Aftermarket batteries for newer models?

I usually don't shoot hundreds of photos at a time. But, I was in Uganda on a mission trip a few weeks back and I let'er rip (for me). I ended up with around 3700 photos plus a handful of videos with my 6D. I had left the grip at home as I was trying to pare weight off wherever I could. I used my aging Canon LP and new Wasabi LP batteries. I think I probably swapped out (single) batteries three, maybe four times...non ran down to the point of shutting the camera down, but I think a Canon battery got down in the 20% range, maybe in the upper teens(?). I don't know how this works out in regards to everybody else's experiences but I was pleased with the battery life. The 6D has no onboard flash to drain the battery and I shoot manual (99.9% of the time) with auto-focus. This trip I only used a Canon 24-70 f2.8 non-IS MKI...for what it's worth.

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.

You are quite right! I cannot compare 6 Eneloops to two LP-E6N packs - that would be unfair. However I have 5 Lp-E6 and LP-E6n packs (both OEM and non OEM) and the 6 (rather old) Eneloops are superior to the whole lot put together.

At their nominal voltages my 6 Eneloops are rated at 1900 Mah, whereas LP-E5 (+N) packs are rated at 2000 Mah or more and my grip holds two of them yet they are pretty hopeless in comparison. The LP-E6/n packs self discharge MUCH quicker (days vs many months) and even two LP packs (2 times or more the stated capacity of my Eneloops) only gives me half to 2/3 the shooting that the Eneloops do and then only if it is all done in one day!

It is a pity that the 7D2/5D4 etc are not compatible with the old BP 511 packs as they were excellent, well not the Canon ones, but my cheapo non OEM packs gave close to a decade of excellent service.

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.

Yes you are correct the Eneloops do have a nominally lower capacity (though there are higher capacity versions available) - I wonder why they give me so many more clicks than two (allegedly higher capacity) LP-E6/N packs?
I can't speak of the "voltage detection/level" of the 5D4 as I don't have one. On my 7D2 the battery information is somewhat more limited with AA cells in the grip but it is not really relevant as the Eneloops last longer than any two of my LP-E6/N packs. Also the Eneloops "self discharge" VERY much more slowly - mine still showed over capacity after 3 years of being idle.

I gotta admit that I've enjoyed learning from the discussions about the Eneloop batteries.
It's caught my interest because I have many MAHA/Powerex AA cells which have been failing
recently.

All cells are of the same 2400 mAh rating, and between 4 to perhaps 8 years old.
One by one, they've been failing to take a rated charge, failed to be reported by the
conditioning charger as viable, and simply losing charge fast in such things as
wall clocks(which can go for years on alkaline cells).

Some work OK in things like TV remotes, but not at all in my PowerShot S3 iS,
so it's time for me to consider replacement.

Can anyone offer information on whether my MAHA/Powerex conditioning charger
would be suitable for Eneloop or other current batteries, or whether I would need
to acquire something else? The charger was fairly costly, so of course,
I'd prefer to continue using it...

I feel like the MAHA/Powerex charger will be ok for Eneloops. It has been a while since I researched chargers and Eneloops so I can't readily tell you off-hand how the combination will work. I recommend you go to https://www.candlepowe​rforums.com/vb/forum.p​hp and post a question. Some very informative guys there. I personally use the Eneloop chargers included with a "kit" purchase from Costco...I've got two of those chargers and they work fine...small white plastic chargers that charge four Eneloops at a time.

I've also got an old Radio Shack NIMH charger that works well. Interestingly, I've got a Powerex charger that I've really never used much...seems complex for just charging a battery. Whereas I have to set the Powerex charger's amp rate the basic Eneloop chargers "just work". But, I'm kind of a simple guy, ya know.

Since you're familiar with using your Powerex charger I think it will work fine. Just my opinion, but why shouldn't it?

Jumping in for an update:

Today, I received a 2-pack of Wasabi 2600mAh LP-E6 batteries with charger,
priced at $24 US from Amazon. The batteries are rated at 735mAh above
Canon's LP-E6N.

Firstly, the charger is much smaller than Canon's, just about 1.25 times
the battery length by not much more than battery width, by around
the same thickness of Canon's. Next, flip-out AC prongs like Canon's,
but also includes adapter for 220V AC mains and a cigarette-lighter
plug with cord for use in 12V automotive settings.
Quite a versatile setup, and an absolute bargain for less than half
the cost of a single Canon battery.

First one fully charged in the camera displays 3 green blocks and 100%,
so it's apparently 'communicating' properly with the camera.
Second battery is on the charger now to complete charge.
I expect it will give the same results, as batteries and charger
arrived in a labeled package set.

Overall, first impressions are that this set is an exceptional bargain
while providing higher overall rated capacity over Canon batteries.
There seem to be no issues with battery/camera interface, as all
is displayed as would be expected.

So to sum up, it appears that Wasabi is now the way to go.
While I had zero trouble with SterlingTek/STK replacements
with my previous cameras, it seems they are no longer maintaining
their market stance, with Wasabi having filled that space.

