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EN-EL14A Alternatives


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14 replies to this topic

#1
ScottinPollock

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I like Nikon, but just like Canon, their accessory pricing is obscene.

So with that in mind, have any of you found a third party alternative you're just as happy with.

#2
etphoto

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If you are referring to batteries, no. I have not found any. I learned a long time ago photography is an expensive past time. It does get better though, eventually you'll get everything you need and the cash bleeding slows down drastically.

Sent from my Surface 3

#3
dcbear78

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I bought a third party one I got from a local electrical retailer. It's nowhere near as good as my genuine Nikon battery. I have heard there are some decent brands but can't think of them off the top of my head.

#4
Merco_61

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Meike are a bit less bad than the others, but the tighter specified tolerances in production for the originals pay off. The originals are usually cheaper in the long run as they last more cycles before they lose max charge.



#5
Ron

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Nah, I stick with Nikon batteries. I just look for the least expensive price. I even have an EL-EN 15 Watson battery that I got as part of a camera promotion that's still in the blister pack.

 

You can scrimp on some other stuff but for things like batteries and memory cards, it's better to buy the best you can afford. At least in my opinion.

 

--Ron



#6
TBonz

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I have to agree with Ron...I made the choice to purchase "gently" used gear in some cases to save some funds, but I would not and have not ever thought about getting the off brand batteries. Same with the cards - I buy the best I can for the equipment I'm using...



#7
Jerry_

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When buying my D610, the retailer offered an extended package for some extra money to include a second battery that sound fine.

Well, I didn't read the small print, which mentioned that the battery was not a genuine one, so ended up with one extra non-Nikon battery.

8 months later that non-Nikon battery was only loading at 20%, while the Nikon battery that came with the camera continued to work properly on the same charger.

To be fair: as this was during the warranty period I had no problem to get the battery exchanged with a new one.

Nonetheless, in the meantime (awaiting the replacement), I had bought a second genuine battery.

So now I have three batteries - and while the non-genuine battery only get a light use, it has been working properly for two years. Nonetheless, I wouldn't buy a non-genuine battery, even so I feel that backup batteries are not as critical memory cards.

#8
Tony

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I have both an original Nikon EN-EL3 and a Fosman En-EL3 batteries.  The Nikon wanna be has been working very well and of course I keep it fully charged prior to going out.  In fact today I used it for 63 photographs, when I got home I placed it right back on the charger for about 20 minutes.

The Fosmon I purchased on ebay for around $7.00 brand new and a couple of dollars for shipping.  I do on occasion use the original Nikon battery to keep it alive and well.  One issue is:  The Nikon wanna be offers 1700mah, while the original Nikon battery offers only 1400mah.  They both claim to contain 7.4V.  I recall looking at the prices on ebay for new Nikon EN-EL3 batteries and found only used ones for around $40.00, plus shipping.  Interestingly enough, they are both manufactured in China, they perform the same and are nearly identical.  We all know that Nikon is not in the battery manufacturing business.  The Fosmon battery does say, "For Nikon."  So Fosmon could be the one making batteries for Nikon.  At any rate, that is my report and I have been very pleased with the Nikon wanna be battery.

 

Regards,

 

Tony



#9
M.Beier

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Odd, I have experience that with ENEL-14, a 2 of my fake were weak compared to the original, yet.... The last one, higher capacity, has not lost anything in close to 2 years, while the original one... Leave it in camera too long and its already half drained.

 

As for MEIKE, do they make batteries? I have grip from MEIKE for me D800E, and that isnt as study as original, however, the price was another league.... My fake battery in D800E does not have digital reading output, so cannot see the percentage.... But - I have not charged it once so far.... And thats a few thousand shots.



#10
Merco_61

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MeiKe seem to have stopped marketing batteries under their own brand. 

With the third-party batteries, the quality varies much more than the originals. Good samples can be very good but the bad are very, very low quality. 

 

The "For Nikon" on the Fosman battery only means that it fits in Nikon equipment. Nobody knows who make the batteries for Nikon, but the originals are made to tighter tolerances than third-party offerings. Wider tolerances mean that more products reach the customer, thus lowering the price but it also means that low-performing samples that should have been scrap at the factory get out on the market.



