Battery Question re: 5D Mark 4 (Page 2): There's no such thing as too much profit. If Canon batteries are the only ones you can use, where's the price competition?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

dkguill wrote:

I just recently received my new 5D Mark 4 and I'm enjoying getting acquainted with it. My initial impression is really VERY positive. I do have a question re using 3rd party batteries. It's no surprise that Canon is trying its best to make anything but a Canon battery uncomfortable. I noted that, when I insert one of my Vivitar batteries, I get the error message that says the camera can't communicate with the battery and it asks if the battery I have inserted says Canon on it. If you say no, it tells you the usual thing about not guaranteeing that the battery will work properly and it gives you the option to continue using it or not. If you continue, you find that the battery info in the menu will not operate, thus you can't see remaining capacity, shutter count, or recharge performance. Not a real big issue because the camera still functions as it should. The only other missing item is the little battery gauge that you normally see on the back and top screens is blanked out, so you have to wait until you run out of juice and the camera quits.

With the Vivitar batteries, I have always had excellent luck using them on 5D Mk 2, and my 7D Mk 2. Both provide normal information on the screens and there is no difference in performance. While it may be too early, I'm wondering if the Wasabi batteries that I see recommended so often on this forum have perhaps found a workaround for this issue, or if Canon has finally managed to make 3rd party choices irritating enough to force the purchase of Canon brands only for the 5D Mk 4.

Any recommendations, experiences, or solutions from those who may have gotten the 5D Mk 4 would be appreciated.

Another issue I discovered is that you apparently must use a pretty fast SD Pro memory card. I slipped in a Sony Class 10 card that only reads 40 MB/s and the camera locked up after shooting a few shots in succession. I switched to a Lexar 400X card and all was well again. This very nice camera seems to have champagne tastes and it balks at average speed cards. Not a complaint, just an observation that may help someone like me.

I just recently received my new 5D Mark 4 and I'm ... (show quote)

There's no such thing as too much profit. If Canon batteries are the only ones you can use, where's the price competition?

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

cosmo54 wrote:

Maybe its just me, and I'm probably going to regret saying this but. ......when I bought my 5Diii and 7Dii, I also bought extra Canon brand batteries. I figured after spending that much money, what was a few extra dollars? But like i said, thats just me.

Nothing wrong with doing things that way. It's all about your comfort level. There are some people though who have to scrimp and save just to buy a particular camera and those few extra dollars aren't easy to come by.

jimbrown3 Loc: Naples, FL

My experience with an other than a Canon battery (Adorama) is that they do not last as long. Bite the bullet. You just spent $3,500.00 for a camera. Why not get the best for a few bucks more for a battery, have all the functions work and have peace of mind. I tried an off Canon brand. I will never go back to a non-Canon battery. I have come to the conclusion that "cheap" may work, but I end up buying a similar Canon product because cheapo failed.
AND you can always get it repaired by Canon. USA warranty only. Also goes for memory cards. Memory has never been less expensive, If you want to get all of what this camera can deliver for a few extra $'s Get some new cards. After all, you bought it; pamper yourself and know you are getting all there is from this fabulous camera. Good luck, happy stressless shooting and I hope to follow you someday to Mk IV.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

LFingar wrote:

Nothing wrong with doing things that way. It's all about your comfort level. There are some people though who have to scrimp and save just to buy a particular camera and those few extra dollars aren't easy to come by.

Right. Just because you bought one expensive thing, that doesn't mean you can buy lots of other expensive things. Imagine buying a $10 camera and having to put a $40 battery in it.

JBruce Loc: Northern MN

Don't mean to step on the OP's thread, but here is my experience with the OEM Canon batteries that came with both my 5d3 and 70d. From day one, I rotated the Canon with either a Watson on the 70d, or a Wasabi on the 5d3. In both cases, the Canon battery is showing reduced recharge performance (only 1 or 2 green bars) as compared to the aftermarket version. I can usually get around 500 shots per charge, including a fair amount of chimping and later in-camera deleting. I will be buying only Wasabi batteries in the future. Just saying.
John

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

cosmo54 wrote:

Maybe its just me, and I'm probably going to regret saying this but. ......when I bought my 5Diii and 7Dii, I also bought extra Canon brand batteries. I figured after spending that much money, what was a few extra dollars? But like i said, thats just me.

My thoughts exactly!!! Why spend on an expensive camera and then try to save a few dollars on a battery or two. Not how I think about it either.

Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC

cosmo54 Loc: Easton, PA but will travel for photos

LFingar wrote:

Nothing wrong with doing things that way. It's all about your comfort level. There are some people though who have to scrimp and save just to buy a particular camera and those few extra dollars aren't easy to come by.

Well, I have to scrimp and save for my hobby too......Sorry if I offended anyone

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

dkguill wrote:

I just recently received my new 5D Mark 4 and I'm enjoying getting acquainted with it. My initial impression is really VERY positive. I do have a question re using 3rd party batteries. It's no surprise that Canon is trying its best to make anything but a Canon battery uncomfortable. I noted that, when I insert one of my Vivitar batteries, I get the error message that says the camera can't communicate with the battery and it asks if the battery I have inserted says Canon on it. If you say no, it tells you the usual thing about not guaranteeing that the battery will work properly and it gives you the option to continue using it or not. If you continue, you find that the battery info in the menu will not operate, thus you can't see remaining capacity, shutter count, or recharge performance. Not a real big issue because the camera still functions as it should. The only other missing item is the little battery gauge that you normally see on the back and top screens is blanked out, so you have to wait until you run out of juice and the camera quits.

With the Vivitar batteries, I have always had excellent luck using them on 5D Mk 2, and my 7D Mk 2. Both provide normal information on the screens and there is no difference in performance. While it may be too early, I'm wondering if the Wasabi batteries that I see recommended so often on this forum have perhaps found a workaround for this issue, or if Canon has finally managed to make 3rd party choices irritating enough to force the purchase of Canon brands only for the 5D Mk 4.

Any recommendations, experiences, or solutions from those who may have gotten the 5D Mk 4 would be appreciated.

Another issue I discovered is that you apparently must use a pretty fast SD Pro memory card. I slipped in a Sony Class 10 card that only reads 40 MB/s and the camera locked up after shooting a few shots in succession. I switched to a Lexar 400X card and all was well again. This very nice camera seems to have champagne tastes and it balks at average speed cards. Not a complaint, just an observation that may help someone like me.

I just recently received my new 5D Mark 4 and I'm ... (show quote)

It's a champagne camera. If you're buying the best don't you want the best memory? are you now going to buy Sigma and Tamron lenses??? The battery situation I understand. Come on Canon, don't be SOOOOO GREEDY! A battery is a battery.

DanCulleton

I've used Watson and Wasabi batteries with no problem.

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

Notorious T.O.D. wrote:

My thoughts exactly!!! Why spend on an expensive camera and then try to save a few dollars on a battery or two. Not how I think about it either.

Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC

Ditto

dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

foathog wrote:

It's a champagne camera. If you're buying the best don't you want the best memory? are you now going to buy Sigma and Tamron lenses??? The battery situation I understand. Come on Canon, don't be SOOOOO GREEDY! A battery is a battery.

Well...actually...I AM going to use my Tammy 150-600 on the Mk 4. I've tried it and the images are quite good. Of course I'll continue to use my L lenses, although I'm told that I may want to update the 24-105 to the new version when it's available in a few weeks. So far the old 24-105 results are pretty impressive however. See, I really do try to use what works well, at a competitive price, no matter what logo is stamped on it...oem or otherwise. When oem is the only choice I'll take it. My clients are ultimately the deciding judges.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

If the 5D family is new to you, may I share this experience? I've continued to enjoy my 5DII, and learned a few new things along the way. I bought the Power Grip, for I wanted to be able to enjoy vertical shots and the power grip helped that greatly. It also accommodates two batteries. I love values, so I explored 3rd. party batteries. They would work in my camera, but with greater uncertainty. So I bought a total of four Canon batteries, and yes, it represented good pocket change. But in these many years of operation, those four batteries continue to serve me today as they did when brand new.

I believe in a value, but saving some dollars for a 3rd. party battery is not one I recommend.

dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

You can't be criticized for using oem parts. As you can read in earlier posts, not everyone has had a bad experience with 3rd party alternatives. Reference the comments above that suggest Watson & Wasabi brands have outperformed Canon batteries. I've had a similar experience with 3rd party batteries AND power grips among other things.

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

The problem with a lot of 3rd party batteries is that they don't have the recharge life of OEM batteries.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

cosmo54 wrote:

Maybe its just me, and I'm probably going to regret saying this but. ......when I bought my 5Diii and 7Dii, I also bought extra Canon brand batteries. I figured after spending that much money, what was a few extra dollars? But like i said, thats just me.

What is regretful about that. The best batteries you can put in your Canon cameras are made by Canon. No regrets for doing the smart thing.