Batteries Canon Brand or???

[russellsnr]

Hi, Bought a battery grip for my NEW Canon 6D and now need extra batteries. Now my thinking is Canon make Cameras not batteries although branded Canon and priced to reflect the name I think! but companies like Energizer, Duracell etc they do and the LP-E6 they make are quite a bit cheaper than Canon. So you no where this story is going?
Anyone like to comment?
Thanks
Russ

[Donald]

My problem was when I tried to buy 3rd party batteries from the US. You can't , because airlines won't fly them. I was always very happy with the Sterling Tek batteries I had in my Canon 40D, but for the moment, it's Canon proprietary batteries that I have in the battery grip on my 7DMkII.

[dasmith232]

I have 5 of the LP-E6 batteries that I use for my 60D, 6D and 5D3. Two of them are Canon-branded and the other three are ... something else (I've forgotten at the moment*). I've written a number on each (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) with a silver sharpie pen and cycle through them in order.

I've never had a single failure or had power issues with any of the batteries. When *using* the batteries, I can't tell the difference between the brands.

However, when inserting a non-Canon battery into the camera, the 6D and 5D3 complain about "can't communicate" and "okay to continue?". After confirming, it runs without issue even through power-cycles on the camera. Only when I change the battery will I get prompted again.

Also, the charger that came with the 60D will charge all of the batteries. The chargers that came with the 6D and the 5D3 both reject the non-Canon batteries. The LED indicator on the charger just blinks rapidly and the battery won't charge. So I have to use the 6D and 5D3 charger for Canon batteries and the 60D charger for any of them.

* = I checked, and I'm using STK (for the non-Canon ones). STK is not a fly-by-night operation.

[Geoff F]

I've never had any problems with non Canon batteries in 10D, 40D and 7D cameras; but I do purchase 'branded' third party batteries not those ultra cheap alternatives which merely say 'made in China' or other vague titles.

[rpcrowe]

I use Sterlingtek batteries interchangeably with my Canon brand batteries in my 30D, 40D and 7D cameras. I really don't see any difference nor do I even look which type battery I am using.

Of course, my procedure of shooting with two cameras, results in less stress on any single battery during a shooting trip.

[Manfred M]

Cameras use a particularly tricky breed of batteries - Lithium ion (Li-on) for short. Lithium is an extremely reactive metal, i.e. it bursts into flames in the presence of oxygen; there is a reason that commercial airlines do not transport them; there have been a couple of fatal crashes where Li-on batteries have been identified as likely culprits and there have been some instances (check YouTube) where there have been runaway thermal incidents with these types of batteries, destroying the laptop, cell phone, etc. This is one reason you are legally not allowed to have these batteries (including equipment with these batteries installed in them) in your checked luggage as any fires they cause would go unnoticed until it is too late to react.

They also have another "issue", thermal runaway when charging to quickly. This causes heat and the battery housing can be breached, exposing the lithium to oxygen in the air causing a fire. Li-on batteries are supposed to have circuitry built into them to monitor and prevent thermal runaway conditions during charging, but this all costs money, so there is no guarantee that the no-name batteries have these safeguards built into them.

So, am I going to save myself a few dollars by going to batteries that are not backed by the manufacturer? No, not with a $3000 camera body. To me, it's not worth the risk. I do know that both Sony and Nikon have had recalls on Li-on batteries for safety reasons. I'm pretty sure that this isn't going to happen for the low cost "alternatives", just because the controls that that the manufacturer and distributor has are likely to be fairly weak.

I've seen some reports that Panasonic cameras communicate with the batteries and if the battery cannot be authenticated, the camera will refuse to turn on. While many will see this type of approach as being one to sell more branded batteries (and there may well be a component of that), there is also a liability aspect involved. Any camera manufacturer could incorporate similar functionality into the camera's firmware.

When it comes to Li-on batteries, there are inherent risks that other battery types do not have. They are light weight and have high power densities, but this does come at a price.

When it comes to my battery grip. I have several options. I can use the same batteries as the camera uses, I can get a holder that uses other Nikon Li-on batteries or I can use eight standared AA cells or rechargeable Ni-mh (Nickel - Metal Hydride) batteries. The disposable AA cells have poor battery life and I would only go that route if I had no other option and the AA Ni-mh are a bit better, but the weight really goes up, so my standard configuration is the standard Li-on battery that the camera uses as well.

