Aftermarket batteries for newer models?

So, it's been a while since it was discussed,
so I'd like to ask about LP-E6N batteries for a Canon 5D Mk IV,
or even a general recommendation for third-party batteries.

While we all know the LP-E6 has transitioned to the LP-E6N battery,
I'm finding it difficult to understand the differences.
What's the 'N' designation?
What are the differences between them?

I've used and been very pleased with SterlingTek(STK) in the past,
from a Rebel XTi to a 40D and a 50D.
However, they seem to be pulling back on the market for even the
(fairly) current 5D MKIV.

Hopefully, there's an aftermarket battery out there which still fulfills the needs
of users of Canon cameras, and without breaking the bank.
I am loath to spend US $60 on a battery, but if that's all there is
which is reliable, then I'll do it.

Suggestions?
Hints? Tips?

All feedback appreciated.

Wasabi.

I have a ProMaster battery and have had good luck with it.

Sterlingtek lp e6 are still all over amazon?

https://www.amazon.com …-E14-BG-E13/dp/B005DEHVC8

They even offer the e6n version there too.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18897206
Sterlingtek lp e6 are still all over amazon?

https://www.amazon.com …-E14-BG-E13/dp/B005DEHVC8

They even offer the e6n version there too.

I've seen those, and they're available from STK's website directly,
but in all instances they are not specifically referred to as the "N" variant.
This holds true for others such as Wasabi, et al, that I have found.

What I've yet to find information on, is what the "N" designation is about.

There are also reports of aftermarkets providing 'false' information
to the camera, when in fact they are still just as robust as an OEM.
It's just that the camera is unable to show this, apparently.

I currently have a few truly no-name Chinese packs obtained from eBay
for my 50D, and they all do extremely well. It seems there's much more
of the electronic "communication" between a 5D and its battery, however,
resulting in widely differing reports of useability, which is why I'm dredging up
this age-old topic here.

So I suppose the meat of my query is about whether or not there are any
lower-priced aftermarket batteries available which communicate properly
with the camera about charge state, etc. It's obviously become a more advanced
interface between battery and camera since my 50D, so I'm attempting to
better-understand the situation.

SkedAddled wrote in post #18897293
What I've yet to find information on, is what the "N" designation is about.

There are also reports of aftermarkets providing 'false' information
to the camera, when in fact they are still just as robust as an OEM.
It's just that the camera is unable to show this, apparently.

I currently have a few truly no-name Chinese packs obtained from eBay
for my 50D, and they all do extremely well. It seems there's much more
of the electronic "communication" between a 5D and its battery, however,
resulting in widely differing reports of useability, which is why I'm dredging up
this age-old topic here.

So I suppose the meat of my query is about whether or not there are any
lower-priced aftermarket batteries available which communicate properly
with the camera about charge state, etc. It's obviously become a more advanced
interface between battery and camera since my 50D, so I'm attempting to
better-understand the situation.

The LP-E6N battery was released with the launch of the 7D Mark II late in 2014. It has a capacity of 1865 mAh as compared to 1800 mAh for the LP-E6, something at best that would be barely noticeable in use. Check the capacity claims of the STK and Wasabi version, and they are significantly higher. Whether they deliver on the higher capacity is debatable.

I have long suggested that you attempt to purchase the batteries directly from the importer. That insures "fresh" stock, e. g., something that has not been laying on the shelf for an extended period of time. "Fresh" stock also means you are hopefully getting the latest in terms of the chip that the camera recognizes. I have several of the STK's, some LP-E6's for both a 60D and 80D. I also have an abundance of STK batteries for some P&S cameras. None have ever given me problems. To purchase the LP-E6 direct from STK go to http://sterlingtek.try​nt.com/canon-lp-e6-battery/

The link for Wasabi is https://www.wasabipowe​r.com …n-lp-e6/model_canon-lp-e6. They often have offerings bundled with a charger and multiple batteries. Rather surprisingly, when I went to get the link I provided, it shows every package of LP-E6 as sold out. Maybe with it being travel season everyone stocked up! I for one did, as I'm headed to Europe for three weeks in the fall.

Yes, I saw the same on Wasabi's page.
A few days ago, individual batteries were sold out, with only their 2-pack bundled with a charger
still available. Upon revisiting last night, I see everything LP-E6-related is now "sold out."
Some of these are still showing as available from Amazon, so I may buy from there.

Thank you for clarifying the "N" designation.

SkedAddled wrote in post #18897300
Yes, I saw the same on Wasabi's page.
A few days ago, individual batteries were sold out, with only their 2-pack bundled with a charger
still available. Upon revisiting last night, I see everything LP-E6-related is now "sold out."
Some of these are still showing as available from Amazon, so I may buy from there.

