Who uses generic batteries in their Mark III?

[photographer unknown]

I just recently purchased a Mark III and now I need to purchase a few spare batteries. Anyone used the IMPACT brand? or have suggestions on a brand they have had good luck with. I am always leery of generic batteries and voltage issues but given the Canon batteries range in price from $119-150 depending on where you purchase them I am considering generic.

TIA

[nontetheredbrain]

Impact have been making batteries for many cameras for a while, I know a few that swear by them. But I'm one who won't use generic batteries just for the reasons you mentioned. I got one from amazon.com for $105 as while back in their specials one day.

[ed rader]

I just recently purchased a Mark III and now I need to purchase a few spare batteries. Anyone used the IMPACT brand? or have suggestions on a brand they have had good luck with. I am always leery of generic batteries and voltage issues but given the Canon batteries range in price from $119-150 depending on where you purchase them I am considering generic.

TIA


why so many batteries? the mark III's battery lasts forever. i bought a spare and seldom use it.

ed rader

[LBaldwin]

I don't have the III but the MkIIn. I decided after using the BP511 after market stuff, to stay with Canon factory. I know the issues with the cost if the batteries is not cheap. But I did not want to chance a damaged camera or voided warrantee for the difference.

Like Ed said I seldom have had to change batteries during a shoot, getting several hundred images on one. BUT when using long glass it does suck up more juice.

I say stay with the factory batteries...

[Jim G]

I don't think you'll need a few! Here's a shot of my battery readout the other day (posted it elsewhere on here) after a week post-charge and this many shots:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2828062578_5c23a492ee.jpg

I have one spare and have never needed to reach for it. For $130 having a spare Canon one is peace of mind in case you forget to charge or have one battery die on you but a few is probably overkill for 99% of people when they last this long.

[LBaldwin]

I don't think you'll need a few! Here's a shot of my battery readout the other day (posted it elsewhere on here) after a week post-charge and this many shots:



I have one spare and have never needed to reach for it. For $130 having a spare Canon one is peace of mind in case you forget to charge or have one battery die on you but a few is probably overkill for 99% of people when they last this long.

How is it with long IS glass?

[Anke]

Check this out: Mark III 10,000 Images 1 battery (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=535849)

[Jim G]

How is it with long IS glass?

Don't own any, couldn't say!

[col4bin]

I am sorry I wasted my money on a spare.

[gkas]

I wouldn't call it a waste of money. I battery could always outright fail, especially when you're out in the boonies. Ever try buying even a fairly common camera battery in most medium to small towns? You would then have your camera as a paperweight until you could get to a large city....

[ef2]

Are the MIII batteries lithium ion? If so, you should alternate between batteries every once in awhile due to the Li-on shelf-life.

[Wazza]

I've used generic batteries, always in my 20D with grip - sterlingtek.
However when it comes down to my 1DIII, I doubt I'd use anything but Canon. I've got a 5 year warranty with it, but it won't cover if I use anything but original. Imagine if the sealing wasn't as good, and damaged the camera that way?

I can see my battery life is slightly reducing now. 15 months old, approx 50-75k shots (no idea really, but somewhere around that) - currently done 2111 shots, and 52% left.

[basroil]

At most you will need one more battery. After that, most people don't have enough flash card/disk space. With the "average" charge getting you 4k shots, two batteries is 8k. At an average of 14mb/photo, you get about 110gb of photos. Unless you have a new P series or other card copier, it won't have nearly enough space.

[datadump]

what the? there are no generic knock off batts for mark3...

[datadump]

nevermind i stand corrected..
http://cgi.ebay.ca/New-Battery-for-LP-E4-Canon-EOS-1D-1Ds-Mark-III-Ca_W0QQitemZ280262986255QQihZ018QQcategoryZ162045Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Jim G]

I am sorry I wasted my money on a spare.

You won't be if your battery craps out for some reason at an important point in time. $130 for peace of mind isn't much compared to the cost of the camera.

