External battery charging via USB

[Verax]

Hi all.  I've got a A7ii that I'll be taking with me on a 2 week Peru trip, including the Inca Trail up to Machu Picchu.  This means that I'll need to worry about keeping batteries charged.  I've got a portable Solar panel, and a batter pack.  That batter pack has USB (both full size, and micro) ports for charging things.  Does anyone know of an external battery charger that can draw power from USB?  I could plug the camera in directly during the evening, but I think I'll need to rotate at least 2 batteries to keep charged all day, and keep the camera ready to shoot, and not plugged in.

 

I did some searching, but haven't come up with anything yet.  Has anyone done anything like this before?

 

thanks!

 

Brian

[genesimmons]

i have a digipower universal battery charger that can charge via usb i believe,i got it from amazon,the camera itself charges via usb but not sure if u can shoot while its charging 

[Verax]

i have a digipower universal battery charger that can charge via usb i believe,i got it from amazon,the camera itself charges via usb but not sure if u can shoot while its charging 

perfect, thanks!  I'll look into that one.  That would be perfect, as I would like to have 1 battery charging in my pack, while I'm climbing and shooting with the other.

 

thanks again!

[K2Kevin]

Cant shoot while charging (Silly), and many of the portable batteries don't seem to have the "juice" to charge the Sony battery while in camera.  I think it has to be over a certain amp rating >5amp or something.

 

This is from my VERY limited testing of my USB batteries.

[LeButler]

Cant shoot while charging (Silly), and many of the portable batteries don't seem to have the "juice" to charge the Sony battery while in camera. I think it has to be over a certain amp rating >5amp or something [...].

The other models don't, but the A7Rii does allow charging while shooting - which is an excellent feature, very useful for timelapse.

Since the batteries tend to charge rather slowly, the majority of power packs ought to be ample (look for 5W / 1A or greater charge rate) - maybe try a different cable if yours isn't charging?

 

Verax:

Search for FW50 USB - there are several camera battery chargers that will take power from a USB power pack (or mains USB charger of course), eg "Ex-Pro".

[genesimmons]

My post said not sure if it can charge while shooting.laptops charge while using them so it would only make sense u could shoot while plugged into a charging source not so "silly" I don't think.

 

 

Cant shoot while charging (Silly), and many of the portable batteries don't seem to have the "juice" to charge the Sony battery while in camera.  I think it has to be over a certain amp rating >5amp or something.

 

This is from my VERY limited testing of my USB batteries.

[Saratoga]

Do all Sony Alphas support charging via USB cable?

[Verax]

Verax:

Search for FW50 USB - there are several camera battery chargers that will take power from a USB power pack (or mains USB charger of course), eg "Ex-Pro".

 

Yup, got one on the way!  Thanks.

[K2Kevin]

My post said not sure if it can charge while shooting.laptops charge while using them so it would only make sense u could shoot while plugged into a charging source not so "silly" I don't think.

 

 

 

I read your post.  (Silly) meant its silly we can't all charge while using camera.  Don't get so defensive...  

 

Maybe a firmware update to fix this, but wouldn't put it past sony to hobble its older cameras.