Batteries - DPChallenge Forums

12/20/2010 05:55:56 PM · #1

I've been using several of the Canon OEM and Ultralast brand BP-511 batteries for over a year now. I ordered the Ultralasts on Amazon and got what I ordered last time. All of them are wearing out at about the same time and I wanted to replace them with more of the Ultralast. I went to my Amazon history and ordered the same thing. The problem I am having is that a number of vendors on Amazon are shown as carrying the Ultralast BP-511 equivalent, but are actually selling generic no-names. I received 2 of these no-names today and one won't take a charge. I've also bought "Ultralast" batteries for my wife's Rebel and got no-names. I was thinking that perhaps these vendors are posting their offerings under this, thinking that "Ultralast" is a description instead of a brand name.

At any rate, my question is: can anyone recommend a decent third party battery make and/or vendor, where I will get what is advertised and what is advertised can be counted on? Thanks.

12/20/2010 06:35:03 PM · #2

I bought mine from here, six months or so ago, and both are functioning quite nicely still..

The price is obviously great, so I would feel comfortable saying you should give a pair a try..

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

12/20/2010 06:44:13 PM · #3

Originally posted by coryboehne:

I bought mine from here, six months or so ago, and both are functioning quite nicely still..

The price is obviously great, so I would feel comfortable saying you should give a pair a try..

That battery/vendor was also the first recommendation from the Canon DSLR group on Flickr, so I guess that means I'll be trying them out. Thanks.

MattO

Nikon D4

12/20/2010 07:49:29 PM · #4

Just curious why you wouldn't just buy Canon ones? I always felt a bit skiddish about skimping to save a few bucks and take a chance on a battery killing an expensive DSLR.

12/20/2010 11:26:32 PM · #5

Originally posted by MattO:

Just curious why you wouldn't just buy Canon ones? I always felt a bit skiddish about skimping to save a few bucks and take a chance on a battery killing an expensive DSLR.

For me it's a matter of price and capacity...

Besides, it's not like supplying a steady voltage is a challenge or anything, and almost all electronics can handle a reasonable amount of fluctuation from specified requirements.. In short, it's just not something I worry about, then again, I shoot with a $800 body, not a $4500 body..

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

12/21/2010 04:10:36 AM · #6

I've never heard of anyone saying a battery killed their camera. There are good aftermarket batteries that are much more affordable than the OEM item, which is what I thought I was buying.

And for 3 OEM batteries + shipping it's about $150 give or take a bit.

Message edited by author 2010-12-21 09:11:40.

MattO

Nikon D4

12/21/2010 08:29:08 AM · #7

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I believe

Scalvert and some others had issues with some aftermarket battery and a 5D or something I remember the thread and will search for it when I get some time.

Matt

Magnumphotography

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM

12/21/2010 04:42:56 PM · #8

Up in Canada, batteries are expensive. For my camera, one genuine Cannon battery is $120 + 13% = $135! This is worse, when you want a battery grip and 4 batteries! 4 x 135 = $540 plus grip, ouch...
Last summer, I was lucky to find a local source for Phottix Titanium batteries. Not only did they have a slightly higher performance/mah rating, they were only $25 cash, each!
I also bought a Phottix grip and so far I have been impressed by it all. I highly recommend the grip. It cost me $120 cash, compared to Canon's $429 plus tax rip off.
So for me, it was a no brainier. I highly recommend this companies products. Yes, they do Nikon too!
So just do a little search and you should find their site.
Two thumbs up!

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

12/21/2010 05:05:13 PM · #9

FYI, I have the Polaroid battery grip, and it's fine, although once in a while it will actuate the camera without me pressing the button, which is a little annoying, but no major problem. And that never happens when the controls on the grip are turned off, so it must just be a contact issue with my button..

dai_bach

Canon EOS-50D

01/21/2011 01:46:27 AM · #10

Whilst I'm sure that the third-party batteries will work, I have some reserves about buying them as they seem too cheap to be reliable. To put it another way, in the UK I can buy a genuine canon bp-511a battery for about Â£60 from amazon, whereas the third-party equivalents sell for Â£10-20, or 3-6 times cheaper. Is, then, the genuine canon battery at least 3 times as good or last 3 times longer? Thanks for your advice.

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

01/21/2011 04:23:50 AM · #11

Originally posted by dai_bach:

in the UK I can buy a genuine canon bp-511a battery for about Â£60 from amazon, whereas the third-party equivalents sell for Â£10-20, or 3-6 times cheaper. Is, then, the genuine canon battery at least 3 times as good or last 3 times longer? Thanks for your advice.

I think some of it is simply that it is the name brand product. Some of the third party batteries are high quality and some are junk. Hence, the existence of threads like this to take advantage of the experience and knowledge of others.

BTW, I bought a pair of the Sterlingtek batteries and they seem to work great. I have another one on the way along with a spare for my new G11.

Might be interesting if one of the major photo magazines did a review and test of camera batteries. I'm afraid their advertisers might not be behind it though. Might be why we have not seen such a report from a major publication.

Message edited by author 2011-01-21 09:26:19.

bohemka

Nikon D700

03/25/2011 06:39:01 AM · #12

Piggybacking again:

How much battery power do folks have? Believe it or not I have one battery. One. I guess I don't get far from home (or at least an outlet). I've been stuck once or twice lately though and macro is a vampire so things have to change.

I'm thinking of picking up two more. How many is too many?

Google Glass Google Glass

03/25/2011 08:28:23 AM · #13

Originally posted by bohemka:

How many is too many?

That depends, basically figure out how many you can comfortably afford, double it and then add four, that's too many, anything less is a good amount.

ambaker

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

03/25/2011 08:31:16 AM · #14

Originally posted by bohemka:

How many is too many?

Ten more than you already have at any given time.

When you get to the point that the lights in the house dim, when you try to charge them all at once, and you can't seem to remember how many you have, you are getting close to too many.