Mirrorless camera?

[Phil V]

.... And I'd say that being unreliable and not always recharging is enough reason not to buy off-brand batteries - Something which has happened to two of my friends (shooting Canon) while I have been with them.

Even if for example, Canon/Nikon batteries are manufactured by Sony which is a very reliable brand, it is much safer than buying cheap Chinese copies.

I have peace of mind buying camera brand batteries, especially when travelling. But each to their own

I’d forgotten you were so blind to nuance.

Nikon batteries are Sony ‘manufactured’, I’m guessing no one knows who manufactures Canon batteries. It’s not relevant.

To suggest that there is a binary choice of ‘own brand’ or ‘cheap Chinese copies’ is ridiculous.

For a start, I doubt very much whether Sony own the plant where the Sony or Nikon batteries are made, they’ll be made by a specialist battery manufacturer somewhere in China (probably Schenzen sp), it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Canon or Fuji batteries are made in that factory too, or any number of 3rd party brands. It’s pretty much the business model of the whole of China.

Of course there’ll be other battery factories where QC isn’t so good, and where clone batteries of lower specifications are made.

But to suggest only Canon/Sony/Nikon can make good quality batteries is nonsense, as is the idea that anything not proprietary is inferior. Some will be, some won’t.

It’s not like we need a great imagination for this. The leading brand of AA rechargeables is available with at least one other (cheaper) branding (eneloop from IKEA), exactly the same product, different badge.

 

[Box Brownie]

@Phil V

I agree that, akin to paper makers, there are only so many manufacturing plants of Li-ION batteries but as per the likes of paper makers..............there are likely to be manufacturing caveats in respect of one OEM production and another OEM production line/making within the same plant. Possibly with penalties, in the case of battery makers, if they duplicate any proprietary "chips" in the non OEM ones.

I know not a direct equivalent but a filled pasta maker I used to have as a customer manufactured almost identical products for the 4 biggest supermarkets. However, each recipe was made specifically for each customer and woe betide the factory is they cross-manufactured. NB it surprised me how much recipe variance there was................but it was entirely down to meeting a price point!

So yes no doubt there are quality battery products that are not OEM but only via usage suggested recommendations will the cream be likely to rise to the top! Then it is simply personal choice as to what to buy

 

[Phil V]

@Phil V

I agree that, akin to paper makers, there are only so many manufacturing plants of Li-ION batteries but as per the likes of paper makers..............there are likely to be manufacturing caveats in respect of one OEM production and another OEM production line/making within the same plant. Possibly with penalties, in the case of battery makers, if they duplicate any proprietary "chips" in the non OEM ones.

I know not a direct equivalent but a filled pasta maker I used to have as a customer manufactured almost identical products for the 4 biggest supermarkets. However, each recipe was made specifically for each customer and woe betide the factory is they cross-manufactured. NB it surprised me how much recipe variance there was................but it was entirely down to meeting a price point!

So yes no doubt there are quality battery products that are not OEM but only via usage suggested recommendations will the cream be likely to rise to the top! Then it is simply personal choice as to what to buy

There’s an ‘inside the factory’ about a Christmas pudding factory in Lincs I believe? That makes 90% of all the Xmas puddings we buy. From school dinners to Heston Blumenthal at Waitrose.

 

[RedRobin]

I’d forgotten you were so blind to nuance.

....

Nikon batteries are Sony ‘manufactured’, I’m guessing no one knows who manufactures Canon batteries. It’s not relevant.

To suggest that there is a binary choice of ‘own brand’ or ‘cheap Chinese copies’ is ridiculous.

For a start, I doubt very much whether Sony own the plant where the Sony or Nikon batteries are made, they’ll be made by a specialist battery manufacturer somewhere in China (probably Schenzen sp), it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Canon or Fuji batteries are made in that factory too, or any number of 3rd party brands. It’s pretty much the business model of the whole of China.

.... Indeed that may be so. And also it may not be so. Neither you nor I actually know for certain.

And even it is the case as you suggest, each camera brand is likely to have its own very specific criteria which any 'universal'/'communal' battery manufacturer will have to very strictly adhere to, don't you agree?

Of course there’ll be other battery factories where QC isn’t so good, and where clone batteries of lower specifications are made.

.... Exactly! And such inferior batteries are easily available. So buyer beware! My point is that a camera branded battery, regardless of exactly where it is manufactured, carries guarantees and peace of mind for the photographer.

But to suggest only Canon/Sony/Nikon can make good quality batteries is nonsense, as is the idea that anything not proprietary is inferior. Some will be, some won’t.

.... I wasn't suggesting this in the way you claim I was. Please read my comments to you above.

It’s not like we need a great imagination for this. The leading brand of AA rechargeables is available with at least one other (cheaper) branding (eneloop from IKEA), exactly the same product, different badge.

.... Just because some batteries might be exactly the same product but just with different badges/labels, doesn't mean that such practices are universal.

The bottom line is that each of us can buy whichever battery we feel gives us the most reliability and peace of mind. I much prefer to buy camera brand matched batteries rather than third-party. And the same applies when it comes to most lenses. If you feel differently, no problem.

As cameras and their batteries become more sophisticated to meet the demands of usage, which battery brand you decide to use will become more critical. This is already so in the world of AA batteries.

Btw, you may have noticed that mirrorless cameras drink a lot more battery juice

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

The bottom line is that each of us can buy whichever battery we feel gives us the most reliability and peace of mind.

That is so.

I've come to the conclusion that much of the confusion comes down to the culture of lying in advertising and marketing that has now spread onto the internet