Third-Party M8 Batteries: Are they worth looking into?

[naos]

I saw these on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/za54-2X-Battery...ryZ43447QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Has anyone any experience with these (or similar) batteries?

Does anyone know if using third-party batteries makes your warranty void if the battery should damage the camera?

 

[jaapv]

I've got two as extra backup on extended journeys. One is fine, one has to be reset each time I have used it. One needs at least one real Leica spare before getting these for emergency use imo.

 

[Avotius]

Hm.....my experience with after market batteries has been pretty poor, most of the time they only held about 60-70% of the charge that a real battery would have and they wore out very fast, for instance I once had one for my 20D, it lasted a few dozen charges then died completely.

My advice....buy real.

 

[Avotius]

I've had good experience with third part batteries. Canon branded and third party each last about six months in my Canon DSLR's before they won't hold a charge (but I keep four batteries in rotation in each camera which helps with the battery life). I have a problem with only one, and it's case was not shaped exactly right and wouldn't fit the camera, so I tossed it. Never had any damage done by them; but, YMMV.

My goodness....My original battery for my 20D still works fine after almost 80000 exposures and three+ years! Its quite amazing really as after my first after market battery died I figured I didnt need another and never have, although its always in the back of my head to have another, dont know why I never got around to it.

 

[nksyoon]

Canon battery not lasting more than 6 months? I've never had that. Once one of my batteries died soon after being charged and I thought it had reached the end of its life, but another round of charging brought it back to life. I believe even Lithium ion batteries need to be completely discharged and charged from time to time.

I have 2 third party batteries for my M8...I think they last as long as the original, but they don't always show accurately on the camera's battery meter.

 

[nksyoon]

Nick, I'm a PJ and shoot a lot. The batteries get recharged daily. Doesn't take long to waste them.

OK, understood.

 

[Avotius]

Nick, I'm a PJ and shoot a lot. The batteries get recharged daily. Doesn't take long to waste them.

Indeed, it is quite wise to completely discharge your batteries at least once every month of so if you are heavy on them.

When I get my M8 I was wondering about the batteries too, here in China a second battery is about 140 bucks! Yikes....

 

[Bill Blackwell]

"Third-Party M8 Batteries: Are they worth looking into?"

IMHO - no. I purchased two of them on eBay some time back and they do not hold a charge. Break down and buy a second "real" M8 battery.

And, yes, if something goes wrong with the camera because of the third-party battery, the warranty is void – it's in your manual.

 

[ERV]

I bought an Impact brand battery for my M8 at B&H and it works fine.
$69.00.

 

[Digital Dude]

With all that can go wrong with an expensive camera, I tend to minimize my losses. I opted to just buy a second Leica battery and be done with it. In relative terms, it’s pretty cheap when I consider the overall acquisition costs of the M8 and my original Leica lens i.e. 9k vs. 110-bucks for a 2nd battery.
Regards,😎

 

[kuzano]

Some bad press on battery and flash memory

Some bad press on battery and flash memory

Some recent bad press lately on poor and counterfeit batteries for cameras and laptops lately on the internet in general and eBay.

I think I'd only buy a third party battery from someone who I could see the "whites" of their eyes.

I am surprised at the amount of overpricing and/or low quality (or both) on internet web sites (and not just eBay). Proves there are a lot of people out there who are not all that honest unless you can reach down, grab their testicles, and twist them 360 degrees. It doesn't work all the time, but it's a great convincer to the truth.

 

[Isca]

Buy the real thing or at least the B and H off-brand for 70 bucks. I bought two cheapies on ebay and both were garbage, charged once and tossed. The B and H i sbetter but still not as good as the Leica as it does not say full charge on the camera meter after I charge it.

 

[ERV]

I bought an Impact brand battery for my M8 at B&H and it works fine.
$69.00.

well, the Impact generic battery worked fine for two weeks and then wouldn't recharge. I had already tossed the packaging and receipt but I took it back to B&H anyway and they gave me a store credit. (all the info was in their computer)
Bought the Leica battery...

 

[jaapv]

I can only say - basically I am all for buying the originals - as a matter of fact I have four of them and they are fine. But for travel in Africa I bought four extra " emergency" ones at 5 $ a piece from Hong Kong and surprisingly they work as well as any Leica battery.

 

[pizzahut88]

I am from Hong Kong, where do I find one of those 3rd party battery?

 

[jaapv]

What I did notice, the third party batteries were a bit finicky on firmware 1.09, they had to be drained completely before charging, or the battery meter on the camera would indicate incorrectly, but the problems have disappeared on firmware 1.10