Third Party LP-E4 chipped batteries? Do they exist?

I'm looking for an emergency backup battery for my 1D3. With the thousands of shots that you can rattle off on the OEM battery, I doubt that I will ever really use it, but I would like to have one for insurance.

Are there third party LP-E4 batteries that are chipped for full communication to the 1D3 and charger? I am also picky and want something that will fit perfectly as to not impact the weather seal.

I'm guessing that I will have to end up getting a Canon battery for everything I want, I just wanted to see if there was something cheaper since I doubt I'll ever be using this thing.

The LP-E4 is not chipped in the same way as the LP-E6 (ie. not as strict).

I used the Phottix Titan for a year, and it performed identically to the factory one, and could be charged by the Canon. I think Canon is continually revising their battery specs to get it to the point where you have to buy their brand.

So that Titan gave percentage of charge left, how many shots on the battery, etc. in camera and could go through the calibrate of the charger?

I just noticed that Phottix doesn't make an LP-E4 replacement. Just the smaller batteries like LP-E6

TaDa wrote in post #9288534
So that Titan gave percentage of charge left, how many shots on the battery, etc. in camera and could go through the calibrate of the charger?

I just noticed that Phottix doesn't make an LP-E4 replacement. Just the smaller batteries like LP-E6

It acted identically to the Canon in all manner. They have have discontinued them, they had them for over a year though.

Don't be too surprised if you need one sooner than you think.

Mine appears to have given up after just under two years and ~ 50k clicks (charges, but then dies within a day just sitting in the camera).

I have a replacement Canon showing up today. After spending $4k on the body I couldn't see cheaping out on the $100 battery.

If it were my primary battery, I would be buying the Canon without any second thought. My battery is hardly used and this would be a pure backup sitting in a bag. I've shot around 200 frames on this charge and am still at 91%.

mbellot wrote in post #9289154
Don't be too surprised if you need one sooner than you think.

Mine appears to have given up after just under two years and ~ 50k clicks (charges, but then dies within a day just sitting in the camera).

I have a replacement Canon showing up today. After spending $4k on the body I couldn't see cheaping out on the $100 battery.

$100 is a $100 no matter if you spent $4000 already. I've used 3rd party batteries for years now on my 20D, 30D, 5D, 1DIIn without any issues what so ever and probably saved myself $300 - $400 doing so. My 7D purchase came with an extra Canon battery thrown in, so for now I am pure Canon with the 7D.

Hogloff wrote in post #9289454
$100 is a $100 no matter if you spent $4000 already. I've used 3rd party batteries for years now on my 20D, 30D, 5D, 1DIIn without any issues what so ever and probably saved myself $300 - $400 doing so. My 7D purchase came with an extra Canon battery thrown in, so for now I am pure Canon with the 7D.

Agreed, I never, never understand this argument when it comes up. You always look at each purchase individually. It would like building a house, then choosing appliances and other electronics in the house, since I spent $300K on a house, then why cheap out on a fridge by getting a Maytag vs the Electrolux? The Maytag, because it is so "inferior" could short out and burn the house down or leak water all over the house, but the Electrolux could never have that happen.

It is a battery with 3 subcells (3/4 AA for example) inside made by a company that is NOT Canon. $100 is insane, period, there is no rationalization for this price for 3 AA-sized cells inside and a small PCB with a chip on it.

So what is the best third party LP-E4 then?

For me: the Proflash brand. It's exactly the same MaH as the original and it's also made in Japan, not a chinese clone. IT show the % remain. In Canada it's half the price compared to the Canon one.

7Dayshop in the UK have one for £12-99.
If anything like their NP-E3 replacements they'll be good.

Just to kick this thread up for an update.

I have $25 sitting in my PP so I purchased one from eBay (HK seller). The battery arrived in a box that label For Video Camera!

It charged fine and but the fit is tight, really really really tight due to the thicker weather seal.

I had to really force it in so I can turn the lock. I took the smal screws out and trimmed the weather seal a bit (well kinda no longer really weather sealed now) and it fits good now.

I charged it for about 5 hours and Battery Info only showed 83% with 3 green bars.

I'll probably use this as a backup and if it can get over 1000 pics with the charge, I'm ok with the lack of weatherseal.