Quick Summary
- Sony a6000 uses the NP-FW50 battery.
- Two options: Sony-branded battery or aftermarket versions.
- Sony-branded battery is reliable but pricier.
- Aftermarket batteries are cheaper and may come with separate chargers.
- Charging in-camera via USB is slow (~5 hours for a full charge).
- Separate cradle chargers can be faster and more convenient.
- Battery life is around 310-360 shots, depending on usage.
- Preserve battery life by turning off unnecessary features and carrying extra batteries.
If you’re looking for spare batteries for the Sony a6000 camera, or to replace the battery it came with, here’s a rundown of good options.
Basically, there are two ways you can go: get the Sony-branded version or go with an aftermarket version from a third-party manufacturer. Each path has pros and cons.
Table of Contents
Sony a6000 Battery: Sony Original
Firstly, you can get the Sony-branded battery. It’s the one that Sony recommends (obviously) and supports. So this is the safest option. The upside is that you know it will work, and if it doesn’t, you have access to Sony customer support.
To cut to the chase, the model number is NP-FW50. 1 It’s a 1020mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
- Type: Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery
- Capacity: 7.3Wh 1020mAh
There is a downside with these Sony-branded ones, and that is their premium pricing. The original manufacturers typically charge more for their accessories; that includes batteries. That’s very much true in this case—Sony’s list price for these is $79.99, although you can often find them for substantially less than that.
So, in short, going with the Sony-branded version is the safest option, but you pay a premium for that peace of mind that the quality will be up to snuff.
You can find them at: Amazon and B&H Photo.
Sony a6000 Batteries: Aftermarket Options
These days you can also find very good after-market versions that are made by third-party manufacturers.
There are two reasons to go down this path. Firstly, price. These third-party manufacturers often price their products at a fraction of the original manufacturer. So you might find that you can get two or three or more of these batteries for the price of one battery from the original manufacturer.
- Type: Rechargeable Lithium-ion Camera Battery
- Capacity: 7.2V, 1300mAh
There’s a second plus: you often have more options available. It’s not so much the battery itself–they’re all fundamentally the same (although some are rated for a slightly higher capacity). It has more to do with chargers. Sony doesn’t make a separate charger for the a6000 batteries; you’re expected to charge them in the camera via the USB cable. So you can charge one battery at a time, and you can’t really use your camera while you’re charging. 2 But several of the aftermarket options include a separate cradle charger, meaning you can use that to charge the batteries while you’re still shooting with the one in the camera, and some allow you to charge multiple batteries at once.
There are also good reasons you might not want to go down the path of using an aftermarket battery. For one, you don’t have the same peace of mind that the quality is as good as the Sony-branded batteries. It might be, and in my experience, the better aftermarket brands often perform just as well as the original manufacturer’s batteries, but there’s also more risk that it might not be. I’ve found that some of them are basically indistinguishable in terms of quality, but I’ve also come across some that are substandard.
Some of the better aftermarket brands, like Wasabi Power, RAVPower, Smatree, Powerextra, and Watson have established a solid reputation. There are other brands you’ve probably never heard of. For another, it is possible for the camera manufacturer to enforce certain batteries through firmware. For now, Sony isn’t doing this, but it remains within its capability to sneak this in with a future firmware upgrade.
How to Charge the Sony a6000 Battery
The basic way to charge the battery is to leave it in the camera and connect the camera to a power source via the USB cable. The camera comes with a cable and an AC wall charger for this very purpose. This approach is simple, and the necessary parts are supplied. You could also use an external USB power brick or a standard USB car charger.
There are two downsides to it, though. Firstly, it’s slow. You can expect a healthy, fully depleted battery to fully charge in a little over 5 hours. Secondly, it really limits your ability to shoot while the battery is charging. While you can shoot with the camera connected to an external power source–something that’s very useful in studio environments or for long-duration capture, it’s cumbersome to have the camera tethered to an external power source for everyday shooting.
Another approach is to use a separate cradle charger. With these, you remove the battery from the camera and place it directly in the charger. Some, but not all of these are quicker to charge. And it’s convenient to be able to charge spares while leaving the camera available to use.