[DanK]

Like Manfred, I don't want to put cheap batteries with questionable provenance into an expensive camera.

I do use non-Canon batteries in my DSLRs, but only B&H's store brands, because I trust that they will be careful (as their reputation is at stake). I've used them in three different bodies and with at least two Canon chargers. There are a few other non-OEM battery brands with which many people report good experiences, including Sterlingtek and Wasabi, but I have never used either with my SLRs. I did have a Wasabi for a point and shoot. I wouldn't consider using one from a no-name supplier. For my flash, I use only Powerex, Ansemann, and Eneloop.

[SteveF]

Cameras use a particularly tricky breed of batteries - Lithium ion (Li-on) for short. Lithium is an extremely reactive metal, i.e. it bursts into flames in the presence of oxygen; there is a reason that commercial airlines do not transport them; there have been a couple of fatal crashes where Li-on batteries have been identified as likely culprits and there have been some instances (check YouTube) where there have been runaway thermal incidents with these types of batteries, destroying the laptop, cell phone, etc. This is one reason you are legally not allowed to have these batteries (including equipment with these batteries installed in them) in your checked luggage as any fires they cause would go unnoticed until it is too late to react.

They also have another "issue", thermal runaway when charging to quickly. This causes heat and the battery housing can be breached, exposing the lithium to oxygen in the air causing a fire. Li-on batteries are supposed to have circuitry built into them to monitor and prevent thermal runaway conditions during charging, but this all costs money, so there is no guarantee that the no-name batteries have these safeguards built into them.

So, am I going to save myself a few dollars by going to batteries that are not backed by the manufacturer? No, not with a $3000 camera body. To me, it's not worth the risk. I do know that both Sony and Nikon have had recalls on Li-on batteries for safety reasons. I'm pretty sure that this isn't going to happen for the low cost "alternatives", just because the controls that that the manufacturer and distributor has are likely to be fairly weak.

I've seen some reports that Panasonic cameras communicate with the batteries and if the battery cannot be authenticated, the camera will refuse to turn on. While many will see this type of approach as being one to sell more branded batteries (and there may well be a component of that), there is also a liability aspect involved. Any camera manufacturer could incorporate similar functionality into the camera's firmware.

When it comes to Li-on batteries, there are inherent risks that other battery types do not have. They are light weight and have high power densities, but this does come at a price.

Ditto. I'm not prepared to risk damage to a few thousand dollars of equipment for a few dollars of battery. I bought into a brand - what's the deal in buying third party? I have batteries from the year 2000 from my EOS 1Dmk1 which still work fine. That's 15 years ago - they fit into the 1Dmk2 and N and still give me 8 hours of work.

Just my tuppence/dimes worth.

[dasmith232]

Yeah, I probably should have clarified earlier. It's not that I have ever used the cheapest, I just didn't remember. I bought STK specifically because of good reviews that I could find and the greater capacity (2600 mAH. So far, after 3+ years of use, I've continued to get longer usage from a charge, and the battery seems to interact with the body just fine during use.

So when you reference "cheap" or "off" brands, is there a threshold? Is it OEM or not, or does a brand like Wasabi sit above the line and the others are disregarded?

B&H is a great store, but their brand is going to be a relabel of something else (that is reputable). So there's probably a range of thoughts on this.

[russellsnr]

Hi, Many thanks for ALL the replies and I also would not use the cheap of cheap batteries but when i asked in the OP I was leaning toward batteries made by companies who do make them and are well known like Energizer and Duracell that are available to buy within Europe and I would assume the USA, Canada.
Again thank you for the replies.
Russ

[Manfred M]

Hi, Many thanks for ALL the replies and I also would not use the cheap of cheap batteries but when i asked in the OP I was leaning toward batteries made by companies who do make them and are well known like Energizer and Duracell that are available to buy within Europe and I would assume the USA, Canada.
Again thank you for the replies.
Russ

I would not use alkaline batteries, like Duracell or Energizer in my battery grip unless I had no other choice. They have a fairly low power density and are a relatively expensive consumable. If your camera is like mine, it defaults to using the batteries in the handle first (which is generally what you would want as the handle is far easier to access).

If you are looking to go to rechargables, look at Maha PowerEx or Panasonic Eneloop batteries. Maha Imedion are similar in design to Eneloop. Both are NiMh (Nickel Metal hydride) designs. Three or four uses, and the rechargeable ones have paid for themselves. If you are looking at the rechargable ones made by Duracell or Energizer (I see these occasionally), they are inferior to other brands. Look at the power ratings (in mAH - milli-Amp Hours). The higher the number, the longer they last in use.

