Are there quality, less costly alternatives to Sony's NP-FM500H battery for A-mount cameras? Dear All, Within the next month, I'll be purchasing a Sony A-mount camera. Unlike the Sony...

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Dear All,
Within the next month, I'll be purchasing a Sony A-mount camera. Unlike the Sony A-33 & A-55 models, which employ the same battery type as do the E-mount cameras, the A-mts now employ the larger "500"-type battery.

If you respond to the Topic's actual question, please include whether you have actually had personal experience with whichever manufacturer's battery you're referring to. This is not to dissuade others who know of alternatives AND provide links to them from responding.

Also, has anyone had personal experience with Sony's M-series version of this battery?

I thank you,
lev29 👍🏻👍😎

Clemens Loc: Maryland

The Wasabi battery is great for the Sony's
They have them for the e-mount and a-mount Sony's
I use both for years and they are great. They have about 90% of the performance of a Sony battery but at a lot lower cost

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Clemens wrote:

The Wasabi battery is great for the Sony's
They have them for the e-mount and a-mount Sony's
I use both for years and they are great. They have about 90% of the performance of a Sony battery but at a lot lower cost

Thank you. By "90% performance," are you referring to how long each full charge lasts, how long it takes to recharge, how many recharging cycles it can go through, and/or how long it takes to spontaneously lose, say, 50% of its full charge without the camera it's in being turned on?

Clemens Loc: Maryland

It will probably 10 minutes longer vs the Sony to charge
When the Wasabi is empty the Sony probably has another 10-20 procent left. No big deal. Most people I know who use Wasabi are very happy with it including me.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

I have 5 batteries for my Alpha 850. Two of them are Sony. The others are Rayovac I purchased from Batteries Plus. Can't tell you what the specs are on either brand but, I get about as many shots out of the Rayovacs as from the Sonys.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

lev29 wrote:

Dear All,
Within the next month, I'll be purchasing a Sony A-mount camera. Unlike the Sony A-33 & A-55 models, which employ the same battery type as do the E-mount cameras, the A-mts now employ the larger "500"-type battery.

I thank you,
lev29 👍🏻👍😎

I've used various brands of alternative batteries in everything for years - no problems. When I say everything, I mean mainly cameras, both Nikon DSLR and compacts, like Sony, Canon, and Nikon - camcorders, too. I've never noticed a difference in how long they hold a charge or how many shots or how much footage they provide. I've never had one fail, although dropping a rather large camcorder battery knocked the end cap off it. I like being able to charge the batteries in a car.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H2.XSony%27s+NP-FM500H+battery.TRS5&_nkw=Sony%27s+NP-FM500H+battery&_sacat=0

Jcmarino

I use the Wasabi batteries on my a6000, I carry about 3 batteries with me. They cost about 25-30.00 The difference between them and the Sony's is negligible for the cost.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Whatever battery you're using, if you notice it swelling, get rid of it!

http://www.howtogeek.com/244846/what-to-do-when-your-phone-or-laptop-has-a-swollen-battery/

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

You've received advice on the Wasabi which I have never used. However there is another brand called Watson that I have purchased at B&H.It is advised not to always use the aftermarket batteries in brand new cameras while under warranty.

Turnings Loc: Rogers, MN

I have used Wasabi batteries in various devices including two Sony A mount cameras and have found them to be very reliable and available at reasonable cost. Most come with a wall charger and also a 12 volt cord which makes it ideal for car travel.👍

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

jerryc41 wrote:

Whatever battery you're using, if you notice it swelling, get rid of it!

Thanks for the link! :thumbup: 8-)

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

nicksr1125 wrote:

I have 5 batteries for my Alpha 850. Two of them are Sony. The others are Rayovac I purchased from Batteries Plus. Can't tell you what the specs are on either brand but, I get about as many shots out of the Rayovacs as from the Sonys.

I didn't know Rayovac made rechargeable batteries for cameras! Regardless, I just checked the Batteries Plus website. I did 2+ searches on that site, including NP-FM500H and Rayovac. Then I Googled Rayovac & NP-FM500H together and failed to find evidence that Rayovac makes this type of battery.

Do you have a current URL for this? Otherwise, I don't see how to explore this option you're suggesting.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

My local camera store does not sell Wasabi batteries because they have had too many customers not happy with their performance.

Does the A6000 have a micro usb port that you can use to charge the batteries in camera? If so, consider getting an external charger for cell phones and cord long enough to allow to move the camera.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

chapjohn wrote:

My local camera store does not sell Wasabi batteries because they have had too many customers not happy with their performance.

Does the A6000 have a micro usb port that you can use to charge the batteries in camera? If so, consider getting an external charger for cell phones and cord long enough to allow to move the camera.

chapjohn,
Thank you for your qualitative negative feedback re: Wasabi batteries. Regarding your well-intended suggestion, you evidently didn't read my original post carefully enough.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

mas24 wrote:

You've received advice on the Wasabi which I have never used. However there is another brand called Watson that I have purchased at B&H.It is advised not to always use the aftermarket batteries in brand new cameras while under warranty.

Thank you, mas24, I see that this brand does exist and will look into them.