Batteries - brand name or third party

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

02/21/2006 01:38:50 PM · #1

I'm going to get the BG-E3 grip for my camera, and I need two more batteries for it so I can have a spare.

What is everyone's opinion on name brand batteries vs. third party/other manufacturers' replacements? I see that the Canon brand batteries are $50 each, while the Impact brand are $33, on B&H. Is it worth the extra price to just get the Canons? Is there an even better brand somewhere?

Thanks

David Ey

Nikon D80

02/21/2006 01:42:40 PM · #2

Usually the cheeper ones are slightly lower voltage. Get the Canon ones. You aren't saving anything in the overall scheme of things
.

patilssp_2003

Olympus C-5500SZ

02/21/2006 01:49:06 PM · #3

i would prefer going in for branded ones. a lower voltage and irregular supply of power may damage equipment.

blazingmoonlight

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/21/2006 01:52:06 PM · #4

I regularly switch between Canon and "off" brand. Personally I haven't noticed a difference.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

02/21/2006 01:57:50 PM · #5

Sterlingtek batteries are around $15 or 2 for $23. I find no difference between these batteries and the Canon ones other than the charge lasting a bit longer.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6

02/21/2006 02:48:26 PM · #6

Sterlingtek's batteries are about $20, for the XT, they have about twice as much juice, which means that with a grip, your Canon gives you 400 shots, the Sterlingtek gives you 800 shots and you have about 1200 shots total.
I've had one for a 300D, one for my XT. Never had a problem with either one.

Givemeashot

Nikon D200

02/21/2006 03:01:06 PM · #7

I just LIKE brand stuff.......i mean RX brand is a heck of alot better than Generic....and Cereal generic is crap.....so i just like brand stuff.....When i think of brand i think long lasting......

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/21/2006 03:04:08 PM · #8

I'm not sure about dslr batteries, but often generic batteries are made by the same vendor that supplies the OEM companies. It's a little dirty secret in the battery industry. I think if you go buy walmart brand alkaline batteries, they are actually made by everready/Energizer and it's the same battery except for price and labeling.

OT, it also appears that the Optek battery grip for the XT comes out of the same factory in China that's making them for Canon. Only difference is that the Optek grip doesn't have any Canon logos and it's about half the price.

Message edited by author 2006-02-21 15:06:07.

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

02/21/2006 03:04:51 PM · #9

I bought a battery from sterlingtek for my XT.

I assure you, Canon does not make batteries. They buy them, put their label on them and mark up the price. Do you like paying mark up?

Coming from someone who spent the last 10 years on manuafacturing lines in an engineering capacity I can tell you with very high confidence that the sterlingtek battery I bought was made in the same factory that made the Canon battery that came with my camera. They are identical.

I would not buy one from Ebay for $2 though.

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

02/21/2006 03:09:36 PM · #10

Yeah, those types can explode if you charge them.
I can see paying $20 for a Li Ion battery but shouldn't an alarm go off in your head if someone is trying to sell you a rechargeable Li Ion battery for less than the price of a pack of AA batteries?

LevT

OM System OM-1

02/21/2006 03:14:29 PM · #11

I don't have big statistics, but my original Nikon battery holds charge a lot longer than a cheaper OEM battery (Power2000, i think) which according to their specs chould have a slightly greater capacity (1500mAh vs 1400mAh for Nikon). I don't know if it is just a bad unit... anyway, my next battery is going to be Nikon original (ordered a few days ago from Amazon)

02/21/2006 05:56:37 PM · #12

Thanks for the info. I'll look at the SterlingTek ones, if they'll perform just as well why not save the money.

02/21/2006 06:02:44 PM · #13

Might as well as look at Optek battery grip for the XT as well. You maybe able to get both for about $100.

Prof_Fate

02/21/2006 06:07:58 PM · #14

sterlingtek batteries. find them on the web. very good, lots less costly than the canon ones.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

02/21/2006 06:19:49 PM · #15

Originally posted by yido:

Might as well as look at Optek battery grip for the XT as well. You maybe able to get both for about $100.

I'll check it out. So it's the exact same thing, minus the brand names?

blemt

Nikon D70

02/21/2006 06:22:15 PM · #16

I usually have no problems using off brand batteries. However, I have had many customer reports of problems with off brand batteries in Canon and Sony cameras.

Take that for what it's worth. :)

Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

02/21/2006 06:23:41 PM · #17

Hmm.. like what kind of problems?

benhur

Canon EOS-40D

02/21/2006 06:30:25 PM · #18

I have the original battery from the camera and 2 non gen batteries which are both 1700mAh the genuine battery is only 1300.
I have never had a problem with then non gen ones and would buy more if needed.

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/21/2006 06:33:48 PM · #19

Check HERE

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

02/21/2006 06:38:11 PM · #20

I wish I could locate the link someone posted to some good testing. All batteries are not created equal. Specifically, the Canon batteries include a current-limiting resistor so that the battery cannot discharge at an unsafe rate (danger of overheating), and they also include a circuit to cut off discharge at a certain voltage. Draining a Li-ion battery too far can shorten its life tremendously, and the low voltage can possibly damage equipment.
There is also the matter of the quality of the individual cells put into the battery. Some are of high quality, some are junk. Panasonic cells are usually about the best going.
Some of the better 3rd-party batteries DO include the necessary protection and high-quality cells. Many don't. The ones that don't will work, but there are risks associated with their use, and their life may or may not be what you expect. Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware).

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

02/21/2006 07:42:58 PM · #21

Just ordered the Maxell version of the NB-2LH. Always been a "fairly" reputable brand in terms of media. I don't have any prior Maxell battery experience but I'm putting my blind trust in their name. Hope I'm not disappointed.

deapee

Kodak V803

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

02/21/2006 07:44:28 PM · #22

brand name only

blemt

Nikon D70

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

02/21/2006 07:46:58 PM · #23

Basically the reports are of batteries discharging prematurley or not at all.

Again, Canon and Sony ONLY are the ones with these problems as anecdotially reported by customers.

//forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1031&thread=17053538

02/21/2006 08:45:25 PM · #24

Originally posted by MadMan2k:

Originally posted by yido:
Might as well as look at Optek battery grip for the XT as well. You maybe able to get both for about $100.

I'll check it out. So it's the exact same thing, minus the brand names?