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Watson Batteries and B&H Photo
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Jan 11, 2018 23:51:10   #
BigGWells Loc: Olympia, WA
 
I have been shooting Nikon since I got into digital photography in 2011. I have no problem spending money for good products.

I find it most interesting that B&H gives free Watson Batteries now and then with a Nikon camera. Nikon clearly states, to only use Nikon batteries. Yes there are some off brands out there and I understand why people migrate towards those, simply for the price.

But you would think that with B&H being an authorized Nikon seller, that they would not send out an off brand battery.

Oh, I forgot, I have yet to have a Watson battery work in any of my Nikon Cameras (D500, D750, D810).

Not good B&H, not good at all.

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Jan 11, 2018 23:59:04   #
bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA
 
Watson batteries work fine in my stuff!

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Jan 12, 2018 00:39:07   #
OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR
 
Thanks for bringing this subject up, Gary. I don't think this has been discussed here before.

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Jan 12, 2018 00:51:59   #
IDguy Loc: Idaho
 
I never buy batteries with the Nikon logo printed on them because they charge two to three times as much as the other batteries that come off the same production lines. Nikon does not manufacture batteries.

Although my newest Nikon refurb came with a battery with the Nikon stamp.

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Jan 12, 2018 01:55:58   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
BigGWells wrote:
I have been shooting Nikon since I got into digital photography in 2011. I have no problem spending money for good products.

I find it most interesting that B&H gives free Watson Batteries now and then with a Nikon camera. Nikon clearly states, to only use Nikon batteries. Yes there are some off brands out there and I understand why people migrate towards those, simply for the price.

But you would think that with B&H being an authorized Nikon seller, that they would not send out an off brand battery.

Oh, I forgot, I have yet to have a Watson battery work in any of my Nikon Cameras (D500, D750, D810).

Not good B&H, not good at all.
I have been shooting Nikon since I got into digita... (show quote)


The Watson battery you received is a clone of Nikon's EN-EL15. Nikon updated that battery with a newer lot number of #20 instead of #01. Now, Nikon makes an EN-EL15a. Which should work on the D500. I don't think Watson upgraded to the (#15a) yet. Watson should have inserted the proper chip in the battery by now. Don't understand why it doesn't work on the D750/810. Recharge again and try it on the D750. Or both. My DX camera takes a different battery. And I have no problems with Watson batteries.

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Jan 12, 2018 06:02:04   #
Dan R Loc: Way Way Way Upstate NY
 
mas24 wrote:
The Watson battery you received is a clone of Nikon's EN-EL15. Nikon updated that battery with a newer lot number of #20 instead of #01. Now, Nikon makes an EN-EL15a. Which should work on the D500. I don't think Watson upgraded to the (#15a) yet. Watson should have inserted the proper chip in the battery by now. Don't understand why it doesn't work on the D750/810. Recharge again and try it on the D750. Or both. My DX camera takes a different battery. And I have no problems with Watson batteries.
The Watson battery you received is a clone of Niko... (show quote)


I use a Watson battery in my D750 just fine. I have two Nikons and a Watson. My personal opinion is that the Nikon batteries last longer.

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Jan 12, 2018 07:59:21   #
Robert Bailey Loc: Canada
 
I have several "3rd party" batteries that work just as well as my Nikon batteries-
and they cost about 75% less.

Reply
 
 
Jan 12, 2018 08:17:01   #
LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY
 
Pretty much any manufacturer of a product will tell you that you should only use their branded accessories. It's called marketing. Quite often the manufacturer doesn't make the accessory. Nikon doesn't make batteries. For all we know they could be buying them from Watson. The only thing at risk is your warranty, should that after-market part fail and damage your equipment. I've used Watson and Power2000 batteries in my Canons for years, along with Canon batteries. The only failure I have ever had was a brand new Canon LP-E6.
Read your warranty and decide what risk, if any, you want to take. Don't rely on what a salesman tells you. A couple of years ago I bought a new lawn tractor from the local John Deere dealer. The salesman tried to tell me that my engine warranty would be void if I didn't use John Deere oil. Total nonsense, but the salesman was spouting it anyway. Always find out what the manufacturer requires, not the dealer.
BTW, Nikon, Canon, and others are well aware of B&H's free battery policy and apparently have no issue with it.

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Jan 12, 2018 08:24:29   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
BigGWells wrote:
I have been shooting Nikon since I got into digital photography in 2011. I have no problem spending money for good products.

I find it most interesting that B&H gives free Watson Batteries now and then with a Nikon camera. Nikon clearly states, to only use Nikon batteries. Yes there are some off brands out there and I understand why people migrate towards those, simply for the price.

But you would think that with B&H being an authorized Nikon seller, that they would not send out an off brand battery.

Oh, I forgot, I have yet to have a Watson battery work in any of my Nikon Cameras (D500, D750, D810).

Not good B&H, not good at all.
I have been shooting Nikon since I got into digita... (show quote)


Every company says to use only their products - Honda oil and antifreeze, for example.

I've used all different brands of batteries for decades, and I've saved a fortune over brand name batteries.

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Jan 12, 2018 08:28:02   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
I have one Watson that came from B&H with a D4s. For several years I have routinely swapped it with the Nikon. I have not noticed any difference.

--

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Jan 12, 2018 09:00:11   #
Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.
 
BigGWells wrote:
I have been shooting Nikon since I got into digital photography in 2011. I have no problem spending money for good products.

I find it most interesting that B&H gives free Watson Batteries now and then with a Nikon camera. Nikon clearly states, to only use Nikon batteries. Yes there are some off brands out there and I understand why people migrate towards those, simply for the price.

But you would think that with B&H being an authorized Nikon seller, that they would not send out an off brand battery.

Oh, I forgot, I have yet to have a Watson battery work in any of my Nikon Cameras (D500, D750, D810).

Not good B&H, not good at all.
I have been shooting Nikon since I got into digita... (show quote)


Just because somebody gives you something, doesn't mean you have to use it.

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Jan 12, 2018 09:08:31   #
19104 Loc: Philadelphia
 
The other thing to watch out for is the Counterfit ones.

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Jan 12, 2018 09:16:50   #
Tom Ryman Loc: Florida
 
B & H will tell you that the Watson Battery will not work in the D500.

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Jan 12, 2018 09:30:56   #
peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA
 
Bill_de wrote:
I have one Watson that came from B&H with a D4s. For several years I have routinely swapped it with the Nikon. I have not noticed any difference.--
Same

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Jan 12, 2018 09:43:35   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
Dan R wrote:
I use a Watson battery in my D750 just fine. I have two Nikons and a Watson. My personal opinion is that the Nikon batteries last longer.


I buy Nikon and Watson batteries. Both work fine. I do agree with you that the Nikon's have a longer lifespan. One reason Nikon's cost more. I rotate those charged batteries in my camera. I bought a Watson battery for a backup in my Sony pocket camera too. I have one Sony and one Watson battery for it.

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