Camera Labs

Hi everone,

First off all, apologies if this thread is not placed in the right forum. I could not find a place to talk about batteries, so I chose the next best thing, the Forum about my future camera.

So, i'm buying a Canon EOS 650D as soon as it's available in the Netherlands. I would like to get a spare battery with that, for my coming vacation. Does any of you know of a good quality third party battery that I could use in this Canon, or should I always go for (an expensive) original?

Thanks in advance for your help!

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"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." Albert Einstein

Well, as it takes the same batteries as the 550D and 600D there are some third party ones out there for quite some time and reading the reviews tell me that the original ones are the best but about 85% of the power for 45% of the price aren't bad as well.


My experience:
For my 500D I have two original ones, two phottix batteries and three China made ones without any name.
The original ones work perfectly, the two phottix batteries still work but they kinda blow up. I don't really trust them any more. Now they are too thick to put them into the camera - yeah, I tried and really had problems to get them out again. That wasn't a problem in the very beginning. One of the no name batteries died, the other ones are OK.
Still those were so relatively cheap I'd still buy thirs party ones.

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Canon EOS 500D + Canon EOS 5D Mark III + Canon EOS 33v
Canon EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM + EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 100mm 2.8L Macro IS USM + Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM + Canon Speedlite 580 EX II + Nissin Speedlite Di 466

I just looked up the original battery (Using the manual you uploaded elsewere, thanks for that!) and they are 'only' 17 euro's. I thought they were more expensive. I don't think I would be willing to risk 'exploding' batteries to save a few lose euro's.

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"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." Albert Einstein

The Energizer LP-E8 compatible battery I use alongside the original in my 550D has worked without any trouble for me - no warping or bulging, no build up of heat during charging. In the right places, you can get them for bargain prices.

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Bodies: Canon EOS 550D w/ Magic Lantern
Lenses: Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX f/2.8, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Accessories: YongNuo Speedlite YN-468 Flash, Neewer Macro LED Ring Light, Meike Battery Grip, YongNuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver YongNuo WR-128 Wireless Remote Control

Ignore me. The website calls it 'Canon LP-E8 Battery', but it's not the original. Original seems to be more like 50 euro's.

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"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." Albert Einstein

When buying third party batteries, I have a simple rule.
If it is too good to be true, it probably is.

In practice, if the Canon battery is generally around 50 Euro, I would stay away from the 10 Euro and would probably give something around 20 Euro a chance.
I would also compare the specs to determine the capacity of the battery.

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Canon 5DIII, Rebel XTi/400D
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II, 24-105mm f/4L, 50mm f/1.4, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DO, 85mm f/1.8
Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX Macro
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon 430EX II
Opteka 13mm, 21mm, and 31mm extension tubes
Vivitar 50mm f/1.8 for OM System

I just read the reviews - as long as there are enough of them.
I didn't do so with the third party batteries I have for the 500D because the phottix batteries came with the battery grip I bought of them and the other batteries were bought by my brother.

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Canon EOS 500D + Canon EOS 5D Mark III + Canon EOS 33v
Canon EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM + EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 100mm 2.8L Macro IS USM + Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM + Canon Speedlite 580 EX II + Nissin Speedlite Di 466

i have purchased two ebay batteries for my 450d and i have 1 for 5dm2. The batteries are all the same, 2x 3.7V lipo batteries in a housing. Actually i have a 1100 mah bat for my 450d which is twice as good as the original and one 1800mah that is the same...
They usually write a higher capacity than it really is.
Anyway, for 3-5$ for a battery i can buy 20 instead of 1 original

I just spoke to a representative of a webshop that sells batteries. He said, that for 17 euro's you get a decent non-branded battery. He also said, that you pay for the name alone with Canon's lp-e8. He suggested that I should go for the cheap one over the original battery. I'm a bit torn, especially after hearing Jiko's experience. Basically, I have 3 options. An original Canon battery for 50 euro's, a Jupio LP-E8 for +/- 30 euro, or a non-branded one for 17 euro's.

A part of me wants to get the original, to not run any risk. And with the 17 euro one, I would not be surprised if it has the potential to 'blow up'. Maybe the 30 euro version is an option. A lot of webshops have that third-party (Jupio) battery in their kit-offers.

Does any of you have experience with a Jupio battery (See link to their website: http://www.jupio.com/)? They seem 'specialised' in batteries for a big range of products. I would trust these guys over a non-branded battery, I think.

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"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." Albert Einstein

Hi Marco,

Check out CameraNu.nl: they sell Jupio. You can ask them for their opinion: one that I personally hold in high esteem. They really try to give you the best advice, instead of trying to sell you something you don't need. I bought third party batteries for my 350D and my 40D there, and so far they never failed me and they had a pretty good battery life as far as photography is concerned.

Good luck: hope you will get some good batteries for a nice price .

- Mike

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Cameras: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EOS 40D
Lenses: Canon EF 17-40/4 L USM, Canon EF-S 60/2.8 Macro USM, Canon EF 70-200/2.8 L USM, Canon EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS USM
Want list: Canon EF 24-105/4 L IS USM, Canon EF 100/2.8 Macro L IS USM

Personally I would only put Canon batteries in my Canon body. If I get a 3rd party grip, I might risk some 3rd party batteries to put in it. But if the batteries leak, explode, etc, I wouldn't want to risk it in my camera body itself.

Then again, China has a reputation for exploding batteries which would damage more than just the camera. They could probably take out a whole head with it also. It doesn't happen often, but I personally wouldn't want to risk it.

Kinda like if I offered you safe apples at 2£/kg or risky apples at 1£/kg, where 1 out of 100000 contains a hidden poison. I'd go for the 2£/kg one. But someone who only has 1£ and is starving would have to take the risk.

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Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T2i, Canon S90
Lenses: Tamron: SP70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD, Canon: EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens, 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III, and EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Retired camera: Fujifilm Finepix s700

I have excelent experience with a Dutch eBay shop (dont remember the name though -maybe I could find it if you want so) which sold batteries for the 350D (and other cameras), double capacity, for 7 euros each with free shipping in Holland. They are way better than the original battery, and even if they were not, how many can you buy for one original or a ''good'' non-branded one? Exactly.

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

Well, i bought original one, and it was good invested money. One battery was dropped on road, survived without crack, those batteries froze with -20, +40 in a car, and still work like new. I have them one and half year.

I dunno, but 70 euros really is not that much, that battery will work for 2-3 years, and then i will buy new one, or new camera.

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I'm new to DSLR's, so please be patient and take my opinions with reserve. Thank you : ) Yes, i am Canon man.
Google + My picasa photos My 500px album
Canon 60D + 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 IS, Canon 70-200 F2.8L IS II, Canon 430EXII, polarizing filter 72mm,
Canon AT-1, 50mm FD F1.8
Canon A430,

If my last battery dies, I'll just use some eneloops in my battery grip

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Canon EOS 500D + Canon EOS 5D Mark III + Canon EOS 33v
Canon EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM + EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 100mm 2.8L Macro IS USM + Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM + Canon Speedlite 580 EX II + Nissin Speedlite Di 466

Touché!

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Bodies: Canon EOS 550D w/ Magic Lantern
Lenses: Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX f/2.8, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Accessories: YongNuo Speedlite YN-468 Flash, Neewer Macro LED Ring Light, Meike Battery Grip, YongNuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver YongNuo WR-128 Wireless Remote Control