Short answer: the NP-BX1 is the standard battery for Sony’s compact range, rated 3.6V / 1240mAh and about 4.5Wh, used from the first RX100 in 2012 all the way to the RX100 VII, and also by the ZV-1, ZV-1 II, ZV-1F, the RX1 series, the HX90/HX90V and the WX500. At 4.5Wh it is a small capacity today; official CIPA figures mostly sit between 220 and 330 shots, and planning around 250 is the safer travel estimate. Because these bodies generally support USB charging, two packs plus a power bank is enough for most people.
1. Specs and fitment: one pack behind a whole line
The NP-BX1 is roughly the size of two sticks of gum stacked and very light, which is part of how these cameras fit in a pocket. The cost is capacity — 4.5Wh is about a third of a typical phone battery.
| Product line | Main models | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RX100 series | RX100, II, III, IV, V, VA, VI, VII | All seven generations, no battery change across them |
| ZV series | ZV-1, ZV-1 II, ZV-1F | Vlogging bodies, draw more than the RX100 |
| RX1 series | RX1, RX1R, RX1R II | Full-frame fixed-lens cameras |
| HX / WX series | HX90, HX90V, HX80, HX60, HX50, HX30, WX500, WX350 | Long-zoom compacts |
| Action cameras | HDR-AS50, FDR-X1000V and others | Used by some models |
One warning: Sony also has a similarly shaped but different NP-BN / NP-BN1 line, used by early TX and WX models, and the two are not interchangeable. Check the battery bay or the manual for BX1 before ordering rather than assuming that “small black Sony battery” means the same thing.
2. What 4.5Wh actually delivers
Official CIPA numbers work as an upper bound: the RX100 series mostly lands at 250-330 shots, and the ZV-1 at around 260. Real use comes in lower, because these cameras are typically cycled power-on, compose, shoot, power-off, and every power-up pays a fixed cost in lens extension and system initialisation.
- Stills: 200-280 shots in most situations, closer to 180 if you wander and review frequently.
- 4K video: the RX100 VII and ZV-1 are limited by body thermals and usually stop after 5-20 minutes per clip, so charge is not the main constraint; total continuous recording runs about 45-70 minutes.
- Vlog pieces to camera: a ZV-1 with the screen out, stabilization on and an external mic needs a swap after about an hour.
- Cold: drain speeds up noticeably below 0°C, and at -10°C usable capacity may be only 60-70%. Our -10°C runtime test has more detail; the mechanism is the same for all lithium packs.
The conclusion is straightforward: under 200 shots a day, one pack will do; for travel and full days out, two is the floor and three is comfortable. Fortunately the pack is small enough that three take up almost no room.
3. RX100 and ZV-1: same pack, different appetite
The battery is identical, but the two body types draw quite differently, which directly changes how many you carry.
RX100 series
From generation one to seven the bodies gained a lot — pop-up viewfinder, a wider zoom range, a faster processor — but the battery stayed the same. The result is that newer models are tighter on runtime. The RX100 VII’s 24-200mm power zoom draws heavily while zooming, and constant in-and-out costs charge quickly. Older bodies such as the RX100 III are easier on power.
ZV-1 series
The ZV-1 is positioned for vlogging: screen out, stabilization on, microphone often attached, so it draws considerably more than an RX100. Its CIPA rating is only about 260 shots, and video makes the gap plainer. The ZV-1 II moved to a wider lens with roughly the same runtime.
Both types support USB power, but while shooting the charge rate usually cannot keep up with consumption, so it only slows the decline. For genuinely long recording, external power is less hassle than rotating three packs — though dummy battery options for compacts are less mature than for mirrorless bodies, so confirm that a solution names your specific model.
4. Buying: first-party, third-party, or USB-C built in
BX1 prices span a wide range, from a few dollars to well over a hundred. The difference is not the shell but the cells and protection board. Work through these in order.
- Are the specs honest? 4.5Wh is this pack’s physical ceiling, so claims above 2000mAh are not realistic.
- Does it have communication contacts? Some bodies check the pack and may show a “non-genuine battery” warning or fail to display a percentage if the contacts are missing.
- Does it have a built-in USB-C port? These versions charge from a phone cable and skip the dock, which is genuinely useful when travelling. The downside is an extra opening, so water resistance is slightly reduced.
- Cycle life: the BX1 is small, so at the same shooting volume it cycles more often than a large pack and will show wear after two or three years. That is normal.
- Quantity beats unit price: two ordinary third-party packs are often more useful than one expensive first-party pack, because the real limitation on these cameras is not being able to swap when the charge runs out.
YO’s NP-BX1 sits in the honest-specs, restrained-price bracket, suitable as a supplement rather than a replacement. It does not chase inflated numbers, and real run time broadly matches the rating — for a 4.5Wh pack, that is worth more than a 2000mAh label. For more compact-camera accessories, see the NP-BX1 category page.
One last practical tip: whichever you buy, run a full charge and discharge on arrival and record the actual shot count. With your own baseline in hand, you can later judge whether a pack is fading instead of guessing.
FAQ
Do all seven RX100 generations use the same battery?
Yes. From the 2012 RX100 to the 2019 RX100 VII, Sony never changed the battery model; all use the NP-BX1. That is also why BX1 packs circulate so widely on the used market.
Can a ZV-1 use an RX100 battery?
Yes. The ZV-1, ZV-1 II and ZV-1F all take the NP-BX1 and are fully interchangeable with the RX100 line. Just do not mix up packs and chargers — the dock is shared, and so is in-body USB charging.
Will a third-party BX1 trigger an “incompatible battery” warning?
On some bodies, yes. In most cases the camera still shoots normally, it simply will not show an accurate percentage or it displays a prompt. When buying, favour packs that explicitly list RX100 VII and ZV-1 compatibility, which tends to work better.
Is a swollen BX1 still usable?
No. When a pack this small swells it presses against the compartment walls, and the risk is more immediate than with a large battery. Take it out of service, isolate it, and send it for recycling — do not try to flatten it or keep charging.