Third party batteries, worth the savings?

andephotographic

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For a D200. Don't think I'd ever want to run the risk in my D3.

Lots of horror stories out there but anyone here got real life experience of third party batteries going horribly wrong?
 
I have a couple of third party batteries for my d200 and d300, same batteries, I have not had any issues. Off the top of my head they are hannell batteries.
 
I have a couple of third party batteries for my d200 and d300, same batteries, I have not had any issues. Off the top of my head they are hannell batteries.

hahnel , i would class those as reputable 3rd party batterys , not like some you see on crapbay :bang:
 
I do not know about Nikon batteries but I have used Canon compatibles from 7Dayshop for several years with no problems whatsoever and they are up to 1/5th of the price of a Canon one.
 
yes, they work fine. I have yet to see ONE actual case of the oft-rumoured examples of camera damage from a dying non-branded battery.

The 7dayshop EN-EL3e's, and also the D3 fit EN-EL4a's work fine.
 
I've never had any problems with 3rd party batteries, the Phottix Titan ones from Etefore on Ebay have been particularly good.
 
Cheers guys, I thought the horror stories of exploding batteries and such like might have been urban legend more than actual fact.
Il probably get a couple 3rd pary batteries for my D200 and maybe go for one for my D3 once it's out of warranty cover.
 
I have a Phottix EN-EL3e for my D300s and it's shocking. It doesn't hold charge for long and it's life is far less than the two Nikon ones I have.

Just my experience with 3rd party batteries, but buy original is my advce.

K
 
The only problem I have found with third party batteries is that they 'permanently die' sooner than a name brand. When I mean die I mean they stop holding their charge.

Possibly if you could work out how many 3rd party batts die early compared to a Canon or Nikon one it might be a false economy?

On a side note, exploding batteries? How do you make a battery explode? Wouldnt this be down to the charger or external influences such as fire?
 
The only problem I have found with third party batteries is that they 'permanently die' sooner than a name brand. When I mean die I mean they stop holding their charge.

Possibly if you could work out how many 3rd party batts die early compared to a Canon or Nikon one it might be a false economy?

On a side note, exploding batteries? How do you make a battery explode? Wouldnt this be down to the charger or external influences such as fire?

ive had 3rd party batts last 4 years (the ones from 7dayshop for canon 20D).
 
I've never had any problems with 3rd party batteries, the Phottix Titan ones from Etefore on Ebay have been particularly good.

+1 :thumbs:


I have 2 Titan's for my D90 which are better than the original Nikon one has ever been! Both from Ebay (can't remember the seller unfortunatly)
 
The only problem I have found with third party batteries is that they 'permanently die' sooner than a name brand. When I mean die I mean they stop holding their charge.

Possibly if you could work out how many 3rd party batts die early compared to a Canon or Nikon one it might be a false economy?

On a side note, exploding batteries? How do you make a battery explode? Wouldnt this be down to the charger or external influences such as fire?

Since my 10D I have had countless third party batteries all of which cost under £10 each. They would always be higher rated than the OEM and so far I have had two 3rd party batteries fail and one Canon battery fail. Considering I have had far fewer canon batteries than 3rd party I'd say there really isn't much in it quality wise - luck of the draw more like.

Plus I always used my 3rd party batteries more than my OEM one - so in my experience 3rd party are definitly better value for money.
 
I've had good 3rd party batts and have had no problems (Hahnel, duracell, energiser etc).

I did read somewhere about "genuine" fake batts, esp being sold on e-bay. I'm not sure if Nikon do, but have a search on the web to see if there are things to look for, I know I've seen a post on the Canon BP511 batts and how to spot the difference.
 
I've had good 3rd party batts and have had no problems (Hahnel, duracell, energiser etc).

I did read somewhere about "genuine" fake batts, esp being sold on e-bay. I'm not sure if Nikon do, but have a search on the web to see if there are things to look for, I know I've seen a post on the Canon BP511 batts and how to spot the difference.

Here you go

From Nikon showing differences http://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/45066/p/37/c/241/r_id/127673

Hope this is of some help
 
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I used 2 compatibles from 7dayshop with my 350D for 2 years with no probs. I shall do the same with my 40D.
 
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