UKC

Hi

Anyone got any any experience of the non-branded batteries sold at places like 7-day shop etc?

need to get a few EN-EL4a batteries, and the nikon ones are quite expensive...

cheers

alex.

In reply to alex:

Please tell me you're joking!

You have a top end Nikon DSLR utilising their most advanced battery technology, and you going cheap out and use non-branded ones :-P

In reply to Richard Carter:

yeah, well, I need 11 or so, so was thinking of getting half and half...

In reply to alex:

I've used non branded nikon fit batteries in my D40 to no ill effect. If you're looking for non nikon but still branded ones duracell often do batteries to fit nikons that are just as good if not better! And considerably cheaper....

In reply to alex:

I've used non-branded EN-EL3e before (they were about £4 each on eBay). Wasn't quite sure what to expect but they were fine for a while. Worked just as good as the Nikons.

However I didn't use them for a couple of months and when I stuck them on charge they'd only last about 5 minutes. I had plenty of use out of them while they lasted though, about a 9-12 months, so can't really complain.

In reply to Paul P:

Ah, cheers, sounds like they're worth a go - could get 15 for the price of one!

In reply to alex:

Just had a quick look on eBay and you could get at least 4 non-Nikons for the price of 1 Nikon for an EN-EL4a.

Looks like the cheap EN-EL3e have increased in price lately too, they're about a tenner now.

In reply to alex:

Cheap ones are all good Alex. Not had problems with mine.

In reply to alex:

Get all mine from 7-day shop - they're higher rated than the original (canon) ones and seem to last at least as long.
Had some of them for years and all seem to be still going strong.

In reply to Adam Lincoln:

No they're not! There are some dodgy Oly replacements about, I assume it'll be even more so on Nikons as they're more popular.

This guy has done some serious dissection on the Oly replacements:
http://t5r.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/e1/clonetests.htm

UniRoss seem to be among the best for 100% replacement - ie as good as or better peformance than the OEM ones and all the safety circuits in place, but they're 20 quid.

In reply to alex:

11 !?!
crikey what on earth are you doing? What camera you using them with?

In reply to alex:

I've got a hahnel one which alternates with the Nikon. Never noticed any differences in performance, though its one of the more expensive non-OEMs.

Why so many, going on a big trip? A solar panel might be a better option?

In reply to alex:

Are you using a D2x? Just the D3 (and nearly the D2h) average about 2000 shots per charge! I spent a week in Norway in Jan and only just got onto my 2nd battery.

I have a top end Nikon DSLR and my spare battery is a cheap version, looks identical to the Nikon version and appears to hold its charge well.

In reply to JDal:

It was a turn of phrase. I didn't mean ALL of them. (If you catch my meaning!)

I know there are dodgy ones about.

In reply to Richard Carter:

Yeah exactly... 11 batteries!

In reply to alex:

So, why 11 batteries, we all want to know

In reply to alex:

try www.eurobatteries.com

Their Canon SLR batteries are better than the originals.

In reply to Richard Carter:

Oh, phwew. That's Ok then. It's nothing exciitng, just off trekking in nepal for a few weeks. Must have got bad info off some american website then, lots of people were recommending 10-11 batteries for 3 weeks for a D3.

Might be doing a bit of long exposure stuff though - doesn't that drain the battery pretty quick?

In reply to alex:

If your in Nepal, try and keep them warm, that will kill the power more than anything.

In reply to alex:

You need some serious solar mojo! dig it?

In reply to Adam Lincoln:


Aye - stick em up yer bum while you walk - sure, tried & tested way of keeping the battery life champion!

;0)

In reply to alex:

Definitely look into Solar panels, likely cheaper and lighter than an extra 8 batteries, the latest ones are rated very highly and designed for just this kind of use. In my experience long exposures at night, when its usually freezing, drain batteries very quick.