Batteries

Which batteries are you using nowadays? Canon no longer supplies batteries for the t3i that i still use. I had a wasabi that is swelling. Not thrilled

How old is the Wasabi? If not too old, maybe contact them about a replacement.

I contacted them this morning. What other brands are there?

Have you tried places like Amazon, for older battery configurations that are not currently sold by the camera manufacturer?

Frodge wrote in post #19561237
I contacted them this morning. What other brands are there?

People here talk about Wasabi and Neewer a lot, but there are a lot of brands selling batteries. Probably not that many actual manufacturers though. Just search threads for batteries and you’ll find a lot of names.

Bad luck on the Wasabi swelling. I've used them for years and never had an issue.

Dear Frodge,

Regarding Canon cameras only, I've used Watson, Wasabi, DSTE, and Kastar batteries interchangeably along with Canon branded batteries in a 20D, 40D, T2i, 7D, 1DII, 1DIII, 1DIV and 1DX without failure.

For Nikons, the same 3rd party batteries along with Bonacell have worked fine for me.

Likewise, I've used many different brands in Olympus, Panasonic, and Fuji cameras.

The only battery failure I've ever experienced was with an Olympus battery, the BLH-1 and it was the original battery I received with my brand-new OM-D-E-MII. The 3rd party batteries I bought at the same time I bought the camera are still going strong though.

Batteries are a funny commodity. There are probably no more than a half dozen actual manufacturers making lithium camera batteries, just like real lead acid batteries.

The market for battery labels to stick on the batteries is probably greater than the actual camera battery market.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA

I agree with Tim Murphy.

Also, let me say that, in my experience, any of the flat-sided camera batteries will swell sooner or later.

I have just about every brand known to man and I have had maybe one battery in a same-brand group of four to swell pretty soon after purchase and maybe the others not swell until quite a bit later.

I have never had the swell to affect a battery's performance --- except that, when the swell gets too much, the battery will not slide in/out of it's compartment.

I have never had a swelled battery to leak or explode or burn the house down.

Considering flat batteries, my favorites are PowerExtra first choice and Wasabi second; give me a PowerExtra over a brand-new genuine Canon any day.

When it comes to LP-E6 batteries, there are some really good aftermarket batteries out there; PowerExtra, Power2000, STK, ReFuel, and Promaster are probably my favorites with JYJZPB, Wasabi, Vemico, and Pickle Power all being strong contenders; any of these will outperform and outlive my genuine Canon batteries.

Probably the oldest LP-E6 I have is the only KaStar I have; it is like a Timex watch.

B&H has Watson in stock and I have used them a lot.

Frodge wrote in post #19561233
Which batteries are you using nowadays? Canon no longer supplies batteries for the t3i that i still use. I had a wasabi that is swelling. Not thrilled

Pair of PowerExtra LP-E8 $16.89 - 5% Coupon

Same with a Wall/Car Charger $19.99 -5% Coupon

I would get the deal that includes the wall/car charger; the chargers are wonderful, both plugged in the wall or into the cigarette lighter; and,a big plus is the battery plate can be snapped off and swapped for other plates OR the plate used on other plate chargers: AND, when the plate is snapped off, it makes a great platform for testing voltage with a DVM.


Another battery option is to get a "Grip", $36.99, that includes a AA-battery magazine and use NiMH Rechargeable AA batteries.

Although branded Wasabi, that grip looks like it is made by either Meike or Pixel; both make good grips.

Advantage to this is that six rechargeable NiMH AAs probably cost quite a bit less than a purpose-made camera battery and will most likely always be available; this in itself is good reason to keep a grip around for when your batteries all of a sudden become no longer available --- buy the grip before they become obsolete as well.

I often use AA in my cameras; and, although I haven't ran any sort of scientific test, I really can't tell any difference in how long six AA last compared to two LP-E6; it feels like the six AA may even last a bit longer.

The battery gauge works for the AA same as for the regular camera batteries; however, don't expect any "Battery Info"