CAME-TV has announced its new Mini 99C and Mini 50C V-mount batteries. The new versions utilize the same high-quality Samsung cells from the CAME-TV Mini 99 and feature 12V DC, USB-C (PD 2.0 & PD 3.0 Bi-directional), USB-A, and 8.4V DC. The Mini 99C also supports input and output 65W (Max), and the Mini 50C 45W (Max).
Above you can see the product launch videos for both batteries.
Batteries may not be the most exciting pieces of kit, but they are essential to just about everything we do. There are so many battery options available, and given the fact that there is actually only a handful of companies who actually make the cells that are inside lithium-ion batteries, it can be a tough choice deciding what to buy.
The Mini 99C/50C are being touted as broadcast-grade lithium-ion batteries that combine advanced technology and user-friendly design. They are being targeted at photography, broadcasting and other industries.
Size & Weight
The Mini 50C weighs 350g / 0.77 lbs and it has physical dimensions of 107 x 75 x 38mm.
The Mini 99C weighs 567g / 1.25 lbs and it has has physical dimensions of 107 x 75 x 55mm.
The Mini 99C is a little bit larger and slightly heavier than the previous version, although it is important to note that the CAME-TV Mini 99 only had D-tap outputs and it didn’t have any display.
So how does this size and weight of the Mini 99C compare to some other similar-capacity V-mount batteries? Well, below I will list up some of the competition.
| WEIGHT | SIZE | |
| CAME-TV Mini 99C | 567g / 1.25 lbs | 10.7 x 7.5 x 5.5 cm |
| ZGCINE ZG-95S | 533g / 1.17 lbs | 11.1 x 7.5 x 5.6 cm |
| Core SWX Hypercore NEO 9 Mini 98Wh | 640g / 1.4 lbs | 8.99 x 11.81 x 4.83 cm |
| SWIT S-8082S 95Wh | 760g / 1.68 lbs | 13.4 x 8.8 x 5.2 cm |
| Intellytech Mini 95Wh | 680g / 1.5 lbs | 14 x 7.9 x 6.35 cm |
| Anton/Bauer Titon SL 90 95Wh | 600g / 1.4 lbs | 9.9 x 14.2 x 3.3 cm |
| Hawk-Woods 14.4V V-Lok | 554g/ 1.2 lbs | 15.4 x 8.4 x 3.5 cm |
| Fxlion Nano TWO | 520g / 1.14 lbs | 10.1 x 7.2 x 5.4 cm |
| bebob V98MICRO | 600g / 1.32 lbs | 10.1 x 7.5 x 4.8 cm |
| bebob V98 | 600g / 1.32 lbs | 9.4 x 14.4 x 3.9 cm |
| CAME-TV Mini 99 | 550g / 1.21 lbs | 10 x 7.2 x 4.8 cm |
| SmallRig VB99 Pro | 570g / 1.25 lbs | 10.7 x 7.3 x 5.5 cm |
| SmallRig VB99 | 550g / 1.21 lbs | 14.7 x 11.4 x 7.5 cm |
| SOONWELL B98-V | 720g / 1.59 lbs | 13.8 x 9.1 x 5.4 cm |
| Juicebox 95Wh | 570g / 1.25 lbs | 15.2 x 9.53 x 3.8 cm |
| Neewer BP-95W | 698g/ 1.54 lbs | 15 x 9.5 x 3.78 cm |
| PAG 9310V Power Circle | 800g / 1.6 lbs | 13 x 8.6 x 4.7 cm |
| PAG Mini PAGlink MPL99 | 595g / 1.31 lbs | 10.9 x 8.6 x 5.1 cm |
As you can see, most of the batteries have similar weights and physical dimensions.
Like all mini V-lock batteries, they are thick and short, which means that on certain cameras they won’t follow the contour and shape. However, on smaller-sized digital cinema cameras, they will fit nicely. This is a purely cosmetic thing, but I prefer batteries that are the same height as the camera I am using.
Build Quality
The overall build quality of the battery is good. The casing is solidly made and the batteries feature an understated design.
The battery display button is nice and tactile and easy to use.
The Mini 99C also features a nice gripping area on the sides of the battery. Because of the material being used, this does allow it to be easily held in very slippery in inclement weather conditions and when wearing gloves.
Both batteries have covers over all the input and output ports which is nice to see, especially if you are using them in inclement weather conditions.
The batteries attach nicely to V-lock plates and there is no wobble or gaps between the plate and the batteries.
I haven’t used these batteries for long enough to know how well they would stand up to continued use in the field, but I have been using the original CAME-TV Mini-99 battery for many years now with no issues.
What cells are being used?
