Are the cheap batteries worth it?

[aikidoforever]

Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone out there has purchased the knocked off versions of Canon's BP-511 or BP-511A? You can find them on ebay for 1/10th the cost (Canadian market value) of the "real" Canons, but are they worth it? Do they last? Will they kill my 20D?

Any input appreciated. Thanks!

Ivan

[scottbergerphoto]

Some are good , some aren't. People have been happy with the ones they get at Wal Mart. Personally, I won't shop at a store that treats its employees like indentured servants. I buy these : http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=232733&is=REGRegards,
Scott

[DocFrankenstein]

Depends on your luck. I've got 2... one works good and other one crapped out on me.

IMO it's best to get a non canon one, but brand battery for around 30-50. Cause you're trying your luck with 10 dollar ones.

[wolf]

I purchased 2 generic batterys for my two Canon digital cameras a year and a half ago from a dealer on Ebay for $24 US including shipping and have charged them each about 40 times.
They have been just as good and reliable as the original Canon batterys.

[Ogrt48]

I've bought a few for either $15 or $20 at walmart myself. They last atleast 2x longer then my over priced junk Canon batteries. I love them. :)

[tim]

I got a bunch from sterlinktek.com, they work better than the Canon one that came with my camera.

[ScottE]

When I got my D60 a little over 2 1/2 years ago I bought two Lexan batteries to supplement the Canon 511 battery that came with the camera. I rotated the batteries so that all three got about equal use. At first I would get more shots per charge with the Lexan batteries than with the Canon. After one year the two Lexan batteries gave up the ghost, but the Canon continued working. I replaced the two Lexan with two Canon 511 batteries.

This month the original Canon 511 battery died. I have ordered two Power2000 batteries to replace it because those batteries are rated for 1500mAh while the new Canon 511A is rated for 1390 mAh. I expect that the 1500mAh will give me more shots per charge.

My 20D is supposed to arrive next week with a 511A battery. I will interchange it with the Power2000 batteries so I will be able to compare longevity by the time all three are dead.

The Canon 511A batteries at B&H are $49.95USD compared to $34.95USD for the Power2000. The cost savings is not really that significant. If it was not for the higher mAh rating I would have stuck with the Canon 511A. Only time will tell whether I made a wise choice.

[tim]

Mine cost like $12 each. If they last 6-12 months, who cares?

[pradeep1]

I've purchased a few from these sources:

1. http://www.sterlingtek.com/
2. http://stores.ebay.com/Eforcity

They are longer lasting than the original BP511s I have and also have been going strong for well over a year now. No complaints.

[Canuck]

Some are good , some aren't. People have been happy with the ones they get at Wal Mart. Personally, I won't shop at a store that treats its employees like indentured servants. I buy these : http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=232733&is=REGRegards,
Scott

Scott,
I am using 2 of them as well, so there is one more plug if you will for the Power2K. No problems yet...a year on.

[J. Cobble]

no get the real thing

[rodbunn]

For 12$ I'll take a bunch of these to a job. I've used them for 4 months
and they seem to last the same as the canon. Hey, they are cheap enough.

http://www.sterlingtek.com/ln03-canon-bp-511-dlc511.html


Good luck, Rod

[Tiger1]

no get the real thing

Jeff,

Check your profile - You need to change it.

Gene

[mr.photoguy]

I have a bootleg 511 and a Canon 511A in my 20 D.

I have actually had pretty good results with the 511.. for a good while, about 2 weeks of shooting, I have been trying to kill this 511 battery in my 20D. The bar was down to half and I wanted the battery to die completely. I had to do about 8 30 second exposures + the time of waiting for the image info to load to the CF card before the battery would die.

I want to get another 511A though. I think with 2 511A's and a 511, I should be set.

Btw. the 511A lasts much longer than the 511.

[FOTOWEEK.com]

I would always prefer original batteries for that matter any critical spares...it has its own rewards

[merrrrjig]

I think what im going to do once I get my 20D is buy like 6 ghetto ebay batteries

[Kiernan]

I have two Canon batteries and both are giving me fits after just over a year of use. For the price, I think they should last longer than that. I'm willing to try some off brand batteries just to save some $.

[Jim_T]

Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone out there has purchased the knocked off versions of Canon's BP-511 or BP-511A? You can find them on ebay for 1/10th the cost (Canadian market value) of the "real" Canons, but are they worth it? Do they last? Will they kill my 20D?

Any input appreciated. Thanks!

Ivan

I've been stung with lousy cheap batteries, and I've gotten some good ones..

