p.1 #1 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
Recently, within the last week, went looking to buy a few extra Fujifilm NP-W235 batteries, for the X-T5 and X-H2 I got here on FM. Seems to me that the batteries have gone up in price to $99 here in the US. Is this correct? See that price on both Amazon and B&H. Seem like more than 40% increase. Even Canon’s latest LP-E6P batteries are only $79.
If so what are the best third party batteries? In the past only bought OEM but looks like at these prices that may change.
p.1 #3 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
EB-1 wrote:
Sony prices have escalated also. Maybe Canon imported a huge supply in advance.
EBH
Ok but Sony raised a single battery by only $17 vs. $30 or more by Fuji. Happen to have a ton of the Sony batteries and they are slightly higher capacity than Fujifilm.
p.1 #5 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
Prices of most things are going up in the US because the guy that promised lower prices lied or he is not aware that his economic and social polices are harming most of us.
p.1 #6 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
I just checked my Amazon order for the Fujifilm NP-W235 OEM battery in July 2024: $64.79. I'm not sure if that was a sale price, but it seems ballpark around what it was a year ago.
The price listed today is $99. Thats a ~50% rise in price. We all know the reason for this.
p.1 #8 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
dmsigi wrote:
I just checked my Amazon order for the Fujifilm NP-W235 OEM battery in July 2024: $64.79. I'm not sure if that was a sale price, but it seems ballpark around what it was a year ago.
The price listed today is $99. Thats a ~50% rise in price. We all know the reason for this.
Long time Fuji (among other brands) shooter here. Buy the direct charge batteries from SmallRig. USB cord plugs directly into a port on the batteries and they are slightly higher capacity. Don't need an actual charger thingy to drop your batteries into.
And they're less than half the price. Battery swelling isn't an issue anymore, so no reason to be loyal to OEM batteries that are lower capacity, need charging docks, and are 2-3 times the price. Plus you can get orange colored batteries, which I like because they are easier to find in your bag when it starts to get dark.
p.1 #9 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
GregS wrote:
Long time Fuji (among other brands) shooter here. Buy the direct charge batteries from SmallRig. USB cord plugs directly into a port on the batteries and they are slightly higher capacity. Don't need an actual charger thingy to drop your batteries into.
And they're less than half the price. Battery swelling isn't an issue anymore, so no reason to be loyal to OEM batteries that are lower capacity, need charging docks, and are 2-3 times the price. Plus you can get orange colored batteries, which I like because they are easier to find in your bag when it starts to get dark. ...Show more →
That's good to know. I had been using SmallRig batteries, but I found with my a7R V it would give me a battery warning. "The operation and safety of this battery cannot be guaranteed. Continue use?" You could get past that warning, but it would no longer show the battery percentage. That's when I switched to K&F and it didn't exhibit that behavior. So when I bought a GFX100S II, I just went with K&F. I assume Fuji doesn't do any OEM type checks on batteries?
p.1 #10 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
GregS wrote:
Long time Fuji (among other brands) shooter here. Buy the direct charge batteries from SmallRig. USB cord plugs directly into a port on the batteries and they are slightly higher capacity. Don't need an actual charger thingy to drop your batteries into.
And they're less than half the price. Battery swelling isn't an issue anymore, so no reason to be loyal to OEM batteries that are lower capacity, need charging docks, and are 2-3 times the price. Plus you can get orange colored batteries, which I like because they are easier to find in your bag when it starts to get dark. ...Show more →
What is the basis for saying that "battery swelling isn't an issue anymore?"
Over the years I had a string of swollen and overheated battery issues with third-party (various manufacturers) batteries for Fujifilm cameras. In one case the batter swelled and overheated in the camera and I it was almost impossible to remove it.
I also had a series of issues with non-OEM batteries that held less charge than advertised and which lost their ability to hold a charge way too soon.
Compared to the serious potential costs of damaged (expensive) cameras and of losing shots due to running out of power*, I eventually decided that the small savings in the price of a few batteries isn't worth the risks.
Regarding the "direct charge batteries," it is my understand that they hold less of a charge since part of their volume now has to be devoted to the charging components. Is this not true?
* Some years ago I was dong backcountry photography and had determined how much battery capacity I would need for a week in the wilderness. On the trip one of my third-party batteries failed after a few more than a dozen shots and another lost its charge completely. I had to modify my shooting plans for that week.
p.1 #11 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
gdanmitchell wrote:
What is the basis for saying that "battery swelling isn't an issue anymore?"
Over the years I had a string of swollen and overheated battery issues with third-party (various manufacturers) batteries for Fujifilm cameras. In one case the batter swelled and overheated in the camera and I it was almost impossible to remove it.
I also had a series of issues with non-OEM batteries that held less charge than advertised and which lost their ability to hold a charge way too soon.
Compared to the serious potential costs of damaged (expensive) cameras and of losing shots due to running out of power*, I eventually decided that the small savings in the price of a few batteries isn't worth the risks.
