Which battery for my Nikon?
Jun 2, 2021 13:01:50 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
larryepage wrote:
There is a big divide here on battery choices. But I'd look again. Those batteries are nowhere close to "roughly the same." The capacity of the Watson battery is between half and two-thirds the capacity of the Nikon battery.
I've been following this discussion. Battery discussions are always interesting. Just for fun, I took a look at NikonUSA's website, because the discrepancy between their battery capacity and those of the third party battery looked a little too large. Sure enough (looking at the D5500 page, then going to Accessories, then Power Accessories, it looks like they offer two battery choices...
EN-EL14 - - 7.4V, 1030 mAh, 7.7 Wh, $40.95
EN-EL14a -- 7.2V, 1230 mAh, 8.9 Wh, $59.96
Did not find an 1800mAh battery for the D5500. I don't know if this would change my decision, but it does change my argument. Not sure where the original error was, but this is what the website says.
Jun 2, 2021 13:02:36 #
I got a free Watson EN-EL18 from B&H back when I bought a D4s. I use it the same as my Nikon versions. I never noticed any difference in performance. I think it is in the grip of the D850 right now.
That said, the batteries last so long that when I buy them I buy Nikon branded. It makes me sleep better at night.
--
That said, the batteries last so long that when I buy them I buy Nikon branded. It makes me sleep better at night.
--
Jun 2, 2021 13:26:52 #
Totally agree. I received a Watson battery once as a bonus item with a purchase from b and h. It didn’t hold up for very long. The Nikon batteries last a very long time. I’ve had many of them last for years. The ones I still have that don’t charge all the way I keep as a last resort backup Stick with the Nikon
Jun 2, 2021 14:09:48 #
To me it is worth a few more dollars for peace of mind using a Nikon battery. I once had a non Nikon battery fail, so i am now afraid to use anything but Nikon.
Jun 2, 2021 14:44:27 #
kmielen
Loc: Eastern NC
fourlocks wrote:
I need a new battery for my D5500. B&H offers... (show quote)
I have the same camera, purchased used about 13 months ago. It came with a Nikon EN-EL14a (1230 mAh). This was a capacity improvement over the EN-EL14 and I'm not aware of further improvements, certainly not 1800 mAh.
I suspect my battery is several years old (the 14a's first were available in 2/2014).
I have also used an Ultimaxx branded replacement, which is labeled as 1700 mAh.
After one year the Ultimaxx has held up fine and gives me about the same performance as the Nikon branded battery. They can be found for $12 or so.
IMHO, if price is no object, use the Nikon branded product. BTW, it is assembled in Indonesia from cells made in China.
Jun 2, 2021 15:14:53 #
Because if the non-Nikon battery leaked and you replaced it with a good Nikon battery before sending it in for repairs, the repair tech will instantly know that the good Nikon battery did not cause the problem. You would also then be guilty of trying to falsify your repair request.
Jun 2, 2021 15:22:25 #
twb930s wrote:
Because if the non-Nikon battery leaked and you replaced it with a good Nikon battery before sending it in for repairs, the repair tech will instantly know that the good Nikon battery did not cause the problem. You would also then be guilty of trying to falsify your repair request.
It only matters if the camera is under warranty. And even under warranty it only affects damage that was caused by the battery. Since you don’t send the battery with the camera for repair they have no idea what battery you used, although I suspect that they’ll want to see the battery if it’s a warranty repair caused by the battery.
Jun 2, 2021 16:29:59 #
BurghByrd wrote:
I tried a Watson for my D810 and it worked fine for a while. I didn't notice a problem with the number of shots on a charge (didn't push it that far) but have noticed that it has failed the take a proper charge now (shorter service life).
Batteries will do that. I’m packing up to relocate and keep finding batteries that I forgot to toss, mostly OEM as fate would have it.
Jun 2, 2021 16:40:10 #
fourlocks wrote:
I need a new battery for my D5500. B&H offers... (show quote)
Batteries fail and also leak causing major damage.
Buy OEM
Jun 2, 2021 17:56:43 #
fourlocks wrote:
I need a new battery for my D5500. B&H offers... (show quote)
Nikon Batteries are worth the extra money. They keep on going year after year.
Jun 2, 2021 18:16:48 #
bodiebill wrote:
Batteries fail and also leak causing major damage.
Buy OEM
Buy OEM
What does that accomplish ? There’s no warranty on OEM packs.
Jun 2, 2021 18:54:25 #
Myself, I'm paranoid and believe in Murphy. Thus, I only use OEM batteries in my cameras. Yes, they're more expensive and I have a lot of them (batteries). But I use my cameras mostly for foreign travel to places that while I do go back to, not to the same location. After I huff and puff my way up that ever steepening mountain (they seem to grow every year), I don't want to have to re-climb just because a battery failed (and I usually carry 3 OEM spares as I shoot a lot and, like I said, I'm paranoid). $20 is nothing when compared to 2 month's travel costs... Seems it's always time vs money...
Full disclosure: OK, I do have a couple of non-OEM batteries as spares for my spares
Full disclosure: OK, I do have a couple of non-OEM batteries as spares for my spares
Jun 2, 2021 18:54:25 #
Jun 2, 2021 19:52:11 #
User ID wrote:
What does that accomplish ? There’s no warranty on OEM packs.
It just might save you a badly damaged camera
Jun 2, 2021 19:54:27 #
Jay Drew
Loc: Boise, Id.
A different perspective
Non factory Li-Ion batteries scare the living Ca-Ca outta me!!! I have a connection to the Truth Aquatics dive boat Conception that burned to the waterline do to what is believed to have been caused by a battery failure. Although no one knows for sure exactly what caused the fire or whether factory or non-factory batteries were in play. I chose to use an abundance of caution & did before that fire. I dove from that boat (& many other So. Cal dive boats in the '80s & '90s.) I should look at my dive logs to see when & how many times. I've aroused my own curiosity.
Non factory Li-Ion batteries scare the living Ca-Ca outta me!!! I have a connection to the Truth Aquatics dive boat Conception that burned to the waterline do to what is believed to have been caused by a battery failure. Although no one knows for sure exactly what caused the fire or whether factory or non-factory batteries were in play. I chose to use an abundance of caution & did before that fire. I dove from that boat (& many other So. Cal dive boats in the '80s & '90s.) I should look at my dive logs to see when & how many times. I've aroused my own curiosity.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.