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01/27/2007 05:36:32 PM · #1 |
I\'ve got to get another battery for my 20D. Before I just go get an OEM, is there any 3rd party brand I should check out that might be better?
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01/27/2007 05:40:18 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by colema19:
I\'ve got to get another battery for my 20D. Before I just go get an OEM, is there any 3rd party brand I should check out that might be better? |
I got the Sterlingtek batteries for my 10D.
The OEM battery has 1100mAh and cost about $40. The Sterlingtek has 2000mAh and cost $12. So I get twice the battery for 1/3 the cost.
Message edited by author 2007-01-27 17:43:31.
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01/27/2007 06:02:51 PM · #3 |
| Every time I have gone 3rd party, I have regretted it. They only benefit is cost. Don't get caught up in the mAh comparisons, as I don't know how they calculate the supposed double energy storage but logic says it is marketing hype. The truth is simple, you will never be disappointed by the performance of an oem battery. So suck it up and pay the $40. |
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01/27/2007 06:12:16 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by TJinGuy:
Every time I have gone 3rd party, I have regretted it. They only benefit is cost. Don't get caught up in the mAh comparisons, as I don't know how they calculate the supposed double energy storage but logic says it is marketing hype. The truth is simple, you will never be disappointed by the performance of an oem battery. So suck it up and pay the $40. |
I have been totally disappointed by the OEM BP-511's.
They simply do not last as long as the Sterlingteks. It's not even close.
How? It's simple really. Battery technology gets better and cheaper all the time. The OEM batteries don't take advantage of the new technology, they are built to the spec that was in place when they were developed, which, in the case of the BP-511, means several years ago.
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01/27/2007 06:59:49 PM · #5 |
| Yeah, Sterlingtek here too. IMO the Canon branded one is just a rip off. Have never had an issue with ST - I even got a special for 2+shipping for < $25 (long forget the code, 2for1 or something similar). |
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01/27/2007 07:06:38 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by TJinGuy:
Every time I have gone 3rd party, I have regretted it. They only benefit is cost. Don't get caught up in the mAh comparisons, as I don't know how they calculate the supposed double energy storage but logic says it is marketing hype. The truth is simple, you will never be disappointed by the performance of an oem battery. So suck it up and pay the $40. |
I've bought a battery on eBay that came shipped from China. I also had two Canon ones. I now have two, one Canon, and that one from China.
I would agree with your approach, TJinGuy, but I don't think that it is a marketing hype that's behind it.
The technology is the same, it boils down to QC. That is, the chance that your noname battery will work is probably 85%, while for the Canon one it is 99%. There is no 100% guarantee that one will work - it is just how much money you're willing to spend.
I invented those numbers above, but that's the general concept. |
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01/27/2007 07:17:07 PM · #7 |
Batteries are not all the same, technology-wise. In particular, Li-ion batteries need certain associated electronics to ensure safety and longevity.
For one, they cannot be fully discharged, or they will die a premature death. So they need a voltage-monitoring circuit that stops them from discharging when a certain output voltage threshold is crossed. Many 3rd party batteries lack adequate discharge protection.
They also need protection against sudden discharge, which could cause overheating and potential injury to the user. Again, many 3rd-party batteries may be lacking in this area. One way to cut cost is to cheapen or eliminate protection circuits. Also, if the cell is allowed to discharge further, it "looks" like it has higher capacity :-P
In addition to questions as to whether the required protection circuitry is present, there's also the quality of the cells used. AFAIK, the Canon batteries use Panasonic cells, which are among the best on the market.
Bottom line, caveat emptor! |
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01/27/2007 08:04:14 PM · #8 |
I bought a 3rd party BP-511 battery for my 30D..............used it once
It got stuck in the camera......once I pryed it out I posted in the freebie thread to give it away (which no one has wanted so it is going in the garbage)paid triple the price for the Canon.......I WILL NEVER BY AN AFTERMARKET BATTERY AGAIN!!!!!
Message edited by author 2007-01-27 20:20:07.
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07/30/2007 09:43:41 AM · #9 |
Interesting battery experience. Saturday I was shooting hard all day. Late in the day, I got a low battery warning (I have a Canon battery grip). I waited longer than I usually do before swapping in my spares. The low-batt indicator actually started to blink (I usually change it soon after I notice the "half-battery" power indicator). I switched in my spares and continued shooting.
Got home, plunked the batteries into my charger. One of my 3rd party batteries, a Power2000 7.4V 1500mAh Li-ion showed a full charge after about 1 minute in the charger. I put it back in the cam, and immediately got a low battery indicator. I've tried several times and have confirmed that this battery will not recharge.
Now it's not like this thing failed quickly. I think I've had it for three years. I purchased it from Battery Barn and have used it heavily in my battery rotation for all those years. I frequently shoot astro where I'm banging out 2, 3 and 4 minute exposures for an entire night. I've never had a complaint with one of these batteries until now.
So, I'm in the market for some new batteries now and I'd like to reopen this discussion, but with the caveat, don't just jump in and say where you buy your 3rd party batteries and save mucho bucks. Let's hear from those who have been using 3rd party batteries for at least 12-18 months. Failure stories and success stories. Let's hear'em folks.
While we're at it, a rant: I just got a new cell phone (Nokia 6126). What is is with these cell phone companies that every time I get a new phone, the jack for the charger and headset has changed?? Are these $%#@* just forcing new accessories on the helpless public? Where can I get good, inexpensive 3rd party cell phone accessories? The same place I buy my 3rd party canon batteries?? |
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07/30/2007 09:49:30 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
For one, they cannot be fully discharged, or they will die a premature death. So they need a voltage-monitoring circuit that stops them from discharging when a certain output voltage threshold is crossed. Many 3rd party batteries lack adequate discharge protection. |
Just went back and reread Kirbic's note carefully. Zing! |
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07/30/2007 10:33:39 AM · #11 |
I second the SterlingTek solution. I have been using them for a while. They are cheaper and they outperform the OEM batteries.
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07/30/2007 01:02:14 PM · #12 |
I've been using my sterlingtek battery for almost a year now and it works great, never had a single problem. I actually use it as my main battery and the Canon one as backup. For ~$20/battery, it was well worth the money. Doesn't seem to have any problems with discharge protection, but I don't know for sure. The only difference I can see is that it doesn't say Canon on it and costs half as much.
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07/30/2007 01:19:37 PM · #13 |
I bought an Impact battery for my XT. They were $ 27.95. A bit more juice than the Canon batt too.
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07/30/2007 01:29:41 PM · #14 |
I've said it before, and i'll say it again.
//www.power101.com |
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07/30/2007 01:50:53 PM · #15 |
| the generic battery I got with my camera bundle seems to last longer than my genuine Nikon battery that came with the camera itself. The generic is rated at slightly higher mAH (milliAmp-Hours) as well. |
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