Regarding the "direct charge batteries," it is my understand that they hold less of a charge since part of their volume now has to be devoted to the charging components. Is this not true?
* Some years ago I was dong backcountry photography and had determined how much battery capacity I would need for a week in the wilderness. On the trip one of my third-party batteries failed after a few more than a dozen shots and another lost its charge completely. I had to modify my shooting plans for that week....Show more →
Swelling issues - I probably overstated it. I don't believe it is still a problem so long as you avoid the really low-end cheap stuff. Interestingly, I've only had one battery swell, and it was an OEM Fuji NPW126 in an X-T1.
SmallRig NPW235 batteries are 2400mAh, vs 2200mAh in OEM Fuji. In my 100ii, I can notice a modest increase in battery life over OEM. When the indicator turns red, I have more time and more shots before the camera dies compared to the Fuji battery -- that's the difference I see.
p.1 #12 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
gdanmitchell wrote:
Over the years I had a string of swollen and overheated battery issues with third-party (various manufacturers) batteries for Fujifilm cameras. In one case the batter swelled and overheated in the camera and I it was almost impossible to remove it.
I've had a few NP-W126S that swelled up and almost got stuck in my X-H1. The plastic casing also cracked.
This happened to 2 out of 4 Fuji batteries, and 1 out of 3 third party batteries.
p.1 #13 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
aloy99 wrote:
I've had a few NP-W126S that swelled up and almost got stuck in my X-H1. The plastic casing also cracked.
This happened to 2 out of 4 Fuji batteries, and 1 out of 3 third party batteries.
Actual Fuji NP-W126S or third party ? Can you be more specific please.
p.1 #14 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
aloy99 wrote:
I've had a few NP-W126S that swelled up and almost got stuck in my X-H1. The plastic casing also cracked.
This happened to 2 out of 4 Fuji batteries, and 1 out of 3 third party batteries.
Don’t know what to tell you.
I’ve shot digital for about 20 years now, on two platforms — Canon and Fujifilm.
So far I have had zero problems with any OEM batteries from either brand, aside from the normal and expected gradual decline in their ability to take/hold a charge over time.But even there, the OEMs have consistently performed better than I expected.
When I did buy non-OEM batteries for both systems, I always got what were the supposedly more reliable brands at the time. (I’ve always felt that it was not worth the small savings to risk camera performance with unreliable batteries.)
Over the years I had a string of various issues with every third-party brand I tried. A few cases:
As I mentioned above, I had a serious issue on a weeklong backcountry trek, when out of 5 or 6 batteries I discovered on the trail that one held no charge and the other ran out after about 15 shots. (Both had been fully charged immediately before the trip.)
In another case I ordered several third-party batteries from a supposedly-reliable brand — perhaps four or so? One cold not charge at all and another would hold only a partial charge. (The others appeared to work OK.) I returned the two defective batteries and one of the two replacements also did not work.
Later I purchased a set of third-party batteries (again from the supposedly reliable vendor) for my XPro2, to augment the OEM batteries that I bought with the camera. I may have had three of them. Of the three, TWO overheated and swelled, and I was almost unable to extract on of them from the camera body.
you might get lucky with third-party batteries, especially if you don’t use them a lot. But they have a long history of issues — there have been articles written about their poor design relative to overheating and swelling, their tendency to not hold the full listed charge, their tendency to stop taking a charge earlier in their life cycle, and more.
When I’m carting around 5 figures worth of camera gear and spending many thousands of dollars and days/weeks of my time to photograph, sometimes in pretty inaccessible places, saving a few bucks on batteries in exchange for unreliable performance is no economy at all.
p.1 #15 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
gdanmitchell I basically agree with you. Up until now I have pretty much stayed with OEM batteries for my Canon, Sony, and Fujifilm cameras and never had a swollen battery. I have never owned more than 2 third party batteries for any body and typically acquired these in situations where I already owned quite a few OEM ones just to give them a try.
I guess my recent purchase of a few NP-W235 batteries for a mint used X-T5 at ~$65 back in early July and now seeing them at $99 set me off. Just really surprised by the large price increase even with the foolish tariffs. Are batteries subject to some large increase for other reasons we should know about?
p.1 #16 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
gdanmitchell wrote:
Don’t know what to tell you.
I’ve shot digital for about 20 years now, on two platforms — Canon and Fujifilm.
So far I have had zero problems with any OEM batteries from either brand, aside from the normal and expected gradual decline in their ability to take/hold a charge over time.But even there, the OEMs have consistently performed better than I expected.
When I did buy non-OEM batteries for both systems, I always got what were the supposedly more reliable brands at the time. (I’ve always felt that it was not worth the small savings to risk camera performance with unreliable batteries.)
Over the years I had a string of various issues with every third-party brand I tried. A few cases:
As I mentioned above, I had a serious issue on a weeklong backcountry trek, when out of 5 or 6 batteries I discovered on the trail that one held no charge and the other ran out after about 15 shots. (Both had been fully charged immediately before the trip.)
