where can i get cheap aftermarket batteries for my 5d3?

What I don't understand, you buy a $3000+ Camera, and then try to save $70, and buy cheap batteries for it?!

Its like buying a 70-200 f/2.8 IS II, and putting some crap Hama filter on it...

^No it isn't... battery technology isn't some mystical thing that only Canon can get right, the fact that they charge $70 for a battery is insulting. Li-ion technology is getting cheaper, easier and more efficient to produce, prices should be going down, not up. So I'll happily use my Wasabi batteries until they die, and when and if they do, I'll get more because 2 of them is half the cost of 1 Canon battery.

I'll also use Samyang and Sigma lenses because they too prove that you don't have to fork over your entire paycheck to have good shots

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #15723580
^No it isn't... battery technology isn't some mystical thing that only Canon can get right, the fact that they charge $70 for a battery is insulting.

Same can be said about filter but, I mean it's just a piece of glass....how dare B+W charge so much

Fact is buying aftermarket has its risk, and I have no problem using one in say a P&S, but personally I think it's too much on the line for a $3k camera.

Personally I'd rather pay a little bit more for peace of mind. It's better be safe than sorry.

kin2son wrote in post #15723617
Same can be said about filter but, I mean it's just a piece of glass....how dare B+W charge so much

Really? You don't know much about filters either.

My dad used to say buy cheap buy often, this is not always the case with batteries. The sterling ones mentioned here are fine.

Its been a year since I looked for aftermarket batteries... do they charge in the Canon charger and display battery info nowadays?

*Jayrou wrote in post #15723784
Its been a year since I looked for aftermarket batteries... do they charge in the Canon charger and display battery info nowadays?

The Sterling Tek ones do. $14.99 each at Amazon

LoneRider wrote in post #15723911
The Sterling Tek ones do. $14.99 each at Amazon

Thanks for that,They don't seem to be available on Amazon UK.. or Ebay UK.

*Jayrou wrote in post #15723918
Thanks for that,They don't seem to be available on Amazon UK.. or Ebay UK.

Iv'e searched for Sterling Tek here in the UK, but no luck.

Canon is missing an opportunity with some of you guys by not private labeling PNY flash memory cards so you could all buy "genuine Canon" memory cards at 200% markup to go with your 5DIII's.

kin2son wrote in post #15723617
Same can be said about filter but, I mean it's just a piece of glass....how dare B+W charge so much

Fact is buying aftermarket has its risk, and I have no problem using one in say a P&S, but personally I think it's too much on the line for a $3k camera.

Personally I'd rather pay a little bit more for peace of mind. It's better be safe than sorry.

Yea, there's a risk of them dying prematurely, which to me isn't a big deal for what I'm paying for them. Wasabi Power has been around for a while, they're a big enough business that if something catastrophic was happening to their batteries, people would know about it. I've used their batteries in several of my devices in the past with zero issues, so stop assuming the worst

If you have some hesitation about the non-Canon batteries, you can use them in a 60D/7D to build some confidence. My 60D donated it's Canon battery to its bigger brother and the 60D just uses non-branded batteries these days.

Edshropshire wrote in post #15716108
Good point, I always hear about bad batteries destroying a camera but have yet to read a real story from someone who had it happen to them. I did read a few experiences people had several years ago when the 7D came out of a few (only a few) of 3rd party batteries swelling and being a little hard to remove. Not impossible to remove or causing any camera damage. That said, I personally don't have a problem with good 3rd party batteries like Sterling Tek, have had good success with their batteries. But I have also read of people having great success with cheaper batteries.

So no proof about batteries killing peoples camera? lol

Lichter21c wrote in post #15715792
Not always. For the bodies you spend X ammount for features and options. But if I can save 832 dollars on batteries I will do it every single time.

Sometimes paying the OEM price is worth it. Other times It is not.

Hmmm...I "saved" soooo much money buying aftermarket batteries only to have them die within the first couple months of use...the original OEM still shows >95% charge performance?
Yep. I made the MISTAKE of buying ALL 3rd party batteries for all of my cameras, and went through nothing but headache.
I ended up buying only OEM, will only buy OEM now, and it cost me MORE in the long run vs just getting OEM in the first place.
Once I started relying on my gear to make me $, it became a non issue..

Trust me, there IS a reason why a $8 battery costs $8. And no, Canon's/Nikon's batteries are NOT made in that same factory that the $8 ones are...


My point is....
If you DEPEND on your equipment to earn you $, BUY OEM and never look back. And you will be happier you did.
If you are a casual shooter, soccer parent, whatever, save yourself some $ and buy 3rd party.
It is that simple.

To each his own...but that is my take on it.

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #15724850
Yea, there's a risk of them dying prematurely, which to me isn't a big deal for what I'm paying for them.

HELLO!!
If you have to replace that $20(whatever) 3rd party batter every 3 months, and an OEM will last you one year, how much are you really saving?? oh, right..nothing. it actually costs MORE in the long run