Reading mode: Light Dark

Could battery cost be crippling LX sales?

Go to last post
C

Cyril Catt

Veteran Member
Messages
5,485
Reaction score
578
Location
Newcastle, AU
Looking for a second battery for my LX7, I find the local Australian brick & mortar camera shops are charging about AUD 99.00 (currently USD 103.26), and specialist battery shops have neither Lumix nor alternative versions. Online sources such as Better Batt suggest AUD 42.82 (shipping included) for a replacement. Has anyone any Australian experience buying from BetterBatt?
 
There is a problem with the Lumix LX5 and LX7 batteries (they are the same). They are 'chipped' so give warning when they are about to run out. Other makes may fit, but do not warn. 'Gotcha!'
 
Actually, there are many generic batteries for LX5/LX7 now that ARE chipped and work properly but are cheap. I have two from Ebay.
 
EvanRavitz said:
EvanRavitz wrote:

Actually, there are many generic batteries for LX5/LX7 now that ARE chipped and work properly but are cheap. I have two from Ebay.--
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads up, Evan. Unfortunately, living in Australia, I find some vendors unwilling to sell outside the USA.

Cyril
 
WOW! I understand that batteries for certain cameras are a little high but $100USD for the LX7 battery is too much in my opinion. Irregardless what part of the world. I don't wonder why some stores that charges high prices don't stay in business for long.

The Pearstone is 19.95USD at B&H while the original Pana battery is 34.95USD.

 
The battery has nothing to do with LX sales. Aftermarket chipped ones are available to anyone who is resourceful and at a significantly cheaper cost.

The OEM`s might be the best but there are other brands that work nearly as well and serve the purpose as a spare (s).
 
Last edited:
Cyril:

I have used www.bestbatt.com for all my spare battery needs. They work in all my Panny cameras and the prices are reasonable. I don't know if they ship to Australia or not but you could check their web site.
 
Jerry045 said:
Jerry045 wrote:

Cyril:

I have used www.bestbatt.com for all my spare battery needs. They work in all my Panny cameras and the prices are reasonable. I don't know if they ship to Australia or not but you could check their web site.
Click to expand...
 
Jerry045 said:
Jerry045 wrote:

Cyril:

I have used www.bestbatt.com for all my spare battery needs. They work in all my Panny cameras and the prices are reasonable. I don't know if they ship to Australia or not but you could check their web site.
Click to expand...
 
trevmar said:
trevmar wrote:

These batteries worked OK for me. About 15% less charge than Panasonic, but still plenty for most users. I decided to stay with Panasonic, though, as I need every last ounce of energy from the batteries (for video)..

Click to expand...
Thanks, trevmar. That's good to know.
 
Cyril:

I have used them in my FZ50, FZ150 and I am about to buy a set for my new ZS19. My son is using them in his ZS19. I can't speak for the LX series, perhaps another poster can comment, as a number of folks have used this source.
 
Hope you find a cheaper alternative, Cyril !

I fail to see any connection with sales of the LX7 (or any other camera) and extra (spare) battery prices or availability.

Many of us here would buy an extra (I always do, for every camera I ever owned)...but many other folk buying camera's would not.

Battery life seems decent with the LX7 , perhaps better than the LX3 (or was it the battery meter variable readings)?

ANAYV
 
Keep in mind the OP is in Australia where there are insane prices on a lot of electronic stuff. In some instances its actually cheaper to buy a return air ticket to the USA, fly there , buy the item and fly home again.

Old timers on this forum will remember the kerfuffle when chipped batteries first appeared,- people were threatening never to buy another panny product ever, turned out to be a storm in a tea cup.

The context at the time was reports of exploding lithium batteries, not a complete myth, after all it was problems with lithium batteries that grounded the new 'Dreamliner' aircraft.
 
Kevin Coppalotti said:
Kevin Coppalotti wrote:

Keep in mind the OP is in Australia where there are insane prices on a lot of electronic stuff. In some instances its actually cheaper to buy a return air ticket to the USA, fly there , buy the item and fly home again.

Old timers on this forum will remember the kerfuffle when chipped batteries first appeared,- people were threatening never to buy another panny product ever, turned out to be a storm in a tea cup.

The context at the time was reports of exploding lithium batteries, not a complete myth, after all it was problems with lithium batteries that grounded the new 'Dreamliner' aircraft.

--
Kevin Coppalotti
http://maxhr.zenfolio.com/
Click to expand...
My daughter's first boyfriend in Sydney used to attend trade shows here in Silicon Valley - & I was enlisted everytime to take the gang to Fry's Electronics, a big discounter - the guys just went nuts!

:-D

-Erik

07ac6f6ba27c4ad5aacb92e692b3c564.jpg








--
'He who hesitates is not only lost - he's miles from the next Exit.'
www.flickr.com/ohlsonmh/ [email protected]
 
Thank you to all who have kindly posted information about alternative LX7 battery sources.

I realise that Australia is a large country with a small population dispersed over considerable distances, so that local brick and mortar shops have a relatively small potential clientele, and must charge a higher retail markup than internet suppliers with potentially greater turnover and lower overheads. But this does not appear to explain why the price of such a small easily shipped item as a camera battery can be upwards of 15 times the price I could buy it for in the USA, with which Australia ostensibly has a free trade agreement.

I have ordered a spare battery from one of the Amazon vendors, and will report on its effectiveness after it arrives

Cyril
 
Cyril Catt said:
Cyril Catt wrote:

Looking for a second battery for my LX7, I find the local Australian brick & mortar camera shops are charging about AUD 99.00 (currently USD 103.26), and specialist battery shops have neither Lumix nor alternative versions. Online sources such as Better Batt suggest AUD 42.82 (shipping included) for a replacement. Has anyone any Australian experience buying from BetterBatt?
Click to expand...
 
Cyril Catt said:
Cyril Catt wrote:
Click to expand...
Cyril Catt said:
I will see how long they take to discharge - considering they are a tenth of the current over-the-counter price of Panasonic batteries in Australia.
Click to expand...
I'm afraid that's the kind of money I pay for batteries (don't know about LX though). I quite like having at least 3, with Panny cameras. Whereas my Fuji F20 battery seems to go on for years and I have never bought a spare!

Mike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top