larbear360

I have misplaced my original Canon genuine battery. They seem to run around $50 - $60 for the genuine replacements. Before shelling out that kind of expense (I need two) I was interested in hearing from anyone who has used any of the generic alternatives on the market.

Being able to read the battery life in the camera is important. Not so much being able to use the Canon charger. These generics usually sell along with a compatible charger.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

I have a few Wasabi batteries for the T7i and they work great. I really don't use the T7i for stills any longer and mostly just for video, but they hold their own.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I've been using Lenmar and Watson batteries for my T1i for years.
No problems so far other than one deciding not to hold a charge any more after ten years.

larbear360

I'm mostly video, too. Does the battery charge display correctly in-camera?

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

The Wasabi batteries? Yes. I don't know about the ones LS mentioned, he'll have to tell you.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Thought he was talking to you - I didn't mention video.
I don't do video.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

My video is nothing near special...just b-roll that I will eventually be cut into a photo montage with cheesy royalty free music...LOL

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

I'm using a HAHNEL battery as a spare for my (old) 60D and current 6D mkII. No problems. I'd say the standard CANON battery is as good as or maybe exceeds the HAHNEl in the capacity stakes, regardless of what it says on the label.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

Do a search on this subject and click reacent search.
I photographed the great American eclipse in 2017 and I knew going in I would need a battery change. I had to do this without moving the camera and telescope mount. In my practice runs, which I did many, one after market battery was a little swollen and prevented an easy exchange. Could have been this particular battery but I bought orginal Canon battery for a spare. I figured I'm spending $500.00 for round trip shipping of equiptment the extra few dollars not an issue.
Most people wouldn't mind a little effort in battery switch, but with me it was extremely critical I didn't move the camera or mount as I was tracking the sun for 3 plus hours.
The replacement batteries are a lot cheaper and did come with a charger.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Be very careful...

When I went looking for LP-E17 a last year there were no third party alternatives. I ended up paying for one of the Canon.

Today there are some that appear to be fully interchangeable with Canon OEM.

However, there also appear to be some that come with their own charger. Whenever you see that, be careful because in the past it was a sign of possible compatibility issues. The 3rd party batteries could not be charged in the Canon charger and the 3rd party charger couldn't be used with the Canon batteries. Mixing them up would damage the battery or the charger. Yes, those 3rd party batteries will work in the camera, but will have limited "info". The camera won't recognize and report battery status as fully as it does with an OEM battery.

Until recently this was the case with various LP-E6 series batteries I use in my other cameras too. Several years ago Watson was the first of the 3rd party manufacturers to produce fully compatible versions of those.

I really don't know about the LP-E17, since I bought OEM last year when absolutely nothing else was available. Today there are alternatives..... Just do careful research to be sure any you consider are fully compatible.

Just because a 3rd party manufacturer makes an LP-E5 to fit a T1i or an LP-E6 to fit a 60D or my 5DII, 7DII cameras doesn't necessarily mean that they make a fully compatible substitute for the LP-E17 used by your T7i and my M5.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

And meanwhile there are several of us that ARE using 3rd party batteries and haven't encountered any of the issues you have read about.

The Wasabi batteries do require a separate charger, which is included in most of their package deals. But in the grand scheme of things, it's worth the savings to have an extra battery charger laying around the house, at least for me.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Just to be clear, I'm not saying the 3rd party batteries don't work... just that you have to be careful with them. Don't charge the Wasabi battery in a Canon chargers and vice versa.

These aren't just "issues I've read about".... They are warnings from the battery manufacturers themselves:

"About this item
COMPATIBILITY - Works with these popular Canon cameras that use LPE17 batteries: Canon EOS RP, EOS M6 Mark II, M6, M5, M3, EOS Rebel T8i, T7i, T6i, T6s, EOS Rebel SL3, SL2, EOS 77D
NOTE - Batteries are NOT DECODED and will not display the remaining time; Batteries must be charged with Wasabi Power charger
BATTERY & CHARGER SPECS - Premium Grade-A cells rated at 7.2V, 1040mAh for longer run-time and battery life; Outputs 500mA
INCLUDES - 2 batteries, 1 wall charger, and a European plug adapter for the Canon LP-E17 so you always have the power you need
USA WARRANTY - All items include a 3-year manufacturer warranty from Wasabi Power and 100% US based customer support in Pomona, California

The above is copied directly from the Wasabi LP-E17 listing on Amazon.

If you forget and accidentally charge the batteries in the wrong charger, best case you'll be buying replacement batteries and/or charger. Worst case, well I hope you have a fire extinguisher handy!

Usually the batteries that aren't compatible {"decoded") are considerably cheaper.

A single Canon OEM LP-E17 costs $56. In comparison a Wasabi kit of two with their own charger costs $20.

There are fully compatible LP-E17 now being offered, which can safely be charged with the Canon charger. For example, Vidpro LP-E17 is a significantly higher capacity than the OEM Canon battery (1400 mAh vs 1040 mAh). At $49, this battery is only a little cheaper than the OEM.

EDIT:

I've also used third party batteries at times, to make my $ go a bit farther. I bought BP-511 in bulk for $8 each when Canon OEM were costing around $45 apiece. Those worked fine. But it was different with the older, less capable NiCads. They were much more safely substituted.

It's different with today's "smart" lithium batteries that have built in controller chips and circuitry. To keep the cost down, 3rd party replacements don't have the same smart circuitry, which affects both charging and functionality in camera.

Keep in mind that lithium batteries are potentially flammable if improperly charged or damaged. While these are small sizes with fairly low risk, I wouldn't want to be responsible for someone being injured or losing a camera or worse in a fire.

You just need to be careful with them, is all I'm saying.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

Before you get all out of sorts, that phrase is what I was referencing. I made sure that I pointed out the 3rd party batteries that I have been using for years now DO require a separate charger, but all the assumptions about compatibility with the camera are simply not there for that specific camera and that specific brand of battery.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I have had no trouble with other brand batteries. I have used Vivitar and CS Power. As they are replacements for the original battery, they use the same charger.

larbear360

The Vidpro sounds good. I have used generics on my T3-I. The Canon charger does work on those. My work associate has Neewer and they do not charge on her T7-I Canon charger. Not sure about battery remaining.