p.1 #1 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
i've been looking for a backup battery for my d4 and ran into a seller from china on ebay. obviously the picture looks authentic with a nikon box, and in correspondence the seller maintains these are authentic nikon en-el 18 from nikon, but i figure i'm right to be skeptical given the source. is there any way to tell whether a battery is authentic nikon or a fake? i realize it's an expensive camera to be using a third party, chinese battery, but is there any way they are as they appear...thanks.
p.1 #4 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
My thinking is - we pay a lot of $$ for our cameras so why try to save a few bucks on batteries that could potentially burn the cams & make them only good for doorstops. I doubt that anyone would be selling REAL Nikon batteries that much cheaper than known retail outlets. The same goes for battery holders for cameras. I cannot see taking a chance on getting a (cheap) counterfeit battery or battery holder that could fry my camera. Just my $0.02!
p.1 #5 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
DABNIK wrote:
My thinking is - we pay a lot of $$ for our cameras so why try to save a few bucks on batteries that could potentially burn the cams & make them only good for doorstops. I doubt that anyone would be selling REAL Nikon batteries that much cheaper than known retail outlets. The same goes for battery holders for cameras. I cannot see taking a chance on getting a (cheap) counterfeit battery or battery holder that could fry my camera. Just my $0.02!
I'm not advocating generics but how many incidents of "fried" cameras do you recall? I've heard of cell phone and laptops catching on fire but they were always with OEM batteries. I could be wrong.
p.1 #6 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
I have explored the possibility of saving money and getting aftermarket batteries to replace/augment Nikon EN-EL3s(D200) and EN-EL4As(D2Xs and D3). Just read the reviews. No one mentions cameras being fried, but many---too many to ignore---mention poor data interface with the camera, and reduced/unpredictable battery life.
My 5.5 and 4.5 year old Nikon EN-EL4As are just now starting to die---showing noticeably reduced life...and, yes, I replaced them with US$109 Nikon batteries.
p.1 #7 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
This isn't in regards to any particular aftermarket battery.
My experience with aftermarket batteries in general is that they seem like a bargain at first and may hold a good charge right initially. But they fail to maintain that performance months down the road and fail quicker.
p.1 #8 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
I have used Sterlingtek batteries in my 40D before, and they were JUST as good as the originals! I also have used Lenmar batteries in my 1 series, worked as well as an OEM. The price difference was quite a bit; $27 vs $129.99
p.1 #9 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
I've used Sterlingtek in all my Nikons except the film cameras. Never had a problem. My Nikon gri died, and replaced it with a knockoff that works perfectly.
p.1 #10 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
I have had nothing but bad luck from aftermarket batteries. So from my perspective you couldn't give me an aftermarket battery. They are NOT that expensive.
p.1 #11 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
i was convinced after about the second comment (mabye before i wrote the op)...just thought it was interesting to debate. new oem batts are $143 shipped now which is not too terrible.
p.1 #12 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
There are certain things I buy knock off but never batteries or grips. It's just too risky and really it's one of those buys you kind of only do once so you might as well buy the real thing and be done with it.
p.1 #13 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
wbunnell wrote:
This isn't in regards to any particular aftermarket battery.
My experience with aftermarket batteries in general is that they seem like a bargain at first and may hold a good charge right initially. But they fail to maintain that performance months down the road and fail quicker.
You really can't generalize like that. Some aftermarket batteries I've tried have been better than the originals, some worse.
p.1 #14 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
I've been using Sterlingtek in my D-700's since 2009. Not one problem, no fried camera, no problems whatsoever - and great performance. Bought 8 of their batteries, and am happy I did.
p.1 #15 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
Graham Mitchell wrote:
You really can't generalize like that. Some aftermarket batteries I've tried have been better than the originals, some worse.
I'm just giving my experience with aftermarket batteries. I've tried them from laptop computers to DSLR's to video cameras. While your right some are better than others I still stand by my statement. Its been my personal experience across the board. If you have different experiences then that's fine.
p.1 #16 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
i bought 2 aftermarket battery's for my D80 when i had it about 3 years ago. They where almost as good as the original and now that my dad is using the D80 they are still kicking strong. No problems what so ever. And i think I only paid $10 each. I would do it again.
p.1 #17 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
I have had much success with aftermarket batteries for over 10 years - but I just returned from the post office after returning an EN-EL15 aftermarket battery that charged fine, but my camera would not recognize.
But when my camera just sat there not responding, I had a sinking feeling that made me decide on buying only oem batteries going forward.
I would have felt so bad if my camera were fried because I wanted to save a few bucks.
Luckily, I bought from US vendor, local to me that promises refund, not just replacement
p.1 #19 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
arthurb wrote:
I have always worried about cheapo batteries. I did buy a couple of Energiser batteries or my 550d but this is a fairly well known brand in the UK.
It's a well-known brand in the rest of the world.
There was a story going around that the Energizer bunny died of "acute overstimulation." Seems somebody put his batteries in backward and he just kept on coming and coming and coming.
A few years ago, even evilbay was forced to admit that probably 90% of the memory cards sold were counterfeit. Are batteries the same way?
Any battery maker can make any shape battery. It doesn't become counterfeit until they slap the Nikon name on it. They are free to sell under their own brand name.
p.1 #20 · Real vs Fake Nikon Batteries....on EBay..
I need an aftermarket camera to go with my battery, I've found over the 10 years or so that I have never used up a battery, normally I buy a new camera before that happens . A cheap aftermarket battery rotated with the original is a great system, you always have a full one if you need to do a sensor clean.
. A cheap aftermarket battery rotated with the original is a great system, you always have a full one if you need to do a sensor clean.