastic tabs for the battery groove. The A100 batts physically fit fine now, but won't work in the camera. They don't have the right data stream that comes from the center contact. When you read voltage between the positive and center terminal on the A100 battery, you get a solid voltage. When you read it on the A700 battery, the voltage fluctuates wildly. The A700 has to "see" the right data from these overpriced batteries to work. Nice. Apparently Sony doesn't like losing revenue from knock-off batteries (which work just fine in my A100). Hopefully, someone will develop an inexpensive knock-off that works. Haven't found it yet, though.

In the meantime, I did find A700 batteries thru Cameta Camera (thru an Amazon search) for $45 each. Bought two. Best price I could find.

[Glasstream15]

Another reason I'l stay with my XT