Intheswamp wrote in post #18898308
I feel like the MAHA/Powerex charger will be ok for Eneloops...

...Interestingly, I've got a Powerex charger that I've really never used much...seems complex for just charging a battery. Whereas I have to set the Powerex charger's amp rate the basic Eneloop chargers "just work". But, I'm kind of a simple guy, ya know.

Since you're familiar with using your Powerex charger I think it will work fine. Just my opinion, but why shouldn't it?

Sure, I get it.

I got the conditioning charger after reading a lengthy thread here about such.
While I can't readily find it, some of the discussion revolved around how to keep cells
'healthy' in the long-term, with many suggestions of using a conditioning charger
to do so. During my time with such cells, I certainly encountered lesser returns
from a charge, and putting them in the fancy charger actually restored them
to a better-performing state. So they actually do work.

What seems to have changed from then to now is the chemistry and/or technology.
More recent cells seem to be far improved somehow, but that leaves me to wonder if
my older charger would work equally well with the newer cells.

.
Craig, I know this is off-topic, but I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the way you write your posts.

Consistently proper spelling and grammar are not things that I see very often, and I appreciate them. . I also appreciate the way you format your posts, to make the text easy to "digest" from a visual standpoint.

Thank you.

.

For years I was sold on Wasabi as a very reliable and economical alternative to the OEM battery. I've used them since my Canon 20D years to 40D. Still worked great when I upgraded my camera to 5D III with new set of Wasabi. Then, most recently, a relatively new (about a year) and not so intensively used set of Wasabi for my 5D IV started to drain quickly right after a new charge. Tried recharging a couple more times to verify that they were indeed no good. Very surprised that my latest set of Wasabi was only good for a year of non-intensive use. Since I'm planning on a long trip overseas soon and need more batteries, I decided to purchase 3 of Sterlingtek LP-E6 for the first time as I couldn't trust Wasabi with such short life. I must have received a bad batch, but my trust is gone. Hopefully, STK will turn out to be as reliable and long lasting as Wasabi of old days for me.

The reducing capacity & longevity is to be expected to fade as these cells age,
as it's apparently in their nature. I've come to understand it as something like
a chemical decay, which is inevitable.

However, I'm rather surprised to learn that you've acquired STK packs for the LP-E6,
as they did not seem to be available at the time of my purchase.

Why have you been disappointed with the STK packs, specifically?

But as I described above, these rechargeable cells will diminish in capacity
and longevity over time; it's simply the nature of the beast.

It's Wasabi that didn't last long. So I decided to go with STK for the first time after extensive use of Wasabi in the past. Regardless of Wasabi or STK, they should last more than a year of non-intensive use.

OEM batteries are a total rip-off. Just like OEM ink and laser cartridges.

Nonetheless, and for the life on me, I can't understand why people insist on buying non-OEM batteries and risking their investment over pennies on the dollar. You guys must go thru a lot more batteries than I do. The cost of camera batteries just isn't something that keeps me awake at night. Sorry.

Oh, I misunderstood your comments.

So far, the Wasabi packs have been exemplary, though I admit to
not having given them much of a workout.

The STK's I had for previous cameras did extraordinarily well,
while I was unable to find STK for the 5D4 at the time of purchase,
which sent me to Wasabi.

I have no complaints about either, other than availability of STK
when I'd expected them to deliver. They simply weren't there
with packs for my needs at the time of purchase.
Perhaps that's a different situation now.

WilsonFlyer wrote in post #18992711
OEM batteries are a total rip-off. Just like OEM ink and laser cartridges.

Nonetheless, and for the life on me, I can't understand why people insist on buying non-OEM batteries and risking their investment over pennies on the dollar. You guys must go thru a lot more batteries than I do. The cost of camera batteries just isn't something that keeps me awake at night. Sorry.

It's because we get more for our dollars, higher capacity, and sometimes generally
more reliable service life out of them. Roughly half the price, or less, than OEM,
with performance above and beyond OEM.

Which word(s) didn't you understand?

WilsonFlyer wrote in post #18992711
OEM batteries are a total rip-off. Just like OEM ink and laser cartridges.

Nonetheless, and for the life on me, I can't understand why people insist on buying non-OEM batteries and risking their investment over pennies on the dollar. You guys must go thru a lot more batteries than I do. The cost of camera batteries just isn't something that keeps me awake at night. Sorry.

Because, like you yourself said, "OEM batteries are a total rip-off."

As I stated in my earlier post, Wasabi has been excellent during the years that I used them for my Canon 20D, 40D and 5D III. Those were long years of using Wasabi combined. It's only when I purchased the latest set, about a year ago, for my 5D IV, that the set didn't last a year. If I had used the OEM batteries for all the combined years vs. Wasabi, I still come out way ahead with Wasabi in spite of the latest "failure." That's why I'm still going to continue to use non-OEM batteries, this time STK instead of Wasabi, and I don't understand for the life of me why that's hard for anyone to understand?