E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

It's like my HP OFFICE printer. It keeps insisting the use of aftermarket ink will yield poor results- their message comes up but the cheap ink works fine for the last 6 -years. I have even made the odd photographic port on it. It ain't the big old Epspon at the studio with multiple inks but it has not seized up or blown up yet.

As for Nikon? Obviously, they have incorporated a chip or other lock-out device in their latest cameras to nix the use of aftermarket batteries. Not nice but there is little anyone can do about it except the aftermarket manufacturers lodging a complaint with the government-perhaps it's an anti-trust violation? Who knows?

Well, that's not nice, unless there would be an advantage to the user such as guaranteed longer life or reliability.
I suppose if the design, performance, and features of the new camera are superior or more beneficial to me in comparison to waht I am using now, it will be worth the few extra bucks for the batteries When I think back to the olden days and all the expenses of inventorying film and related chemistry and supplies, not to mention the TIME inthe lab darkroom, the expenditures for batteries seem like a pittance.

With flash gear, I have made endless battery conversions and replacements to work around the need for obsolete, less efficient, and ridiculously expensive batteries. As long as I knew the voltage, ampere/hour requirement, and charging rate, I could wire up somethg- internally or externally to power up any portable. strobe or speedlight. Cameras?- much more tricky and cumbersome. If your camera has externs AC power adapter you can clip off the wire and use any external battery with the right voltage specifications Super. rickey, cumbersome and you might cause serious damage if you over-volt or reverse polarity. If you do it right you will have a good cold-weather battery pack that you can keep under your clothing.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

In the '70s I invested in a lot of Nikon gear. I had two bodies and lenses from 28mm to 500mm. I bought everything on the implied promise that my lenses would not become obsolete. One day I wanted to upgrade the bodies for improved metering. I couldn't do it without spending $100 for every lens. Nikon lost this fan boy! They never got another penny.

I am now happy with gear from DJI, Sony, Panasonic and Olympus!

JD750 Loc: SoCal

yes like subscription software the cameras of the future after a given number of images, will require you to put “more nickels in the box” (using your cc) to keep shooting.

Yes old cameras are more dangerous than ladders.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Nobody seems to believe that there are good technical reasons for using approved batteries in electronic devices.

“Approved” could very well include other legit batteries but also will likely screen out cheap poor quality knockoffs.

It amazes me people pay $4000 for a camera body then complain about paying $50 for a battery.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

I get Kastars for my Nikons. For the price discount it doesn't bother me to keep a few extra with me. Or sometimes lose/forget one. Never had a problem with using them.
What does bother me is I can't recharge in camera.
And that every single camera uses a different battery.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

Here is my list of pet hates -
Camera batteries
Power tool batteries
Printer inks
Dyson vacuum cleaner batteries (they used 21v instead of 18v) and hard to clean filters
Braun OralB toothbrushes (as evidenced by fitting a smaller battery and NiCd instead of NiMh)

Archboo3 Loc: Central Florida

In my D810 and D850 I use both Nikon and Pro Master batteries for years, no issues. Bit I’m concerned about using off brand with my Z8.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You can buy all the batteries you want - any brand. The problem is that they won't work in the camera. This isn't something new, though. A few years ago, that happened after an update, but whatever company it was switch that restriction off. I have generic batteries for everything. It's not there are dozens of factories making batteries for cameras.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'd like to buy a cordless string trimmer, but without a battery. There is nothing reasonably priced that will work with the several brands of batteries I already have. Imagine if flashlights all used proprietary batteries. Manufacturers think that by using their specific batteries, they will lock up the market. I think just the opposite is true. I'll never buy a Kobalt cordless tool because I don't want to start buying another type of battery. I have mostly DeWalt and Ryobi cordless tools, so I continue to limit myself to those brands.

BebuLamar

I have no problem if a camera doesn't work with third party battery if the manufacturer still sell them. But when they stopped selling replacement camera and you can't use third party battery that pisses me off.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That topic was discussed on YouTube, and it seems to apply to everything - cars, cameras, tools, boats. I've used generic batteries in everything for years. I'm not going to pay $75 for a battery when I can get two plus a charger for $40. Is there really a difference between a Nikon battery and a Watson?

Some consolation for owners of expensive cars - If you buy a $250,000 car, you can be sure you'll pay a lot for brakes, oil filters, spark plugs, and everything else. Quality!

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

The D850 I bought a year and a half would not take my wasbi battery while the D810 I traded in would. No problem at present as I only have the one camera and 4 Nikon batteries.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

No problem! Just buy a new camera.

BebuLamar

That pisses me off. Buying a replacement when the one you have is still like new? That the kind of thing I hate. But that is true obsolescence. If something broke that's not obsolete. It's obsolete when it's in perfect condition and you can't use it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Just like cell phones getting slower as they keep updating to a new OS. It gets so slow that you decide to buy a new phoe.