batteries: Ok so I have a Canon 7D. I need to purchase a couple of new or backup batteries for it. Now I'm thinking that their are only a couple or so manufactures that make batteries...

davidv Loc: salt lake city utah

Ok so I have a Canon 7D. I need to purchase a couple of new or backup batteries for it. Now I'm thinking that their are only a couple or so manufactures that make batteries in the world. So the question is other than price is there really ant difference in batteries. I see the one I need from $16.00- $80.00 for what looks like the same batterie. What is your guys input on this? I can buy 5 of one kind for the price of 1 of the others. Thanks for your thoughts.

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

I always buy the "brand" batteries...they last so long and the expense is spread over a lot of years...
I don't think an $18 battery would be anywhere as good as an $80 one...it's the old story, you get what you pay for...

Selkii Loc: Oakland, CA & Vancouver Island

My husband and I have used third party batteries as backups for all our cameras for many years with none of the problems I've read about - shortened life being one. We shop Amazon and pay attention to retailer ratings. You can get cheaper off of EBay, but I'd rather pay a few dollars more and know I'm getting it from a reputable supplier.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

Check out the batteries available from Batteries+Bulbs. They carry a 1 year guarantee. You can check which battery you need on their website www.batteriesplus.com.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

I keep the manufacturer's battery in the camera, it's always my first one. Backup batteries are usually from Amazon with good rated vendors as already mentioned here. Never a problem...

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Batteries are one of the easiest rip-offs to sell. There are great off-brands and terrible off-brands. I have bought several great batteries from third parties, but remember several other purchases that disappointed. One didn't even fit/would not charge, and it was an "exact replacement" for my Casio Point-and-Shoot.

The Canon replacements are safe bets. Be sure you can take back whatever you buy, if it proves inferior. My wife sent back several different off-brand batteries for her Canon G7, before giving up and buying the genuine Canon battery, which still works after several years.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

With 3 DSLR's I have 4 backup batteries, all of them Wasabi brand, less than half the price of Nikons. They look identical except for labeling, fit the same, charge in the Nikon chargers, have slightly higher power, and I've never had a problem or failure in 2 1/2 years. I can't tell without looking which brand is in the camera.

Oh, one difference. They've saved me about a hundred bucks.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

OddJobber wrote:

With 3 DSLR's I have 4 backup batteries, all of them Wasabi brand, less than half the price of Nikons. They look identical except for labeling, fit the same, charge in the Nikon chargers, have slightly higher power, and I've never had a problem or failure in 2 1/2 years. I can't tell without looking which brand is in the camera.

Oh, one difference. They've saved me about a hundred bucks.

Yeah, they're fine! I have used them in Canon 20Ds - 50Ds. Couldn't remember the name.

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

I have heard that some of the Canon cameras will not read the replacement battery. I have not heard they same about Nikon. I so wish I could find the article that I read.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I have one OEM battery that came with the camera.
I also have 2 - Power2000 decoded batteries I rolled the dice on.
So far, they've been golden for me.
First thing I did was to put the first one I opened in my OEM Nikon battery charger. SWEET! It started charging like an OEM.
So I was pretty sure they would work.
Now, months later, they are working fine.

YMMV. But I got 2 for less than the price of 1 OEM.

wolfman

The difference between a 3rd party battery and the original Nikon for the D800 & D810 is only $7.00. I do have two 3rd party batteries that were thrown in with the last two bodies that I had purchased from B&H. I strictly use them as backups and not that often. The way I look at it, is if your going to spend $3000 for a camera, does it make sense to take a chance on a 3rd party battery to save a few bucks?

Bob

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

I have used 'cheap' batteries is all my gear (including an expensive video camera) for years & have never had a problem. I find that performance is similar. If I get 15% less shots on a charge, but the battery is a third of the price, it still makes sense to me.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

Just after I got my 7D MK II, I purchased to Vivitar brand replacement batteries. It was 2 batteries and a charger for under $30 USD from Amazon. They work fine in my 5D MK III, 7D, and 7D MK II.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Like so many other things, as long as you buy the batteries from a trusted retailer, such as B&H or Adorama, it is unlikely you will have any problems. B&H sells Watson, among others I imagine, and often bundles new Canons with a spare Watson battery. I've never had any trouble with them.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

DOOK wrote:

I have used 'cheap' batteries is all my gear (including an expensive video camera) for years & have never had a problem. I find that performance is similar. If I get 15% less shots on a charge, but the battery is a third of the price, it still makes sense to me.

Sometimes the physical enclosure of the off-brand batteries is cheaply made. Back in 2009, the flimsy case plastic on a large Lithium-ion video battery for a Canon GL-2 split and separated! The internal connectors shorted out, and it nearly caught fire (it was arcing) as it fell off the camera! Fortunately, the floor was hard, bare concrete... it broke the short before the battery could explode. I replaced it with a genuine Canon battery. The knock-off was part of a B&H bundle that came with the original camera.