Thank you for clarifying the "N" designation.

Seems like Amazon is the rarity in carrying the Wasabi.

I bought this pair of Wasabi batteries, charger, and a couple of adapters/plugs from Amazon for less than $25. They seem to work very good.

https://www.amazon.com …tle_o02_s00?ie=​UTF8&psc=1

Don't have a 5D4 but I do have a 7D2 which uses the same battery. Luckily I also ordered a battery grip, in which I use 6 Sanyo Eneloop 1900 Mah AA cells.

If I could only use the Canon cells or my non OEM packs then the camera would have been ditched quite a while back! The Lithiums are all pretty much useless in my camera and none (OEM or non OEM) will give a reliable day's shooting + they discharge quickly when not in use.

The Sanyo Eneloops hold their charge MUCH better and give me several days use rather than struggling to go for one day. I have no idea how old these cells are but I dug them out of retirement in 2013 and did a full discharge after they had been idle for about 3 years - they still had 2135 Mah left in them, not bad for a claimed 1900!

These batteries are at least 9 years old (probably more) yet they easily outperform 2 LP-E6N packs in the grip of my 7D2 + they are much cheaper too!

If you like a battery grip on your camera then these cells will solve your problem. If not then spend the price of a battery grip on cells and remember to keep charging them - the LP-E6 and LP-E6N packs are hopeless IMO, pity as their predecessors (BP-511) were great.

Forgot to mention the Eneloops are very much better in the cold too.

Thank you for your input John, but I have no desire to add the bulk & weight
of a grip. One was provided by the seller of my 50D, and I've never attached it
to the camera in over seven years.
(It's available for sale, cheap, if anyone is interested.)

I've pulled the trigger on a 2-pack of Wasabi batteries with a charger.
I've read many reports of Canon's charger only supplying up to their own
pack's stated mAh ratings, whereas the higher-capacity aftermarkets
and corresponding chargers will charge to full stated capacity
which is almost always higher than Canon's.

But yeah, the BP-511's were very good, even the absolutely no-name
packs I have. I pulled a couple out of my bag after almost a year
of non-use for an event I was going to, and the camera reported
full charge. Just a few seconds on the charger reported full charge.

Whoops!
I just checked the 511's; they are "MASIONE" labeled, 1400 mAh.

It's readily obvious after looking into this, that there's an awful lot more
than a simple power pack happening nowadays. What with the modern
cameras able to display all sorts of details, there's certainly a lot of
added electronic logic circuits in the interfaces which can confuse
and complicate matters.

johnf3f wrote in post #18897613
Don't have a 5D4 but I do have a 7D2 which uses the same battery. Luckily I also ordered a battery grip, in which I use 6 Sanyo Eneloop 1900 Mah AA cells.

If I could only use the Canon cells or my non OEM packs then the camera would have been ditched quite a while back! The Lithiums are all pretty much useless in my camera and none (OEM or non OEM) will give a reliable day's shooting + they discharge quickly when not in use.

The Sanyo Eneloops hold their charge MUCH better and give me several days use rather than struggling to go for one day. I have no idea how old these cells are but I dug them out of retirement in 2013 and did a full discharge after they had been idle for about 3 years - they still had 2135 Mah left in them, not bad for a claimed 1900!

These batteries are at least 9 years old (probably more) yet they easily outperform 2 LP-E6N packs in the grip of my 7D2 + they are much cheaper too!

If you like a battery grip on your camera then these cells will solve your problem. If not then spend the price of a battery grip on cells and remember to keep charging them - the LP-E6 and LP-E6N packs are hopeless IMO, pity as their predecessors (BP-511) were great.

Forgot to mention the Eneloops are very much better in the cold too.

You can't compare 8 Enelops to the LP-E6 (or LP-E6n). Simply put, the LP-E6 is around 2600 mAh (or 5200 mAh for the pair) and 8 Enelops is 15200 mAh. I personally can get 600 to 700 images from either my Canon or STK LP-E6's. That's with minimal flash. I have never checked, but I would guess something less than that on my 80D, but not drastically less.

John from PA wrote in post #18897719
You can't compare 8 Enelops to the LP-E6 (or LP-E6n). Simply put, the LP-E6 is around 2600 mAh (or 5200 mAh for the pair) and 8 Enelops is 15200 mAh. I personally can get 600 to 700 images from either my Canon or STK LP-E6's. That's with minimal flash. I have never checked, but I would guess something less than that on my 80D, but not drastically less.

