Top recommended budget accessories for Sony mirrorless cameras?

Question

So I finally switched over to the Sony ecosystem after shooting Canon DSLRs for basically a decade and man the autofocus is insane on this A7 IV but my wallet is absolutely screaming right now. I dumped almost my entire savings into the body and a decent 24-70 lens because I have this trip to Japan coming up in like three weeks and I wanted the best gear for it. Problem is I realized I have basically zero accessories left over and Sony brand stuff is just... wow. Like $80 for a single battery? That's highway robbery.

I know my way around a camera but I'm totally new to the E-mount world and what brands actually hold up without frying the internals. I need the basics like a couple extra NP-FZ100 style batteries that wont give me that accessory not supported warning and maybe a decent cage or even just a screen protector that doesnt peel off after two days. Also looking for a cheap-ish vlogging mic because the internal one is kinda tinny for what I need.

What are the go-to third party brands these days for the budget conscious? I've seen stuff from SmallRig and Neewer but there are so many random brands on Amazon it's hard to tell what's actually legit and what's junk. Any specific gems you guys use that saved you some cash?

VioletPhoenix · Accepted Answer

^ This. Also, dont skip the technical basics for that A7 IV.

PCTC Screen Protector for Sony A7 IV uses 0.3mm tempered glass. It maintains 99.9 percent transparency and wont interfere with the articulating screen hinge like thicker generic brands often do.

Lexar Professional 1667x 128GB SDXC UHS-II is basically essential. You need V60 rated cards for those A7 IV bitrates. It ensures your buffer doesnt hang when shooting 4K video or high-speed bursts while you are traveling.

NightshadeNectar · Answer

Been happy with the Nitecore UFZ100 USB-C Rechargeable Battery. It's totally reliable, no warnings, and way safer than those dirt cheap packs that swell up inside the grip.

george_adams · Answer

SmallRig is basically the industry standard for reliable third-party Sony gear. The SmallRig NP-FZ100 USB-C Rechargeable Camera Battery is great because it supports direct USB-C charging and avoids those annoying error messages. For protection, the SmallRig Cage for Sony Alpha 7 IV is the solid choice for mounting. For audio, the Rode VideoMicro II Compact Microphone offers a significant upgrade. These items are cost-effective and wont trigger compatibility warnings.