The PowerEx (which I use) have very high power density, so if you are like me and charge up the night before I plan to shoot, these last a very long time. Eneloops have lower power density, but do not self discharge over time, so you can have them lying around for months and still shoot away; but they simply won't last as long in camera.

[Geoff F]

I have just double checked one of my batteries produced by Duracell and it is lithium so I don't really see any potential problems with it because companies like that have been making various forms of batteries since I was a child. And way back then, they did leak so it was always unwise to leave them inside equipment when not actually in use.

[PhotomanJohn]

If you are looking at the rechargable ones made by Duracell or Energizer (I see these occasionally), they are inferior to other brands.

A few years ago I purchased both Duracell NiMH low self-discharge cells and Eneloop cells. On the surface they looked equivalent. All of the Duracell cells have quit and no longer will take a charge. The Envelop cells are still going strong.

John

[russellsnr]

I have just double checked one of my batteries produced by Duracell and it is lithium so I don't really see any potential problems with it because companies like that have been making various forms of batteries since I was a child. And way back then, they did leak so it was always unwise to leave them inside equipment when not actually in use.

Hi, thanks for that.
I just bought 2 x new Energizer Battery Canon LP-E6 (CA-LPE6) A201 from Wilkinson Cameras online Ebay shop for £10.00 each and looking in there own on-line shop there priced at £40.00 each so don't no if they made a price error on Ebay.
Russ

[Dave Humphries]

Hi, thanks for that.
I just bought 2 x new Energizer Battery Canon LP-E6 (CA-LPE6) A201 from Wilkinson Cameras online Ebay shop for £10.00 each and looking in there own on-line shop there priced at £40.00 each so don't no if they made a price error on Ebay.
Russ

Unfortunately, it is far more likely they won't really be what they say they are Russ.

My experience, buying from an Amazon reseller, was that even an apparently branded Canon Li-ion battery for my little S100 was a fake (which I confirmed with Canon).

As I'd bought through Amazon, the reseller 'played ball' and although protesting innocence, gave me a refund of all costs when presented with proof (it took many weeks though, but I was patient and polite at all times, as were they). Personally, I wouldn't buy something like this on eBay, too risky.

I have since bought Duracell Li-ion batteries for a couple of non-DSLR cameras and their charge/running performance matches the OEM batteries supplied with cameras (I alternately use them) - so far, so good.

For my DSLRs, I buy branded Nikon batteries.

I now only buy from Amazon themselves, since their refund policy is much quicker, should there be any issue, which there has not.

And yes, I do check carefully for fakery, having been bitten once already.

Bottom line; if it looks 'too good to be true', it usually is - or do I mean isn't (true, that is)

[MrB]

It seems that this issue is one in which the risk of problems arising is very low. Around the world, there must be billions of mobile devices powered by lithium batteries, a good proportion of those being third-party batteries, with no problems when they are used as intended. Incidents involving failure, over-heating or fire would appear to be quite rare, and many of the few that have been reported involved OEM batteries, from the major manufacturers of mobile phones and laptops, leading to battery recall programmes. The cynical (or realistic) viewpoint might be that most batteries are made in China; the camera producers then have their names stamped on some of them, so they can charge 10 times the cost price; the rest go to suppliers on the likes of eBay and Amazon, and are sold at a more reasonable price.

http://www.globalsources.com/manufac...m-Battery.html

Cheers.
Philip

[Manfred M]

The general view of eBay is that most memory cards and batteries on offer are "fakes".

Buyer beware!

[DanK]

The cynical (or realistic) viewpoint might be that most batteries are made in China;

that doesn't mean they are made to the same specs. But to each her or his own.

[russellsnr]

Hi, thanks for that.
I just bought 2 x new Energizer Battery Canon LP-E6 (CA-LPE6) A201 from Wilkinson Cameras online Ebay shop for £10.00 each and looking in there own on-line shop there priced at £40.00 each so don't no if they made a price error on Ebay.
Russ

Hi, Thanks for the reply but I felt in this case dealing with Wilkinson Cameras who are also a big high street chain would be OK. I did check the contact info and it is the same for Ebay,there own on-line shop and there high St shop.
Also found a really good deal for original http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Genuin...-/261438614123
Russ