#11
ousantacruz

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Wasabi batteries have always been great for me. I've bought them for several brands and never had an issue.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

#12
Jblackfish

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Nah, I stick with Nikon batteries. I just look for the least expensive price. I even have an EL-EN 15 Watson battery that I got as part of a camera promotion that's still in the blister pack.

You can scrimp on some other stuff but for things like batteries and memory cards, it's better to buy the best you can afford. At least in my opinion.

--Ron

I got one of those Watson batteries with my D7100 and it won't even light the charger up. (Interpretation: it doesn't even pretend to start charging - it's totally defective.)

 

UPDATE:  The good news part of this short tale is that I called B&H about the useless (free) battery they included in my order and they let me return it and gave me $10 off a new Nikon EN-EL15, so I'll have a good spare.



#13
Tony

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MeiKe seem to have stopped marketing batteries under their own brand. 

With the third-party batteries, the quality varies much more than the originals. Good samples can be very good but the bad are very, very low quality. 

 

The "For Nikon" on the Fosman battery only means that it fits in Nikon equipment. Nobody knows who make the batteries for Nikon, but the originals are made to tighter tolerances than third-party offerings. Wider tolerances mean that more products reach the customer, thus lowering the price but it also means that low-performing samples that should have been scrap at the factory get out on the market.

I understood very well what "For Nikon" meant. My point is that whoever the seller (Fosmon) gets their batteries from could be the same source that manufactures batteries with the Nikon Label, and under Nikon's specs.   I have been using this third party battery for close to two years now without any problems at all.  Now regarding the battery with the Nikon label, there was a major recall because the batteries were exploding and causing fires in the devices they were placed in.  The only way to tell if mine was one of the defective ones recalled, is by a numerical code on the reverse of the battery.  Fortunately, mine was not one of the defective ones.  So when it comes to batteries, it really is the luck of the draw so to speak, even now there is a problem with Lithium-Ion batteries in Samsung smart phones that have exploded and caught fire.  Samsung now has initiated a recall on devices containing those batteries.

 

Regards,

 

Tony



#14
TBonz

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It may indeed be the same company Tony.  If so, it is likely that company sells off the batteries that don't fit Nikon's specs.  Probably not the item I would pick to use in my Nikon if it doesn't meet their specs.  My bodies and lenses are worth more to me that the few dollars I would save by purchasing an off brand.  Other folks may be willing to take that chance  but I am not.  I also work my batteries quite a bit harder than many folks.  I put newly charged batteries in each of my bodies a week ago.  The "second" body has about 500 images through it this week.  The other has over 2000.  The bodies will swap roles this week and I will have genuine Nikon batteries to replace them in the event one gets too worn down.  They will definitely get some charging next week, probably more than once as I expect to be shooting more frequently that week in addition to a Wedding a week from tomorrow...

 

Pretty much every major manufacturer has something go wrong at some point and has had to issue a recall.  That to me is more of a good thing than a bad thing.  From my experience, Nikon has been pretty decent about standing behind their products.  And, I expect that if a Nikon battery caused a problem with a Nikon body and / or the lens attached, they would stand behind that and fix things.  I doubt that Nikon would be much help if you are using a 3rd party battery that they didn't sell (even if it was off the same assembly line as theirs!)...



#15
Tony

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The non Nikon battery I purchased from a seller on ebay who at the time had over 47,000 transactions and also had 100% positive feedback.  The battery came with a 90 day warranty so I felt reasonably safe with my purchase.  Your comment about manufacturers having something go wrong at some point is quite disturbing.  Nothing against you personally, as I have a difficult time understanding that with all funds that are dedicated to R&D and Quality Control, a product would pass all the so-called tests and end up potentially blowing up in someone's face, just as they are about to activate the shutter release.  Now speaking for my wife, she has a Nikon Coolpix that she really likes a great deal.  She was unable to re-charge the battery.  So she called around to various Authorize Service Centers and every one of them told her she would have to send the camera to Texas.  The facility in Texas returned the camera to her with no repair work done, then advised her to send it to a facility in Los Angeles, Ca.  That facility returned the camera without affecting repairs and advised her that it was her fault the non-Nikon USB cable she used caused the damage to the USB port.  She has only this one camera, in addition the camera was still under warranty and they refused to help her.  Wonderful.  You can imagine the amount of shipping charges all of this cost us, only to receive the same unrepaired (but warrantied) camera back.

 

Thanks for all of your information.

 

Regards,

 

Tony