NEW PODCAST: Blackmagic Design Raises Prices, Cuts Resolve – Focus Check ep139 →🎙️ WATCH/LISTEN Now
Watch/Listen NowBlackmagic Design Raises Prices, Cuts Resolve🎙️NEW PODCAST
Education for Filmmakers
Language
The CineD Channels
Info
New to CineD?
You are logged in as
We will send you notifications in your browser, every time a new article is published in this category.
You can change which notifications you are subscribed to in your notification settings.
At IBC 2026, Eric spoke with Nikolaus Yang from SWIT about the company’s next-generation OMNI 2 V-mount batteries. Available in 99Wh and 150Wh capacities, the new models add three independently managed USB-C ports, higher power output, splash resistance, and a larger color display while retaining the compact approach of the original OMNI series.
We previously looked at SWIT’s OMNI-50S and OMNI-99S pocket V-mount batteries, which were designed to bring V-mount power to smaller camera rigs and content creators. With OMNI 2, SWIT is responding to a production landscape where the line between smaller creator setups and professional production has become increasingly blurred, and a single battery may need to power a camera, monitor, focus system, and other accessories at the same time.
The main change is the addition of three USB-C ports. More importantly, each port has independent power management rather than sharing a single controller.
With many power banks and USB-C power systems, connecting a second device can trigger a new power negotiation across the system. That can briefly interrupt the first connection – inconvenient when charging a phone, but potentially much more serious if the battery is powering a camera, monitor, or focus system during a take.
By managing the three USB-C outputs independently, the OMNI 2 is designed to avoid that interruption. A second or third USB-C device can be connected without resetting equipment that is already drawing power.
The ports offer different maximum output levels, reaching up to 140W depending on the connection. The batteries also retain two D-Tap connections, and all of the outputs can be used simultaneously, although total output is ultimately limited by the capacity and performance of the battery cells.
The OMNI 2 series comes in 99Wh and 150Wh versions. The 99Wh model supports up to 150W of continuous output, while the larger 150Wh battery can provide up to 200W.
The 99Wh capacity is particularly useful for travel because batteries at or below 100Wh can generally be carried on passenger aircraft without the additional airline approval required for larger lithium-ion batteries.
Despite the additional connections and increased output, SWIT has kept the batteries relatively compact, continuing the idea behind the original OMNI series of bringing traditional V-mount power to smaller camera packages.
The batteries can still be charged using a conventional V-mount charger, but USB-C provides another option when traveling or working with a minimal kit.
Nikolaus said USB-C charging can reach up to approximately 100W under suitable conditions, although actual charging performance can vary depending on temperature, the environment, and the charger being used.
SWIT still recommends a dedicated V-mount charger for regular use, but the ability to recharge over USB-C means a compatible USB-C charger can serve as a convenient alternative when traveling.
The OMNI 2 batteries are also designed to be splash-resistant. SWIT says this allows them to continue operating in rain without requiring protective covers over the connections.
For crews working outdoors, that is a practical improvement over battery designs where exposed ports may require additional protection when conditions change.
A larger color display on the front of the battery provides information including remaining capacity and power status.
Holding the button for approximately five seconds also brings up battery health information. This is particularly useful for rental houses and larger productions managing a fleet of batteries, where knowing the condition of individual packs can help determine when a battery should be serviced or replaced.
The OMNI series originally targeted creators moving from small internal camera batteries toward more flexible V-mount power. With OMNI 2, SWIT sees that distinction becoming less useful as the same operator may move between filmmaking, live streaming, and other production environments.
The three independently managed USB-C outputs are particularly relevant in that context. Instead of treating USB-C as an additional charging port, SWIT is integrating it as part of the battery’s main power-distribution system.
That could make OMNI 2 especially useful on compact rigs where one V-mount battery is expected to replace several smaller power sources.
SWIT has retained a threaded mounting point from the previous generation, allowing the battery to be attached in different positions depending on the rig.
There is also a built-in light on the rear of the battery, another feature carried over from the original OMNI design.
SWIT has not yet announced final pricing for the OMNI 2 series as the batteries were still under development at IBC, although Nikolaus indicated that SWIT expects them to arrive before the end of 2026.
At the time of writing, the new OMNI 2 models are not yet listed on SWIT’s website.
Three genuinely independent USB-C outputs on a V-mount battery are the kind of fix you only appreciate after a monitor has dropped out mid-take. Is USB-C now a real power rail on your rig, or still just for charging? Let us know in the comments!
Δ
Stay current with regular CineD updates about news, reviews, how-to’s and more.
You can unsubscribe at any time via an unsubscribe link included in every newsletter. For further details, see our Privacy Policy
Want regular CineD updates about news, reviews, how-to’s and more?Sign up to our newsletter and we will give you just that.
You can unsubscribe at any time via an unsubscribe link included in every newsletter. The data provided and the newsletter opening statistics will be stored on a personal data basis until you unsubscribe. For further details, see our Privacy Policy
A camera was put in my hands at 16, and I’ve been taking photographs ever since. Before moving to Vienna, I worked as a photographer on film sets, telling stories as they unfolded behind the scenes. Since then, I’ve focused on immersive theater, both as a photographer and an actor. I am the photographer for the award-winning Nesterval ensemble, documenting the energy and atmosphere of their performances. I’m a teller of stories. Stories hold my interest. I’ll take on any project with a story to tell.