Something befuddles me here. Six Eneloops at 1.2v(+/-) works out around 7.2v. Doesn't the amp rating stay the same as a single AA has, being as the six batteries are running in series?

The current "standard" AA Eneloops appear to be rated at 2000mAh. So wouldn't the Eneloops actually have less capacity than the LP-E6(N)? I've heard, too, that the lower voltage of the Eneloops can cause the voltage detection/level of cameras to give warnings of low-voltage. Supposedly, it's recommended that you use alkaline batteries for the higher voltage required if using AAs.

Intheswamp wrote in post #18897920
Something befuddles me here. Six Eneloops at 1.2v(+/-) works out around 7.2v. Doesn't the amp rating stay the same as a single AA has, being as the six batteries are running in series?

The current "standard" AA Eneloops appear to be rated at 2000mAh. So wouldn't the Eneloops actually have less capacity than the LP-E6(N)? I've heard, too, that the lower voltage of the Eneloops can cause the voltage detection/level of cameras to give warnings of low-voltage. Supposedly, it's recommended that you use alkaline batteries for the higher voltage required if using AAs.

Well, you are right, and I'm definitely wrong but close. Please don't tell my Electrical Engineering prof from 1964!

When you connect in series the voltage goes up to the sum of the number of cells and the capacity is the same as one cell.

When connecting in parallel, say two cells for instance, you are doubling the capacity of the battery while maintaining the voltage of one of the individual batteries.

Now, the BG-E16 grip accepts two LP-E6 lithium-ion battery packs to increase the camera's battery life (obviously the capacity) or, alternatively, (6) AA batteries can be used in conjunction with the included BGM-E16 Battery Magazine.

So, it seems to me that the grip with (2) LP-E6's should provide better capacity than (6) Eneloops.

johnf3f wrote in post #18897613
Don't have a 5D4 but I do have a 7D2 which uses the same battery. Luckily I also ordered a battery grip, in which I use 6 Sanyo Eneloop 1900 Mah AA cells.

If I could only use the Canon cells or my non OEM packs then the camera would have been ditched quite a while back! The Lithiums are all pretty much useless in my camera and none (OEM or non OEM) will give a reliable day's shooting + they discharge quickly when not in use.

The Sanyo Eneloops hold their charge MUCH better and give me several days use rather than struggling to go for one day. I have no idea how old these cells are but I dug them out of retirement in 2013 and did a full discharge after they had been idle for about 3 years - they still had 2135 Mah left in them, not bad for a claimed 1900!

These batteries are at least 9 years old (probably more) yet they easily outperform 2 LP-E6N packs in the grip of my 7D2 + they are much cheaper too!

If you like a battery grip on your camera then these cells will solve your problem. If not then spend the price of a battery grip on cells and remember to keep charging them - the LP-E6 and LP-E6N packs are hopeless IMO, pity as their predecessors (BP-511) were great.

Forgot to mention the Eneloops are very much better in the cold too.

I like the Sanyo Eneloops. I use them exclusively in my speedlights...they outperform Duracell alkalines without a doubt! They actually do keep on going, and going, and going. Fast capacitor recharges, etc.,. But...

I see the cost of the Eneloops versus a couple of Wasabi LP-E6N to be pretty close to each other...definitely no big difference. If you go the Canon-brand route, then the price difference is way-way BIG.

It interests me in regards to your experience with the LP-E6N type batteries and the Eneloops in your camera. The Eneloops are rated at (conservatively) 2000mAh whereas the Canon LP-E6N is rated at 1865mAh each or 3730mAh for a pair installed in a grip. Change the Canon over to a Wasabi and you have 2600mAh per battery and 5200mAh for a pair. Either way, there is much more power stored within the LP styled batteries than in the AA style.

Six AA Eneloop (regular) @ 2000mAh and 1.2v per battery equals 14.4 watt hours.
Two Canon LP-E6N @ 1865mAh and 1.2v per battery equals 26.8 watt hours.
Two Wasabi LP-E6N @ 2600mAh and 1.2v per battery equals 37.4 watt hours.

Of course I probably screwed something up with all of this. I'm not saying the Eneloops don't work better than the LP batteries in your camera being as I've never tried them in it (or in my camera). But, looking at the power of these battery setups it's difficult to see how the Eneloops could surpass the LP-type batteries in longevity. I do know that Eneloops AA 2000mAh batteries work much better in my flashes than do Duracell AA alkalines which supposedly have the same 2000mAh rating. Something to do with chemistry, maybe?

Seems like I need to pull out my AA holder and try six of my aging, mixed Eneloops in the grip!!!!