OEM batteries or not?

chameleon · 1 Jun 2007 at 01:15

Should I go for the reliable but expensive OEM Canon NB2LH or are there cheaper but just as good alternatives available?
I bought a battery grip a while back but the supplied batteries are, frankly, rubbish. They go flat while the camera is idle and dont seem to last as long as the single NB2LH I got with the camera.
So I have an empty spare battery slot needing filled... Any suggestions?

^187 · 1 Jun 2007 at 02:45

Ive just bought 2 NB2LH batteries from Kerso. Not got them yet, but ill let you know what they perform like in due course. If they are half decent Ill be happy. I paid a tenner a piece, so even if they dont measure up to the genuine Canon ones its no great loss.

C.

Energize · 1 Jun 2007 at 05:06

Just get batteries with the highest capacity you can find and they will last just as long as normal ones if not longer. From my experience the brand of batteries don't make a difference, they all provide a certain current at a certain voltage for as long as their rated capacity no matter who makes them.

yak.h'cir · 1 Jun 2007 at 07:25

I've always used canons but i've heard all the brands are pretty much the same. Just do a quick google on whatever brand your thinking of buying and check if there are any known problems.

Sol · 1 Jun 2007 at 08:17

In my experience from the Nikon side of things all the OEM batteries I've bought have had about 1/2 or at least 1/3 less the battery life of the official batteries despite the OEM ones being rated higher.

I just got sick of the Nikon one lasting 600shots and the crappy ones lasting 100 or maybe 200 on a good day. With my Powershot S80 it's been the same but not as large, the NB2LH official ones are still better in my experience. Not sure if they are £20-30 better though.

^^Gord^^ · 1 Jun 2007 at 08:21

I use one official battery and two OEMs bought for a tenner from somewhere I can't mention. Battery life is the same for all three and i've had no problems at all with them.

wez130 · 1 Jun 2007 at 09:02

i use a Hahnel battery in my 10D and it performs at least, if not better than the original.

mrgubby · 1 Jun 2007 at 09:09

^^Gord^^ said:
I use one official battery and two OEMs bought for a tenner from somewhere I can't mention. Battery life is the same for all three and i've had no problems at all with them.

I bought 3 OEMs for my 300D 2 years ago , they are now working nicely in my 30D

AndyBorzi · 1 Jun 2007 at 09:39

I bought a 400d NB-2LH from a UK online store for £9.99 (900mph or whatever it is

compared to the 720 Canon version) and it has outlasted the Canon by miles.