I think rather than asking the broad question "Are cheap batteries worth it", you should be asking.. "Is -X- battery good or bad." Find an auction on eBay with a certain battery, then ask if that particular battery good or bad... You'll probably get a much more meaningful and definative answer......

The "good" battery sellers generally build up a reputation.. The bad ones are usually flashes in the pan.. They come and go frequently.

[Mikesht]

I've bought a few for either $15 or $20 at walmart myself. They last atleast 2x longer then my over priced junk Canon batteries. I love them. :)

I bought one at Wall Mart about 2 eyars ago- silver one. It works just as good as a brown Canon battery.

[ahmadof]

i must second the eforcity testimonial. i got two off ebay for $24.00 shipped. they are just as good as the canon that came with 10D. it's been a year and a half now. When people say their batteries fail, what exactly happens? benign -> they don't hold a charge? or bad -> send out monster currents that fry equipment?

[MarkH]

Scott,
I am using 2 of them as well, so there is one more plug if you will for the Power2K. No problems yet...a year on.

I have also been using 2 Power2000 batteries for over a year (about 14 months), they are better than my Canon batteries and still provide a better running time.

I also use a Lenmar and a Power 2000 charger, both can run from mains or 12V power. I don't bother using my Canon charger.

I honestly believe paying the extra for Canon batteries offers no benefit, they are not as good and cost more. I am not so sure about the cheapest of the generic batteries, but my Power 2000 1500mAh batteries are excellent.

[ronmuller]

Hi,

I decided that Canon BP511 batteries were way too much when my G1 battery packed it in. I took at chance at www.mydigitaldiscount.com and found that the BP-511H battery lasted very well. That was around a 6 months ago and all 3 batteries are going strong. I got 2 and a buddy got the other ones. They are rated at 1400Mah and seem to last a long time. I'm sure these guys get clone batteries at the cheapest price possible so "caveat emptor", YMMV and all that good stuff :-)

Cheers,
Ron.

PS. Bear in mind that I shoot for fun, if I was trying to make money at this ...

[Denny G]

I'm sorry Scottberger. Up to now I thought your comments were always good and not biased. What is your problem with Wal-Mart?

[mdude85]

I've got what you referred to as a "knockoff" version from a large online Ebay store. They work just fine ... I get many hundreds of pictures off one charge. I have to empty my card before I have to change batteries. I got a BP-511A for 4 dollars + 5 dollars for shipping. Can't really beat that when they are like $50 in retail stores.

[davemo]

I've had 2 pukka Canon 511 and one Uniross batteries for my 10D which are now dieing after about two years, but they have served me well by taking about 13,000 pics. I'm in the Uk & have just ordered two cheapos from 7day shop in Guernsey at about £10 each so I don't pay VAT. I have heard that these come out better than Canon in tests. Will have to wait and see. However, the batteries must be popular as 7dayshop are out of stock at the moment.

[johndm]

I have the one original Canon BP511, and 5 various cheapo ones. Two from Wall Mart, and 3 from differant Ebay sellers.

One of the Wall Mart batts sits a bit sloppy on the charger, other than that all work perfectly

[tim]

I wonder if Canon batteries are specially engineered, or if they just take what they can find and slap a Canon label on them.

[xdjoynerx]

I've purchased a few from these sources:

1. http://www.sterlingtek.com/
2. http://stores.ebay.com/Eforcity

They are longer lasting than the original BP511s I have and also have been going strong for well over a year now. No complaints.
i can vouch for the eforcity bp511s. awesome battery life.

they ship same day too!

[dsze]

Yes, I purchased 4 511's from eforcity and one took a crap on me about a year after purchase...the day of a wedding I was shooting. However, the other 3 have been outstanding. I think I paid about $30 for all 4 shipped! At that price I can afford for 1/4 to possibly crap out after a year. I just keep that possibility in mind and make sure that I have at least 4 on hand for an event like a wedding.

I cannot understand anyone spending $60 on a Canon battery, when you could have about 8 generics for the same price; especially with the relatively good luck that most people have described.

-daniel

[Persian-Rice]

I purchased four 511's for 15 bucks on ebay, I'm 20 charges in with no problem.

but for 15 bucks, if they last any longer then 15 im happy........ill just buy more.

[LexLuther]

I purchased a 2nd battery from Henry's here in Canada, and paid $39.99 (Optex) I think. The salesman said for the money I can't go wrong, seeing as how the battery came with a 2 year warranty.

I know that Radio Shack has a crazy warranty on their batteries, something like 3 years, although I'm not sure if it covers rechargeable ones. You just give them you're name and phone number, and whenever a battery dies you go on in, and they give you a new one, no questions asked.