V-Mount vs Gold Mount Battery Plate Choices
By Filmgear Canada | Published: 2026-10-18
Category: Comparisons
Compare V-mount and Gold mount battery plates for your camera rig. Learn the key differences, trade-offs, and which plate type suits your production needs.
Quick answer
Choose a Gold mount battery plate like the Rolux RL-AFU2 for production rigs that need a secure rod clamp mount, or a V-mount plate like the Aputure 2-Bay Power Station for powering LED lights with hot-swap capability.
Mount type determines your battery ecosystem
Gold mount and V-mount are the two dominant battery plate standards in professional film and video. Gold mount plates are common on broadcast and cinema cameras, while V-mount plates dominate the LED lighting and run-and-gun world. Your choice of plate locks you into a battery format, so it pays to match your existing gear.
The Rolux Gold-mount Camera Battery Mount with Rod Clamp RL-AFU2 is a dedicated Gold mount plate that attaches to a rod-based rig. It's built for cameras, monitors, wireless video transmitters, and mobile production power. The rod clamp keeps the plate stable on a shoulder rig or studio setup, but it only accepts Gold mount batteries.
The Aputure 2-Bay Battery Power Station takes two V-mount batteries and is designed specifically to power Aputure Nova P300c and Amaran COB-series LEDs on location. Its two bays allow hot-swapping so the light stays on when a battery runs out. However, it is not a general-purpose camera plate and lacks a rod clamp.
Rod clamp vs dual-bay flexibility
If you need to mount a battery plate directly to a 15mm or 19mm rod system, the Rolux RL-AFU2's built-in rod clamp is a major convenience. It eliminates the need for a separate battery plate adapter and keeps the weight close to the rig's center. This setup works well for handheld or gimbal-mounted cameras where a low profile matters.
The Aputure 2-Bay Power Station prioritizes runtime and convenience for lighting. Two V-mount batteries give you longer total runtime, and the hot-swap feature means you never have to power down the light to change a battery. The trade-off is that it's larger and not designed to clamp onto a camera rig.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Gold mount with rod clamp (Rolux RL-AFU2): Best for rigging directly to rods on a camera, monitor, or wireless setup. Locks you into Gold mount batteries.
- V-mount dual-bay power station (Aputure 2-Bay): Best for powering Aputure LEDs on location with hot-swap. Not a camera plate and does not include a rod clamp.
- Ecosystem lock-in: Choose the plate that matches your existing batteries. Gold mount and V-mount are not interchangeable without adapters. Check what batteries your crew or rental house uses before buying a plate.
Product facts at a glance
- Rolux Gold-mount Camera Battery Mount with Rod Clamp RL-AFU2: Gold mount battery plate with a rod clamp for production rigs for cameras, monitors, wireless video, lighting, and mobile production power. You can attach this plate directly to a rod-based camera rig without extra adapters, keeping the setup compact and stable.
Rolux Gold-mount Camera Battery Mount with Rod Clamp RL-AFU2 - Aputure 2-Bay Battery Power Station for Nova P300c and Amaran COB LED: Accepts two V-mount batteries and powers the Nova P300c and Amaran COB-series LEDs off battery power, with hot-swap capability. Two battery bays let you swap a depleted battery without turning off the light, which is essential for uninterrupted location shoots.
Aputure 2-Bay Battery Power Station for Nova P300c and Amaran COB LED
Which battery plate fits your workflow?
Best for
- Rolux RL-AFU2: Camera operators who need a low-profile Gold mount plate that clamps directly to rods for a shoulder rig or studio camera.
- Aputure 2-Bay: Gaffers and location lighting techs who need to run Aputure LEDs from V-mount batteries with hot-swap capability.
Not for
- Rolux RL-AFU2: Users who already own V-mount batteries or need to power LED lights with dual-bay hot-swap.
- Aputure 2-Bay: Camera rig builders who need a plate that mounts to rods or powers a camera directly.