In another case I ordered several third-party batteries from a supposedly-reliable brand — perhaps four or so? One cold not charge at all and another would hold only a partial charge. (The others appeared to work OK.) I returned the two defective batteries and one of the two replacements also did not work.
Later I purchased a set of third-party batteries (again from the supposedly reliable vendor) for my XPro2, to augment the OEM batteries that I bought with the camera. I may have had three of them. Of the three, TWO overheated and swelled, and I was almost unable to extract on of them from the camera body.
you might get lucky with third-party batteries, especially if you don’t use them a lot. But they have a long history of issues — there have been articles written about their poor design relative to overheating and swelling, their tendency to not hold the full listed charge, their tendency to stop taking a charge earlier in their life cycle, and more.
When I’m carting around 5 figures worth of camera gear and spending many thousands of dollars and days/weeks of my time to photograph, sometimes in pretty inaccessible places, saving a few bucks on batteries in exchange for unreliable performance is no economy at all....Show more →
Most batteries are made by a few very large battery manufactures. The OEM's set strict standards for how there batteries are made by these manufactures. Other batteries by the same brand may lack features that help them charge without overheating. Frequently, the problems come from the charging device that fast charges and dose not slow down when the battery gets hot. Fuji cameras and rely on the temperature sensor in the battery to tell them when to slow down. Third party chargers that slow charge are fine yet others may rely on the sensor in the battery or use a timer. Chargers are to blame for most of the problems and/or using a non Fuji battery in a camera or Fuji charger.
p.1 #17 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
swldstn wrote:
gdanmitchell I basically agree with you. Up until now I have pretty much stayed with OEM batteries for my Canon, Sony, and Fujifilm cameras and never had a swollen battery. I have never owned more than 2 third party batteries for any body and typically acquired these in situations where I already owned quite a few OEM ones just to give them a try.
I guess my recent purchase of a few NP-W235 batteries for a mint used X-T5 at ~$65 back in early July and now seeing them at $99 set me off. Just really surprised by the large price increase even with the foolish tariffs. Are batteries subject to some large increase for other reasons we should know about?...Show more →
My guess is that there are at least three tings going on with the pricing.
1. The same regularly inflationary effects that raise prices on everything.
2. The literal tariff surcharge tax that Americans now pay to the federal government on imported items.
3. Companies like Fujifilm strategizing about where and how to change prices to deal with the tariffs. I think they may wish to minimize the effect on things like camera bodies (though they cannot eliminate them entirely) since they drive the market for other things like lenses and batteries… so they may be more willing to raise prices on things like batteries in response.
p.1 #19 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
gdanmitchell wrote:
Don’t know what to tell you.
I’ve shot digital for about 20 years now, on two platforms — Canon and Fujifilm.
So far I have had zero problems with any OEM batteries from either brand, aside from the normal and expected gradual decline in their ability to take/hold a charge over time.But even there, the OEMs have consistently performed better than I expected.
When I did buy non-OEM batteries for both systems, I always got what were the supposedly more reliable brands at the time. (I’ve always felt that it was not worth the small savings to risk camera performance with unreliable batteries.)
Over the years I had a string of various issues with every third-party brand I tried. A few cases:
As I mentioned above, I had a serious issue on a weeklong backcountry trek, when out of 5 or 6 batteries I discovered on the trail that one held no charge and the other ran out after about 15 shots. (Both had been fully charged immediately before the trip.)
In another case I ordered several third-party batteries from a supposedly-reliable brand — perhaps four or so? One cold not charge at all and another would hold only a partial charge. (The others appeared to work OK.) I returned the two defective batteries and one of the two replacements also did not work.
Later I purchased a set of third-party batteries (again from the supposedly reliable vendor) for my XPro2, to augment the OEM batteries that I bought with the camera. I may have had three of them. Of the three, TWO overheated and swelled, and I was almost unable to extract on of them from the camera body.
you might get lucky with third-party batteries, especially if you don’t use them a lot. But they have a long history of issues — there have been articles written about their poor design relative to overheating and swelling, their tendency to not hold the full listed charge, their tendency to stop taking a charge earlier in their life cycle, and more.
When I’m carting around 5 figures worth of camera gear and spending many thousands of dollars and days/weeks of my time to photograph, sometimes in pretty inaccessible places, saving a few bucks on batteries in exchange for unreliable performance is no economy at all....Show more →
I didn't ask you to tell me anything. First party batteries aren't necessarily 100% reliable or infallible.
I don't use third party batteries currently either, especially as my gear has gotten more expensive. But not everyone has, or can afford to have, "5 figures worth of camera gear". And accordingly, what might seem like a small additional cost for a battery or two might be a lot more for a photographer with less expensive gear.
p.1 #20 · Did Fujifilm increase their battery prices?
There's probably also some compounding of increases going on. I would guess that accessories have much higher margin for the OEM than do the cameras themselves. I've seen it suggested that camera are 10-15% profit which is in line with consumer electronics. Guessing again the accessories are more like 50-60% profit or more. So when you increase the costs by tariffs, price goes up by more.
