Experience with aftermarket (non - OEM) camera batteries. Short survey (Page 7): I have Canon cameras and use Canon batteries on all. On two of the cameras I have Promaster batteries...

NBBPH Loc: Indiana

I have Canon cameras and use Canon batteries on all. On two of the cameras I have Promaster batteries as backups. They work OK but do not hold a charge as long as the Canon batteries.

Bill_de Loc: US

Nikon - Watson - Positive (provided by B&H)
Sony - Wasabi - Positive

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DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Peterff wrote:

OK, I simply asked for clarification. You have tur... (show quote)

The survey is just that, not a statistical analysis. If it's flawed, please ignore my results when I report them. For all the other Hoggers, thank you. Results are piling up. I appreciate your enthusiasm.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

I was disappointed with the Watson that was included. Oh, it worked OK, but only had enough charge for 200 shots while the Panasonic was good for over 300. Watson has been relegated to the role of Last Resort Spare Battery. It appears that the saying, "You get what you pay for," is correct.

SAVH Loc: La Jolla, CA

Our excellent local camera shop in San Diego, George's Camera, which I support often, suggested their battery replacement for the Nikon EN-EL15 which was a Pro-Master. The good thing is that they will replace it should it fail and, I as I recall, it was only $50. I bought two and they have worked now for several years.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

DaveyDitzer wrote:

As a service to UHH members, I would like to collect responses from UHH members on their experience with non OEM batteries. I will collect the data and publish the results at the end of this thread in a day or so. Please respond with only these data: Brand of camera; brand of battery and experience - positive or negative. This might help members decide on what approach they should try. Please do not respond if you have only used OEM batteries for your camers(s). Thank you.

I used pretty much every (NP-FW50) battery available for my Sony A7S, A7R (sold), A7 II (sold), A7R II and RX10 III & IV. In the past 5-6 years I've only had one battery "fail", i.e.: wouldn't accept a full charge but still worked at diminished capacity.

My gut tells me all NP-FW50 batteries come out of the same factory. Sony simply adds their logo and ups the price by 10x.

bwa

msandersal Loc: Alabama Gulf Coast

i use aftermarket, a lot of watson, for a crew of 6 photographers with canon. never had a problem. all batteries eventually get to where they won't hold a charge.

torchman310 Loc: Santa Clarita, Ca.

I bought a Nikon D4-S. It came with a few extra things including a Watson B-3416 battery to replace the Nikon EN-El 18. This was an extra battery, as Nikon also supplied their own battery. Needless to say, after some use and recharging on the official Nikon Battery Charger supplied with the camera, the Watson battery gave up the ghost and died. R.I.P. Watson !

leftj Loc: Texas

torchman310 wrote:

I bought a Nikon D4-S. It came with a few extra things including a Watson B-3416 battery to replace the Nikon EN-El 18. This was an extra battery, as Nikon also supplied their own battery. Needless to say, after some use and recharging on the official Nikon Battery Charger supplied with the camera, the Watson battery gave up the ghost and died. R.I.P. Watson !

Should have used the Watson charger.

torchman310 Loc: Santa Clarita, Ca.

Leftj, It didn't come with a Watson charger. If the battery that came with the system fits Nikon exclusively, it should be able to be charged with a Nikon charger.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

leftj wrote:

Should have used the Watson charger.

In over four years I never noticed any difference with the charge the Watsons got with the Nikon charger, according to the meter in the camera.

unlucky2 Loc: Hemet Ca.

Canon
last year I bought extra batteries for my 2 bodies, the 7D doesn't care what brand I put in it, but the 5dsr objects to this off brand. There is no name on these batteries just a web address. www.LP-techology.net. They come with twice the ah rating as original and last about a quarter of the time. NEGATIVE rating for this off brand a waste of money.

leftj Loc: Texas

torchman310 wrote:

Leftj, It didn't come with a Watson charger. If the battery that came with the system fits Nikon exclusively, it should be able to be charged with a Nikon charger.

I've seen some posts claiming Non-OEM chargers will not charge properly in the Nikon charger and that you have to use the charger for the specific Non-OEM battery.

gwilliams6

bwana wrote:

I used pretty much every (NP-FW50) battery available for my Sony A7S, A7R (sold), A7 II (sold), A7R II and RX10 III & IV. In the past 5-6 years I've only had one battery "fail", i.e.: wouldn't accept a full charge but still worked at diminished capacity.

My gut tells me all NP-FW50 batteries come out of the same factory. Sony simply adds their logo and ups the price by 10x.

bwa

I think you are correct that they come from same place. I have had just-as-good performance out of those batteries like Wasabi, costing a fraction of the Sony price.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

gwilliams6 wrote:

I think you are correct that they come from same place. I have had just-as-good performance out of those batteries like Wasabi, costing a fraction of the Sony price.

Not to be negative, but the same factory does not make it the same specs with a different label. Could be...