[Breitling65]

I just recently purchased a Mark III and now I need to purchase a few spare batteries. Anyone used the IMPACT brand? or have suggestions on a brand they have had good luck with. I am always leery of generic batteries and voltage issues but given the Canon batteries range in price from $119-150 depending on where you purchase them I am considering generic.

TIA


Not me, what the point of risking 4K camera with cheapo battery? Besides original lasts forever (up to 10K clicks), besically no need in second one.

[photographer unknown]

Wow! Thanks for all the responses! Sorry it has taken me so long to get back here, I have been working 16 hour days and to exhausted to turn on the computer when I get home.

For me it is pertinent to have two (at least) batteries. I use long glass with IS quite often and plus I am often away from home. I don't like to have to worry about having enough juice. I think I will just say "ouch" and stick with the canon even at 3 times the price.

Thanks everyone for your input.

[basroil]

Wow! Thanks for all the responses! Sorry it has taken me so long to get back here, I have been working 16 hour days and to exhausted to turn on the computer when I get home.

For me it is pertinent to have two (at least) batteries. I use long glass with IS quite often and plus I am often away from home. I don't like to have to worry about having enough juice. I think I will just say "ouch" and stick with the canon even at 3 times the price.

Thanks everyone for your input.

Even with 70-200 and 300 (both 2.8 is), battery lasts longer than my flash cards. Two batteries will be more than enough unless you shoot for SI and have runners dumping 5k photos/event (for olympics lets say).

[Psychic1]

Purchased one from mydigitaldiscount last week and it fits and works the same as the OEM for $50.00
Now I'm waiting for my 32gig Transcend CF to go with my 16gig SD.
http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/SPD/canon-replacement-lp-e4-battery-pack-for-eos-1d-mark-iii-lp-e4-for-canon--80000746-1210576714.jsp
I am enjoying this camera.

[mspringfield]

Not me, what the point of risking 4K camera with cheapo battery? Besides original lasts forever (up to 10K clicks), besically no need in second one.

Not really aimed at you Brietling but I hear people say this all the time. I am always curious at just what someone is "risking" by using 3rd party batteries. I have $25K in Luxman stereo gear and I use batteries from Costco that cost .25 each not Eveready/Duracell batteries that are "designed" for electronic equipment that are $6 a pair. I have been using 3rd party batteries in my 1DMkII for 4 years now and haven't had any battery issues that I would classify as a "risk". I know a dozen pro sports photographers that also use 3rd party batteries. I have taken apart dead Canon batteries just to see what is on the inside that make them worth $125.00+ and found that they use cheap NiCad AAs. Nothing special. Although I am not familiar with the MkIII I am pretty sure that they don't do anything different with the Li-Ions. Save your money and get the 3rd party batteries.

As much as we would like to think differently Canon is just like any other OEM company no matter what the industry. While they do make quality equipment they are also in it this to make money and like most other companies the make more on accessories than they do on their major items.

Just my .02. :D

[blonde]

i don't think that you are risking things by going 3rd party but in the case of the mkIII batteries, i just don't see the point. unlike the mkII that had a very average battery life, the mkIII battery is steller and i can't see a need for more than one spare battery. so, i would spend the $100 for the OEM canon just so i know for sure that it fits perfectly and works as it should.

btw, for my mkIIn i only used 3rd party and it worked great since i bought 4 batteries for the price of 1 canon.

[Rellik]

Don't think anyone has mentioned this, but with the 1D batteries, it is one portion of the weather sealing for the camera. If you plan on shooting out in the rain, I would much rather use a Canon than a knock off.

Also, the 1Dmk3 batteries has newer circuitry that feeds battery information to the camera. Not sure if aftermarket will allow such information.

[ed rader]

Not me, what the point of risking 4K camera with cheapo battery? Besides original lasts forever (up to 10K clicks), besically no need in second one.


you won't buy an aftermarket battery because its a "cheapo" and yet you are too cheap to carry a spare battery in case your only battery fails :D.

tell you what Lenny you can get a 100' extension cord for like $15 bucks at home depot and you can use that with your AC adapter if your battery ever fails or runs down :D.

ed rader