With a conscious eye on the environment, most manufacturers arent including battery chargers with their cameras, instead relying on in-camera USB charging. This is a brilliant initiative for most photographers who can shoot hundreds of images on a single charge. Still, an external charger is a must for heavy users, particularly videographers who need multiple batteries each day. Coming to the rescue is the Llano Fast Dual Camera Battery Charger.

　　Llano Fast Dual Camera Battery Charger at a glance: £139 charger and two batteries £69.99 Charger Only QC 3.0 and PD 3.0 compatible Digital charge display USB-C power input SD Card storage slot 13 x 5 x 11 cm, 300g This device enables 18W fast charging of two batteries, with versions currently available for the most popular Sony, Canon and Fujifilm cameras. It charges via an included USB-C cable and features a display showing the current status of each battery. A magnetic snap-close lid keeps batteries securely in place, and there is even a slot to store an SD card. The idea is that you keep your batteries securely in the case, and when you need it, just unplug the charger and put it in your camera bag.

　　The charger case can either be purchased separately or with a pair of Llano-branded batteries. I tested the NP-FZ100 version for the latest Sony cameras and found that the batteries performances matched my expectations of proprietary Sony batteries.

　　Llano Fast Dual Camera Battery Charger key features:  LCD screen: Pressing the button on the front of the charger activates the charge display screen. Even when the charger isnt plugged in, the screen can display the current charging percentage of inserted batteries. When charging, the display highlights green. Included Batteries: The two Llano-branded FZ100 batteries have the same 7.2V output as Sony ones, but 120mAh greater capacity—2400mAh compared to 2280mAh. In practice, this should make little, if any, difference to the number of shots or video duration that can be captured. SD Card Slot: A single SD card storage slot means you can always keep a spare card handy with your batteries. The device is compatible with the QC 3.0 (Quick Charge 3.0) and PD 3.0 (Power Delivery 3.0) specifications. This means you will need a USB-C mains charger or a battery pack with an output greater than 18W to get the maximum potential input of 9V at 2A. Both batteries are charged simultaneously, with an output of 8.4V at 1.5A when charging a single battery, or 8.4V at 1A to two batteries. I found that a single battery charged in around two hours. When both batteries were being charged simultaneously, together they took around 3 hours.

　　There are a few things to note about charging, which will be applicable for most contemporary cameras. The majority now have the same QC 3.0 and PD 3.0 capability for charging in-camera, so if you are charging a single battery, the Llano charger shouldnt be any faster. However, it will be quicker than the USB adapter Sony supplies with its cameras, which only outputs at the standard USB 5A 1.5A.

　　Also, the charger only has + and terminals. As a third-party charger, Llano cant use the C or communication terminal found on Sony batteries, which allows Sony cameras and chargers to receive data from the battery, such as power level and temperature. However, the Llano charger has comprehensive protection measures, from heat optimisation to short circuit prevention, which should protect the batteries.

　　I have been using the charger for a few weeks now, charging brand-new and older Sony FZ100 batteries and the included Llano-branded batteries. I have had no issues with charge times or battery life during this time. In fact, the charger has become one of my favourite accessories, with a regular place on my desk and in my camera bag.

　　There isnt much to dislike about the Llano Fast Camera Charger. However, it would be even better if it had its own built-in battery so that you could charge your camera batteries on the go, which is something that the company is currently working on.

　　Llano Fast Dual Camera Battery Charger : Our Verdict From the large digital charge display to the soft finish of the exterior, the Llano Fast Dual Camera Battery Charger is a charger that you want to have out on show. It looks very different to the basic industrial designs of most battery chargers. With the ability to charge two batteries using QC 3.0 and PD 3.0 protocols, it is a great purchase for photographers and videographers who to eat through their batteries.

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