How Long Does the Sony a6000 Battery Last?
These are the figures Sony provides for guidance in the instruction manual.
They’re very much approximations. That’s because there’s a variety of factors that can influence battery life, such as the health and charge status of the battery to the air temperature (lithium batteries don’t perform well in very hot or very cold temperatures). And as you can see from the table, you’ll get different results depending on whether you’re using the back screen or the viewfinder because they draw different amounts of power. How much you’re using autofocus, zoom, and optical image stabilization also are also factors.
| Sony a6000 Shooting Mode | Battery Life | Number of Images | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting Photos | Screen | 180 mins | 360 |
| Viewfinder | 155 | 310 | |
| Start-stop Video Recording | Screen | 60 | – |
| Viewfinder | 60 | – | |
| Continuous Video Recording | Screen | 90 | – |
| Viewfinder | 90 | – | |
| Viewing Photos | 275 mins | 5500 |
- Type: Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery
- Capacity: 7.3Wh 1020mAh
- Type: Rechargeable Lithium-ion Camera Battery
- Capacity: 7.2V, 1300mAh
FAQs for Sony A6000 Battery Recommendations
What battery does the Sony A6000 use?
The Sony A6000 uses the NP-FW50 rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
How long does a Sony A6000 battery last, and what factors affect its lifespan?
A fully charged Sony A6000 battery typically lasts for around 310-360 shots, depending on various factors such as camera settings, temperature, and usage. Battery life may be shorter when using the electronic viewfinder or shooting in cold environments.
When did the Sony A6000 come out?
The Sony A6000 was released in April 2014.
Why is my Sony A6000 not charging, and how can I fix it?
If your Sony A6000 is not charging, check the battery, charger, and USB cable for any damage or dirt. Ensure that you’re using a compatible charger and cable, and that the power source is functional. If the issue persists, it may be a faulty battery or internal camera problem, in which case you should contact Sony support or a professional repair service.
How long does it take for a Sony A6000 battery to charge?
Charging a fully-depleted Sony A6000 battery typically takes around 5 hours when using the original Sony charger. Third-party chargers may have different charging times. Similarly, if the battery still has some charge in it, that time will be reduced.
How can I charge my Sony A6000 battery?
You can charge the battery using an external charger or by connecting the camera to a USB power source with a compatible USB cable.
How do I fix the ‘battery exhausted’ problem on my Sony A6000 camera?
First, try fully recharging the battery. If the issue persists, the battery may be worn out and need replacing. Also, check for any potential camera issues, such as firmware updates, before replacing the battery.
Should I not buy a Sony A6000 because of the short battery life?
The battery life of the Sony A6000 is comparable to other mirrorless cameras in its class. Because of their high reliance on digital processing and electronic viewfinders and screens, mirrorless cameras tend to be relatively heavy users of battery power. Features such as image stabilization also eat into battery life.
While the battery life might be shorter than that of some DSLR cameras, you can extend it by carrying extra batteries or using power-saving techniques such as reducing the brightness of the back screen, using the back screen sparingly, and turning the camera off when you’re not using it.
What’s the best way to preserve the battery life on my Sony A6000 when I’m not using it?
To preserve battery life, turn off the camera when not in use, disable features like Wi-Fi and NFC, and use power-saving settings like turning off the LCD screen or reducing the screen brightness.
Does the Sony A6000 ‘body only’ come with a charger and battery, or do I have to buy them separately?
The Sony A6000 ‘body only’ typically includes one NP-FW50 battery and a charger. However, it’s always a good idea to confirm this with the seller before making a purchase.
Related Posts
- There’s also a Sony battery with model number NP-FV50. For the a6000, you want the one with the “W” not the “V”.[↩]
- Technically, you can shoot with the camera connected to an external power source, but it’s not a very practical option for everyday shooting because it involves the extra moving part of an external power source, whether a USB power brick or an AC charger.[↩]
Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2023-12-05 at 19:19. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
