Your Take on Third Party Batteries?

[BrianLy]

Sorry to thread jack but it didn't feel right to make another thread for my question. When I bought my D200 from Adorama 10 months ago it came with a third charger, so should I buy a Nikon charger?

 

[usayit]

SOME 3rd party batteries are good; SOME are average; SOME are absolute junk.

My experience is the same. Its a crap shoot it seems... even between battery types from the same branding. My guess is that they source from different manufacturers. One thing that seems to be typical is that even the good ones will work fine in the beginning but soon degrade to the point they don't hold charge while the originals are still chugging along. By the time this happens, its too late to complain to the retailer. Probably the best aftermarket experience I've had were with NP-80 li-ion from Lenmar used on my Epson Rd-1. Epson discontinued their batteries so I didn't have much choice.. but those Lenmar batteries lasted a good while until I sold the camera.

Wouldn't it be nice if they standardized the batteries like they did with regular (AA, AAA, etc...)?

btw... the link is wrong. Its Sterlingtek

 

[jdag]

Thousands of dollars on camera equipment, only to try to save $25 on a battery? No thanks.

Thanks to everyone for there input, but I have specific questions for you.
You were the only one, or one of the only ones, to say "no deal".
Why?
It seems biased as you haven't given 3rd party batteries a chance
You're saying it from a "more money, better it HAS to be" kind of point of view.

To me a good example is, you wouldn't buy a 50mm f1.4 for $1000.
You would buy it for how much it goes for in the market.
Who's to say batteries have to be $100?
Why not get the $20 ones when the market shows them out there?

I'm not saying you're wrong, but you were the one who said different
If you have a good point to make, I want in
and I want to know before I make a bad purchase

Thanks!

I absolutely have tried 3rd party photographic items in the past, ranging from batteries to lenses. My experience with 3rd party batteries was fine (side note: my experience with 3rd party lenses was not so good).

That being said, the 3rd party batteries I have used were for much less costly camera bodies. I am simply reluctant to use such batteries on my $1,200 body. Ultimately, it all comes down to a cost/benefit function, and I don't find the benefit outweighs the cost in this area. Simple as that. They may be perfectly fine, they may last long, etc. It has zero to do with "Nikon batteries are more expensive, they must be better". You yourself posted the question about the value and functionality of the 3rd party batteries, so minimally you seem to have some question in your mind.

You also state "...who says batteries have to be $100...why not get the $20 ones...". I have a D7000 now, but had a D90. An extra Nikon battery for the D90 was ~$45 if I recall. The extra Nikon battery I bought for the D7000 was ~$50. So we are not talking the difference between $100 and $20...not even close.

Lastly, even you stated from the beginning "My first experience sucked with a cheap battery, but I found this next one that appears to offer a 3 year." To me, that says it all!

 

[PatrickJamesYu]

Thousands of dollars on camera equipment, only to try to save $25 on a battery? No thanks.

Thanks to everyone for there input, but I have specific questions for you.
You were the only one, or one of the only ones, to say "no deal".
Why?
It seems biased as you haven't given 3rd party batteries a chance
You're saying it from a "more money, better it HAS to be" kind of point of view.

To me a good example is, you wouldn't buy a 50mm f1.4 for $1000.
You would buy it for how much it goes for in the market.
Who's to say batteries have to be $100?
Why not get the $20 ones when the market shows them out there?

I'm not saying you're wrong, but you were the one who said different
If you have a good point to make, I want in
and I want to know before I make a bad purchase

Thanks!

I absolutely have tried 3rd party photographic items in the past, ranging from batteries to lenses. My experience with 3rd party batteries was fine (side note: my experience with 3rd party lenses was not so good).

That being said, the 3rd party batteries I have used were for much less costly camera bodies. I am simply reluctant to use such batteries on my $1,200 body. Ultimately, it all comes down to a cost/benefit function, and I don't find the benefit outweighs the cost in this area. Simple as that. They may be perfectly fine, they may last long, etc. It has zero to do with "Nikon batteries are more expensive, they must be better". You yourself posted the question about the value and functionality of the 3rd party batteries, so minimally you seem to have some question in your mind.

You also state "...who says batteries have to be $100...why not get the $20 ones...". I have a D7000 now, but had a D90. An extra Nikon battery for the D90 was ~$45 if I recall. The extra Nikon battery I bought for the D7000 was ~$50. So we are not talking the difference between $100 and $20...not even close.

Lastly, even you stated from the beginning "My first experience sucked with a cheap battery, but I found this next one that appears to offer a 3 year." To me, that says it all!

Yeah I over exaggerated the comparison.

Thanks buddy for replying.

 

[table1349]

Good thought except for one minor detail. Canon and Nikon Don't Make Batteries. They get them from a supplier that slaps their label on them. Same battery from the same supplier without the name brand label works just fine and costs less.

 

[PatrickJamesYu]

Good thought except for one minor detail. Canon and Nikon Don't Make Batteries. They get them from a supplier that slaps their label on them. Same battery from the same supplier without the name brand label works just fine and costs less.

That is a very true statement.
BUT, I don't know who makes the batteries for Nikon and Canon.
AND I don't know what third party brands are the same wholesaled battery.

 

[penfolderoldo]

Hello
So I've bought a 2nd battery for my Nikon d90, for pretty cheap
$20 I think, via ebay.
I was under the impression it was OEM, but its materials quality lacks compared to my original
And it barely holds a charge.

I acquired a Nikon d5000 and I need a battery for it
Browsing eBay, I found replacement batteries for $6.63 shipped
It includes a 3 year warrantee.

Whats your take?
My first experience sucked with a cheap battery, but I found this next one that appears to offer a 3 year.


Also what's your take on chargers?
Cheap chargers okay?

Without even reading the numerous replies (apologies guys, but that'd be 5 mins of my life i'd NEVER be getting back, and to be honest it's a straightforward one to answer).

Will cheap batteries power your gear? yes they will.
Will they interact with your camera fully showing all battery info? they may, most of the ultra cheap ones won't.
Are they made to the same standards as manufacturer branded ones? I'm sure some are, but the majority, as the OP says himself, are not, and i'm no big fan of lotteries.
Is it worth saving an often significant amount of cash by buying 3rd party batteries? Tricky one - it can be, and I have in the past used 3rd party gear of various sorts, but no battery = no pics, period (refer you to my previous answer about lotteries)

In short, you get what you pay for....

 

[table1349]

AF Batteries, are just that AF Batteries. I use Sterlingtek and love them. They have higher mA so I get more shutter releases between charges. They completely communicate with the camera. Never had a single issue with any of the batteries from Sterlingtek. They are not as cheep as the e-Bay stuff but not as expensive as OEM's.

I don't use nor will I buy e-Bay stuff. Cheap, imitation, used when advertised as new prodect etc. from unknown sellers. Sterlingtek has been around a while and have a good reputation. Frankly I paid a hell of a lot more for my vehicle than I did my camera and think nothing of putting a diehard in it. Never had an issue, but then I don't buy from Joe's Hair Care, Tire Center and Airport. I go to Sears.