Rechargeable Cells
Can’t comment about SLR Batteries yet (though my first additional “pattern” unit for my recently acquired EOS350D has just arrived, it cost £15 as opposed to ca.£45 for a genuine Canon cell).
However, I have used non-branded rechargeable cells on various Canon camcorders for 15 years, with no problems.
I would recommend using one of the web-retaillers rather than buy bargain basement cells off un-proven ebay sellers, I would also recommend use of well established brands such as Uniross, Hahnel etc.
On (older type)camcorder cells many pattern brands offer “universal” cells to which you fit one of a number of compatibility “mounts” or “covers” to suit the brand of camcorder you have. I prefer cells tailored to fit directly without such adaptors, simply as it’s one less thing to lose/break, and a proper fit also reduces chances of the British weather getting into the electrics too – not that any of us use our equipment in the inclement British summer of course… The pattern cells for current SLRs (and presumably for the current smaller camcorders too) seem more specific, and are proper matches to the original branded part.
If you enter your battery description on G**gle or similar, then you will probably find many of the hits are for “pattern” brands, and by following the links back to traders’ webpages you can find many suitable “fits” at varying prices.
Do take care to check the cell capacity before purchase, as some do not match the branded units, some are lower in terms of mAH, but you can also often find higher capacity units which will fit the camera/camcorder and last longer between recharges than branded units.
Of course, few of the camera manufacturers actually manufacture cells themselves anyway, they subcontract the work out to manufacturers who specialise in cell manufacture – so in effect the cell supplied originally is probably only a “badge engineered ” unit anyway ;).
Paul F
Sign In
