p.2 #1 · Stick with Nikon batteries or use clones?
I strongly doubt that Nikon produces any batteries themselves in the first place.
They make some other company do it, then write Nikon on the end product.
Or that Nikon has any knowledge unique to only them about batteries.
There is a lot to batteries of course but a third party company can put just as much effort into high quaity batteries as Nikon does.
The idea that only original batteries can be good is therefore wrong. Its a question of how much effort that company actually puts into the product. And yes there can be huge differences.
p.2 #2 · Stick with Nikon batteries or use clones?
From my first digital camera in 2006, I've used only OEM batteries. However, Fujifilm's recent price increase from $60 to $95 on their NP-W126S battery has me thinking about aftermarket... if/when I buy more batteries for my Fuji. Luckily, I hardly ever use the Fuji cameras since Nikon Z appeared.
p.2 #3 · Stick with Nikon batteries or use clones?
Sauseschritt wrote:
I strongly doubt that Nikon produces any batteries themselves in the first place.
They make some other company do it, then write Nikon on the end product.
Or that Nikon has any knowledge unique to only them about batteries.
There is a lot to batteries of course but a third party company can put just as much effort into high quaity batteries as Nikon does.
The idea that only original batteries can be good is therefore wrong. Its a question of how much effort that company actually puts into the product. And yes there can be huge differences.
I'm with Scott on this.
It seems likely that it is outsourced. But saying "They make some other company do it, then write Nikon on the end product." is a bit simplistic. I'm pretty sure Nikon has a full set of power, performance, digital interface and environmental specifications that their supplier has to meet. And if they are like any other manufacturer they have compliance engineers who inspect outside manufacturers and quality test outsourced components.
Unlicensed components may meet Nikon specifications, or they may not. It is not possible to know just by looking at them or reading 'reviews' or believing anecdotal internet reports. There's a reason using unlicensed components will immediately void your warranty (as limited as it has become).
Gambling the price differential on three or four batteries on a 2k-5k piece of equipment is the definition of penny-wise pound foolish.
p.2 #4 · Stick with Nikon batteries or use clones?
I do not mind buying 3rd party batteries and recently bought two of the EN-EL15 batteries made by SmallRig that can be charged using only a USB-C cable. I do however only buy such batteries from BH Photo Video to avoid counterfeit ones and to avoid other problems. If BH Photo gets a large number of returns of a particular battery they will discontinue it and provide an alternative.
p.2 #5 · Stick with Nikon batteries or use clones?
I have generally stuck with genuine Nikon batteries over the years. I did have some problems with some third party batteries that I got with a used camera purchase or were included in a package with a new camera, but that was back in the DSLR era.
With the Z cameras, I have at least 2 Nikon batteries for each of my 3 cameras. However, I like the idea of USB rechargeable batteries, so I tried some SmallRig batteries. I have had no problems with these, except that I get slightly fewer shots per charge (maybe 10%). I now have 2 of each size for my Z50II and Z7II/Z8.
p.2 #6 · Stick with Nikon batteries or use clones?
My brain understands things better in price ratios.
The only third-party batteries I use are for my Panasonic Lumix G100 as I picked up the camera and lenses at a ridiculously low price, so it made sense there.
Nikon Z8 paired with a Nikon EN‑EL15c works out to roughly 1:50. The battery is only about 1.5–3% of the body price. For cameras like the Z5II or Zf, spending ~3–5% on an official battery is totally worth it.
In my very limited experience, no-name batteries simply don’t last as long as the official Lumix battery I have.
p.2 #8 · Stick with Nikon batteries or use clones?
For Sony I've used Baxxtar batteries for years. Only one of the three batteries showed loss of capacity over the years, the other two were just as good as the OEM batteries. I have no idea where this snobbery is coming from. It's just batteries, there is no magic involved.
With Nikon, I've had less luck. Having good experince with Baxxtar, I picked them again. At first everything was fine but with a firmware update on my Zf Nikon disabled the batteries. But this is a deliberate crippling on Nikon's side, not the batteries' fault.
Error message reads: "This battery is unable to provide data to the camera and cannot be used. [...]"
p.2 #9 · Stick with Nikon batteries or use clones?
My generiatric Sony batteries (USB-C or not) gave that warning on startup with the latest FW after being a couple years old. I think Nikon, Canon and Sony all do that to discourage use of 3rd party battery packs. I suspect they are always in that cat and mouse game with FW and batteries.
