Original or replacement battery?

[benjeev]

Hi all,
I'm looking to get some new batteries and was just wondering what the general consensus was on here... do you all prefer original batteries or do third-party replacement batteries do a good enough job considering the price?
Thanks!

[Joves]

I have personally only tried one third party and, I did like it. It didnt last as long as my Nikons did.

[PaulT]

Oh no, not this one again! Before you know it a dozen people will be saying "why spend xxxxx dollars/pounds on a camera and then skimp on the batteries?". Because some of us spent our last dollar/pound on the camera and then have to economise on accessories wherever possible.

I have had good results with an Energizer EN-EL3e but I wouldn't swear that it lasts as long as the original Nikon battery. Also, although my D300 battery meter correctly reports the charge remaining in the battery, it claims it is near the end of it's life (a 4 on the 0-4 scale), probably because the battery lacks some vital piece of Nikon-specific electronics. I seem to recall that when using the same battery on my D80 I was unable to lock up the mirror for sensor cleaning as the camera did not detect a fully-charged Nikon battery. The mirror lock up menu option was simply greyed-out when using the equivalent battery. Aside from these issues, the battery has worked fine for a couple of years, first on a D80 and now on a D300, although it has had relatively little use compared to the original batteries.

[Killjoy]

I use Sterlingtek batteries and have had no problems with them.

[brian.austin]

I've had good luck with third party batteries BUT take some time to do some research on them and determine if they'll meet your needs.

Many of the newer cameras and their batteries communicate directly, as Paul mentions. A third party battery won't necessarily have that communication. So far, from what I've read (particularly on the Canon 5DII but you haven't stated what your camera is), you might lose some functionality but the overall use of the camera still works.

My only worry now with third party batteries is firmware revisions. Canon (Nikon or whoever) could very well write something into future firmware revisions that kills camera functionality if a Canon (Nikon) battery isn't detected.

[Killjoy]

^ I don't have one of those cameras either, which is why I keep forgetting about that.

[swampler]

Originally Posted by Killjoy

I use Sterlingtek batteries and have had no problems with them.

+1, so long as you don't have a camera that uses chipped batteries.

[ohenry]

Original camera batteries are third party batteries....just with a label on them.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by ohenry

Original camera batteries are third party batteries....just with a label on them.

Unless they are like the newer batteries with proprietary chips.

Seriously. Find a Canon 5DII battery not "made" by Canon that will give full functionality on the 5DII. It's not available, even after a year in production. The 7D will have the same issue.

You can find and use a clone LP-E6 but you won't be able to see your actual battery meter. It shows empty if it's not a Canon battery.

[ohenry]

Well, yes the proprietary batteries are another issue

[Killjoy]

And we have yet to find out what camera the OP is using.
This whole thread may be a moot point.

[swampler]

Originally Posted by Killjoy

And we have yet to find out what camera the OP is using.
This whole thread may be a moot point.

Not really, now the thread can help everybody because they can decided based on what kind of battery they have...if they know.

[aphotographynut]

I only use original batteries. The reason for this is simple: If I ever have a problem with a Canon battery in a Canon camera, I am not going to sit by while a technician says: Well, you voided your warranty, or some other excuse. For me, that was worth the extra money on a 1D battery.

[Killjoy]

Originally Posted by swampler

Not really, now the thread can help everybody because they can decided based on what kind of battery they have...if they know.

The third party battery question has been touched on a couple of times previously.
For those answers, all someone need do is search for it.
Here
Here
Here
Here
etc, etc, etc ad nauseum.