CAME-TV states that both batteries utilize Samsung cell. A lot of the cells are manufactured by companies such as Sony, Samsung, and Sanyo. You also have manufacturers such as ANSMANN AG who make the cells for bebob. Regardless of who makes the cells, all cells are divided into three levels A, B, and C. The lower the rating, the cheaper the price and of course the worse the performance.
Very few companies selling batteries actually disclose what cells are being used in their batteries, so it is good to see that CAME-TV does.
Safety
Both batteries feature the usual array of safety systems such as short circuit and over voltage protection, and the housing is made out of V-0 grade flame retardant shell.
Inputs & Outputs
The D-Tap output can be used to power lights, a monitor, a recorder, or other accessories. It is located on the side of the battery and it has an output of 14.4V. I would have preferred to have seen the D-tap on the other side of the battery as it faces the operators side when used on a camera.
The USB-C (PD 2.0 & PD 3.0 Bi-directional) ports allow users to either charge the battery via a compatible USB-C PD device or to power or charge other devices such as a laptop or phone.
While they have a good collection of inputs and outputs I would have preferred to have seen another D-tap port instead of the USB-A port.
I tried the USB-C out with a MacBook Pro and I was able to charge the battery without any issues. It is really handy to have batteries with this capability because it allows you to charge crucial equipment such as phones and laptops in the field.
I also like how CAME-TV includes a USB-C to USB-C cable with the batteries.
You can charge the Mini 50C using a PD 45W wall charger and a USB-C cable to around 90% capacity in just 1 hour. You can also charge the batteries on any V-lock charger.
We starting to see quite a few batteries coming to market that now feature Bi-directional USB-C PD ports.
Display
Both batteries have an OLED display that shows you voltage, current, and other parameters in real time.
The “U” represents the real-time voltage, the letter “I” represents the real-time current, while “T” represents the remaining usage time.
Lanyard
The batteries also come with a lanyard which is very handy if you need to attach them to a lightstand, etc.
Price & Availability
The retail price of Mini 99C is $178 USD and the Mini 50C is $138 USD. The batteries are now available to purchase.
Competition
There are a ton of 95-98Wh V-mount batteries on the market. All of the available options have different feature sets, so you need to look clearly at what battery works well for you.
The closest competition to the CAME-TV Mini 99C arguably comes in the form of the SmallRig VB99 Pro Mini V-Mount Battery (which retails for $279 USD) and the NEEWER PS099E Mini 6800mAh 14.5V 99Wh V Mount Battery that costs $229.99 USD.
Below you can see how they stack up when it comes to price:
| PRICE | |
| ZGCINE ZG-V99 | $169 USD |
| Core SWX Hypercore NEO 9 Mini 98Wh | $249 USD |
| SWIT S-8082S 95Wh | $240 USD |
| Intellytech Mini 95Wh | $199 USD |
| Hawk-Woods 14.4V V-Lok | $322.40 USD |
| Fxlion Nano TWO | $299.99 USD |
| bebob V98MICRO | $378 USD |
| bebob V98 | $349 USD |
| CAME-TV Mini 99 | $160 USD |
| SmallRig VB99 Pro | $279 USD |
| SmallRig VB99 | $239 USD |
| SOONWELL B98-V | $188 USD |
| Juicebox 95Wh | $149 USD |
| Neewer BP-95W | $87.99 USD |
| PAG 9310V Power Circle | $279.99 USD |
| PAG Mini PAGlink MPL99 | $530 USD |
As you can see, the price of 95-98Wh batteries varies dramatically. You can pay as little as $87.99 USD all the way up to well over $500 USD.
The CAME-TV Mini 99C is very well priced at $178 USD considering its capabilities.
Specifications
Conclusion
A lot of potential buyers of V-lock batteries are probably going to have a pre-conceived bias that will direct them toward a brand that they know. However, a lot of the cells being used in these batteries all come from the same select group of lithium-ion battery manafacturers.
A battery is just a battery, right? If the same cells are being used in a more expensive battery, are you simply just paying for the name on the casing? Maybe, but there is usually a lot more to a battery than meets the eye.
The new CAME-TV Mini 50C and Mini 99C batteries are well made and they feature a nice array of inputs and outputs. I like how you can charge them either via USB-C PD or on a traditional V-mount charger.
The batteries are certainly very versatile and that makes them an appealing option. They would be good options for anyone that travels a lot and uses cameras, accessories or lights that can be powered via flight safe batteries.
The CAME-TV Mini 50C and Mini 99C batteries are good offering if you are looking for affordable V-mount batteries that are well made and feature a good range of inputs and outputs, however, they do face very stiff competition from other options on the market.
