Hamltnblue Loc: Springfield PA

Buy the Canon batteries from a reputable source only. Too many copies of things from china these days.

bikerguy

Except when the battery leaks or otherwise damages the camera, the company can and will void the warranty. It is like buying a car, never changing the oil and then expecting the manufacturer to cover engine problems caused by old oil.

I have used third party batteries as back ups but now only OEM. BTW, the only battery that I had that went bad as an OEM and it was replaced under warranty.

BebuLamar

But the Canon brand batteries also come from China. Of course there are different quality batteries that come from China. Some of the third party batteries are actually better than OEM brand. But of course many are not.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

While I am in agreement with LFingar I would like to add that the performance that I received from Watson and Power 2000 batteries is directly (my observation) proportionate to the amount of discount involved in the purchase when compared to Canon/Eneloop, etc. batteries. In other words, when I pay about 25% less for the Power 2000 I receive about 25% less performance. Granted, these are just one guy's observations. Plus the fact that you may or may not be getting the "fully compatible circuity or longevity" that your Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc. demands. There are just some cost/performance issues that should never be skirted. I try to save a couple of bucks when I can, however, in sophisticated electronic gear it is just a false economy.

One last warning, please buy ONLY from folks that you trust, Adorama, B&H, etc. as there is a lot of counter-fit photographic equipment out there.
It's not just women's pocketbooks anymore, Yikes!!!

I'm sorry for the rant. I haven't had my 2nd Cup-O-Joe.
To All Of My UHH Brethern, A Special Thanks for Learning Me So Much This Year!
Please Have a Happy, Healthy New Year

Smile,
Jimmy T Sends

brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

I have Canon OEM batteries and third party batteries and never had to shoot so many photos that I ran the batteries down to nothing. I shoot hockey, football, etc. and never ever ran the batteries down or even come close in filling my SD/CF cards...7DMKII two card slots.

I did notice that the third party batteries run down faster at hockey (cold) before the Canon drops, but still enough to shoot a few games.

Guess it all depends on what, when and where you are shooting. Only one thing is that I remove batteries when the camera will be sitting for a while.

Happy New Year to all, have a wonderful year doing what you like to do photography.

anotherview Loc: California

I've bought camera batteries from sources other than the camera-maker with no problem. The alert from Canon I take as a version of "Buyer beware."

I note that I buy camera batteries from reputable online sellers on the assumption that these sellers stand behind their products. The reputation of a seller lies at stake with every sale in today's very competitive market. Word of mouth still plays a part in determining the reliability of a seller.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

You have a expensive camera. So now you can save money by using cheep batteries. If they burn up the camera you will be mad a Canon for not fixing it or charging you too much to fix it.

lsimpkins Loc: SE Pennsylvania

Your first paragraph is a very good summary of my experience with manufacturing practices in China. Install your own QA team and put quality goals on an equal or higher footing than production goals, control materials and suppliers and good products are the result.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'd send it back. If something should happen because of the battery, your out a camera or the expense to fix it.
--Bob

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I have never bought or used a Canon branded battery (other than what came with the camera). Always use high quality 3rd party brands. Have had Vivitar branded batteries in use for over 10 years with no issues what-so-ever. Make sure the mAh is the same or higher than the manufacturer battery and buy from reputable companies like Wasabi and you will not only have great batteries but a LOT more money in your pocket.

No camera manufacturer makes their own batteries. If you can identify the current supplier to your brand camera (I believe somebody identified Panasonic as the current vendor to Canon) you can buy the exact same batteries at a much lower cost. My Vivitar batteries came off the same line as the Canon branded ones - I confirmed that before I purchased them. Apparently, the white paint used to print the Canon name on the battery adds over 60% to the manufacturing costs ! In almost 40 years of using 3rd party batteries (going back to a Canon XTi) I have not had a single problem with any battery and never had one refuse to hold a charge.

People will buy the branded battery just because they hear that other batteries are no good. I have yet to hear from anyone in this forum who says they had an actual problem with 3rd party batteries that trashed their camera. Its always "...I know a guy who..." . If anybody has had a specific problem that caused a camera failure requiring repair, I would still like to hear it. I am not saying it can't happen, just would like to hear actual problems rather than listen to fear mongers who just want everybody to pay ridiculous prices for a battery simply because they do !

All battery manufacturers - even Canon branded batteries - will have some failures where a battery suddenly fails. I am asking who has had their camera be incapacitated by a bad 3rd party battery.

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

You may want to look at the mAh rating. If the 3rd party batteries have a lower rating than the OEM, they will not last as long. If they have a higher rating, they will last longer. Even Canon has multiple levels of LP-E6/LP-E6N batteries available - the higher the mAh rating, the more expensive and the longer they last.

jpmmc Loc: Pennsylvania

First off, a battery is NOT a battery. If that were true, this discussion would not exist. Please be careful with such generic advice. Battery technology is quite complex and most definitely can damage equipment if using the wrong battery or one of poor quality. Remember the Samsung phone debacle? Some batteries contain chips for camera function and even to ID itself. Discharge rates and charging rates are important. Heat, fitment and contacts are other concerns. These are just a few reasons to purchase the ‘correct’ battery. The higher cost is due to supply and demand, but if you demand good service from your camera, you’ll supply it with a quality 🔋 battery.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Personally I now would never consider using anything other than a Nikon battery in my camera's...
The only time I made an exception was with a Watson battery that came from B&H as an "extra" with my D7200...

While the Watson Nikon Clone worked for a while it soon refused to display valid usage information after a full charge... Continuously reports Pic Meter = 34 (yes I tried recharging on several different charges and using it in several different Nikon bodies).

Yes I have a great deal of respect for B&H and they endeavor to set a high bar... They actually sold me a previously owned lens which reported faulty EXIF information back to the camera (noticed this while fine tuning) so even Nikon kit can fail... Just get over it and move on... btw, call B&H used department who instantly provided a return shipping label and a refund...

I certainly wasn't going to request a refund on the "free" Watson battery B&H provided with their D7200 "bundle". Since the Watson battery didn't cost me anything I did the environmentally considerate thing and took it to my local Best Buy's battery recycling drop off...

Bottom Line? Batteries can leak and totally trash a camera... long ago I had a flash unit trashed by a leaking battery... Nope, I can't afford to replace my cameras because of battery leakage... If it was a Nikon battery that leaked I would have no problem holding Nikon USA's feet to the fire to repair the camera... Another compelling reason Gray Market cameras are very unappealing to me... Don't think Watson would give a rat's a$$ about same...

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Man-Up ??? Real men are not fear mongers and don't do things just because silly uninformed people cowering in a corner tell them they should be afraid. Do the research. Rely on actual evidence and empirical results rather than superstitions about how anything without a painted-on manufacturers name is substandard.

You seem to forget that even the venerable B&H sold what they thought were actual Nikon batteries this year. OH NOOOOO ! Now who can save us from 3rd party doom ????

An aside, B&H did do the right thing by replacing the fakes. They are a quality organization ...

JohnH3 Loc: Auburn, AL

Please don’t use it in your. Camera! It is a knockoff. If you look closely, you will see subtle differences. I once bought a $34.99 battery cover. If you can return it, you should.