jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've used generic batteries and charges for everything for years. No problems. Wasabi seems to be a good brand.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

OK, I have several personal rules in photography. Rule number one is to use only batteries that are made by the same folks who made my camera.
Many Camera manufactures recommend only their particular battery and caution against using other brands. So, I follow their example.
You can always sell your batteries on ebay to someone else.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

The logic works like this. If you have two cameras using the same battery and you may not be anywhere where it is easy to charge them sometimes then you tend to end up owning about 10 batteries at NZD 105 each. That's $1050. Already you are at a significant portion of a new cameras cost (although spread over two cameras of course).
Next it happens to be a fact, at least in my experience anyway, that lithium cells tend to last about 5 years (some more and some less). Same as with laptop batteries and torch batteries (lithium). So that is $200 per year. I can source 10 non oem batteries for that price and get the other 4 years free of charge. I have not been seriously bitten by doing this (leaving out torch batteries at this stage - see above).
Now if you are one of those people who run on the smell of an oily rag, only have one camera, and don't take many photos, so run with the original OEM battery plus one OEM spare, and finally are risk averse, then it might make sense not to skimp on batteries. Doesn't work for me.

khorinek

This was the issue I had when I was using my 5D Mark III. The generics battery worked fine, but the battery level would not recognize the battery. I've stayed with Canon batteries since.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

My personal feeling is other than OEM batteries may work fine. However, I don't wish to give any camera manufacturer repair service a reason for reneging on a warranty repair of charging more for an off-warranty repair by blaming the off brand battery.
--Bob

BebuLamar

I bought a generic battery for my Nikon Coolpix 5000 because I can't find the original one locally and I need the battery the same day. It doesn't work very well.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

👍

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I have used both Canon and generic batteries in my 10D since it was new and just came out.
The only difference I see is that the Canon batteries still hold a charge pretty well as the generic now last about half or less.
But all are over a decade old and have been used a lot.

CWGordon

I try to buy OEM just because. On those rare occassions where I did not, I never had a problem. I bought them from my reputable local store, never on-line. These batteries operated in a like manner to my OEM’s. No problems, good operating lives. That said, I still try to keep NIKON w/NIKON, Canon w/Canon, Olympus w/Olympus, etc. That is just me, but we all know even our OEM stuff can be flawed. The difference is I have a legit complaint if and when sumpin’ goes wrong or burns out.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Some brands are crap, some are great. Wasabi and Watson batteries are generally reliable. I've never heard of Vanon, but there are mixed reviews on the web.

I have had problems with the physical fit and finish of some aftermarket batteries. A couple of them would not seat properly in the camera. They would neither charge nor supply power, and had to be returned. One heavy off-brand video camera battery case split apart during use, leaving the mounting plate on the camera. The guts spilled onto a concrete sidewalk, shorted, and caught fire.

One of the keys to getting the most from ANY battery is to follow the device manufacturer's instructions on charging and use. Most rechargeables thrive on frequent use, and die after 3-5 years no matter what.

Here's the thing: Camera stores probably make a higher margin off of batteries and other accessories than they do off of the cameras they sell. It's like Apple selling iPhone USB cables for $30 each that probably cost them $1.00 each. A $5.00 cable can work as well and last as long or longer.

Caveat Emptor — buyer beware — but also beware of the FUD factor — Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt have probably sold more products at higher margins than any other arguments or motivations. What you don't know about a product that can't hurt YOU, CAN hurt your budget.

It's a jungle. Tread carefully.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

I don't think any of the camera companies make their branded batteries; purchasing them in bulk with their name put on them is get less expensive than building a manufacturing facility for small dollar items. Your "Canon"batteries were most likely not made by Canon, but made to Canon specs! Canon guarantees them so why worry about it?

When bought my 60D, about six years ago, it came with a "Canon" battery, and I bought a knockoff spare. Both are still working just one with no problems.

lsaguy Loc: Udall, KS, USA

About the only difference between batteries would be if they have some sort of onboard electronics to monitor the individual cells as they charge. This would only be with a built up battery, not single cells. Individual cells will be like Duracell and Energizer. A double A is a double A. When you put them in a case and add a battery management system you no longer have that. The aftermarket batteries I bought for my K50 are indistinguishable in performance and charging from the battery that came from Pentax.

marycar53 Loc: Tuscumbia Al

One generic brand that I bought Kapahen will work in my 7D, 7D MII, but not my 5D MIV. I put an white X on it with a paint pen so I won't put it in the 5D. I have a couple of other brands that work fine.

Reconvic Loc: clermont Fl

Why take the risk? You get what you pay for! We spend so much on camera and lenses, why would you risk getting anything other than the OEM?

marine73 Loc: Modesto California

As one poster said battery cores are mfg at a separate plant and the cores are put into the case with the camera brand on them. My mother in law worked at a batter mfg plant in southern CA. and they worked by contract; that is one three to four month period or longer they would mfg interstate batteries another contract that might of mfg batteries for sears another contract might have been for Costco etc.. The point is that all the contracts used the same case and they just added the cell and put the approiate label on them and gave them a pre-charge before shipping. It was never a full charge but enough to start a car. Their quality control would pull sample batteries and check them for the correct specs. If any were found incorrect then the whole run was dumped and started again. If you buy OEM you are paying for the brand Name.