Sony or generic battery?

[Pareshk]

I need a new battery for the RX 100. I see the old one is a Sony & I vaguely remember reading that the off brands might not be as good or last as long. Is it worth the extra money for the Sony brand - NP-BX1? Thanks. Suggestions on where to buy?

 

[BosPhotoMan]

I've been using wasabi batteries for my sony rx10 for years without any problems. They might not last as long as Sony batteries, but given the price they're perfectly adequate. I replace them every couple of years.

 

[66GTO]

My original RX100 battery is still working well. I would buy it again.

 

[Pareshk]

OK thank you!

 

[sludge21017]

Sony's will provide many years of service.

You won't notice taking a hundred photos when out if you max is 100 or 200 or 300 on general usage. So it might work for you to go cheap and carry a couple.

But if you push your camera with all the features, other brands won't last as long for HFR recording or video recording. They'll give up much sooner than expected.

 

[Birddogman]

I cheaped-out and bought Wasabi batteries as spares. Price was right - and they came with a spare charger. At first, they seemed equal and and I would have recommended saving the money and buying the Wasabi batteries.

Now, after a few years, the original Sony batteries are still going strong and the Wasabi batteries barely hold a charge. I don't even use the Wasabis anymore, because they will suddenly just die. FWIW.

Greg

--


Check out my photos at: https://www.flickr.com/gp/137747053@N07/4M38jj

 

[Rambow]

They may not last as long, but for 7-8 bucks you can replace after a couple of years it if needed.

My 6 year old generic battery is still excellent on my 2012 rx100. Good as new.

Besides, even if you buy original, the camera might break or get sold before the battery gets old, so why bother?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/181142542821?hash=item2a2cefd9e5:g:4MMAAOSwwVpZ26MR

 

[LeicaEye]

I need a new battery for the RX 100. I see the old one is a Sony & I vaguely remember reading that the off brands might not be as good or last as long. Is it worth the extra money for the Sony brand - NP-BX1? Thanks. Suggestions on where to buy?

I usually stick to the OE (I buy 2 batteries when I buy the camera) once my equipment gets around 3 years old.. I go with 3rd party batteries... Regards, L

 

[Jerry045]

I picked up a couple of spare Wasabi batteries for my A6000 about 6 years ago. They worked fine. I sold the A6000 and bought a RX10iii. I used those same two batteries for a few years. I sold the RX10iii and got the RX10iv. Still using the same two spare batteries. I have yet to notice any differences between them and the original Sony batteries that came with the camera.

Finally, after around 6 or so years, I noticed the Wasabi batteries were swelling slightly and not slipping out of the battery compartment as easily as they used to. So I dumped them and bought two new ones. Hey, 6 years of use, three cameras and thousands of shots. I certainly got my money's worth out of them. I have no complaints.

For half the price of a Sony battery, I got two spares and an external charger. Such a deal!!!

--
Jerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/av8tor045

 

[Rambow]

My original RX100 battery is still working well. I would buy it again.

Definitely but how many rx100 users keep their cameras this long?

Besides, you can absolutely shorten the lifespan of even the best battery by not properly charging and storing it.

I have to say, the bx1 battery does hold it together for longer than some of Sony's other compact batteries, they must be using some proprietary technology or higher quality materials in making it.

 

[Garyster]

I'll chime in because of a recent issue (and because I use both OEM and YXWIN versions)

I was getting an error (on my Sony A7III) that said the images didn't write to the card fully and had to be recovered.

Tried every solution, but I am quite sure it was the *OEM* battery that was the issue.

I will update this thread if need be, but I haven't had the issue since I stopped using that particular battery (the Sony).

HTH

g

 

[HRPuffnstuff]

I use Wasabi batteries and thought it was me they didn't last as long as the original. I primarily use a dummy battery and either 10,000 mAh or 33,000MaH usb battery pack. The 33,000 is going to need a harness to carry as it barely fits in a pants pocket and it's so heavy I gotta tighten my belt until I'm a size 40 (my waist is a 50 lol)

 

[elliottnewcomb]

Since Noah came down the hill I have used generic batteries and chargers for all my families cameras. Never a problem. Sony, Wasabi, PowerExtra, ... they all work.

Some of mine are weak now (been buying them since 2012, for 4 Sony cameras using this battery. (4 separate camera cases, each with spare batteries, they get mixed up).

MARK THEM. I started marking them with A,B,C .. so I can tell them apart. It's use, not age that counts, spread in 4 bags things get messed up, so dates don't tell me much.

The Sony OEM are all long gone due to weakness.

I just ordered this kit

Pardon Our Interruption...

charger and 4 batteries. $19. incl. tax

NOTE, check the mAh rating, these are 1,600 mAh; Sony's are 1,240 mAh

I also like to buy from someone who has them already in the country: faster shipping, and IF return (I never have) send to seller in USA, not back to Japan or China.

One doesn't last long, which letter? charge, use, lasts long, ok, if out soon, dispose..

 

[Rambow]

The ratings are irelevant for most generic batteries, doubt any of them has a higher capacity than the oem battery.

The people behind the Battery University have actually measured some batteries and concluded very few are true to their rating.

Makes perfect sense, add 400 mah from your pocket to a battery spec and more people will buy them without knowing the difference.

 

[davidedric]

The ratings are irelevant for most generic batteries, doubt any of them has a higher capacity than the oem battery.

The people behind the Battery University have actually measured some batteries and concluded very few are true to their rating.

Makes perfect sense, add 400 mah from your pocket to a battery spec and more people will buy them without knowing the difference.

A little while back I had a conversation with a local camera dealer. He had been in discussion with a third party battery supplier. According to him the conversation went something like:

"What rating are your batteries?"

"What rating would you like?"

"No, what rating are they?"

"You tell me what rating you would like, and that is what will be on the label"

 

[Rodrigo Pasiani]

Sony.

I had a problem with generic, unbranded battery with my RX10. The aperture started changing values constantly. After replacing the generic battery with the original one, it took months until the problem was totally gone.

 

[Stevejac]

I only use oem batteries since I had a problem with a generic battery on an OM-5 several years ago. The battery swelled up and wouldn't come out of the camera without banging the camera body on a hard surface. The camera survived the trauma but I haven't.

I have spent a ton of money on my cameras. Why worry about a few bucks on a spare battery. By the way, the oem battery for my Leica Q2 costs $250 and I don't think there are generics out there.

 

[HRC2016]

I've been using wasabi batteries for my sony rx10 for years without any problems. They might not last as long as Sony batteries, but given the price they're perfectly adequate. I replace them every couple of years.

This is a good method if you don't care about the environment and like carrying more gear than needed.

So you spend $1,000 on a camera and you're going to risk it to save $25?

OEM are more reliable. If a Sony battery ruins a Sony camera, you know who is at fault. If a generic battery ruins your camera, who are you going to turn to?

As this poster said, the off-brand doesn't last as long, and they are replaced every few years. That means you need to buy more batteries to get equal use. That also means you have to carry more gear (including chargers). Didn't you buy a compact camera for a reason?

Battery production and disposal is very bad for the environment. If you care about the planet you need to think twice about your buying and disposal decisions.

I avoid saying never, but in this case I will.

--
Satan loves the shadows - and the highlights.

 

[Rodrigo Pasiani]

I've been using wasabi batteries for my sony rx10 for years without any problems. They might not last as long as Sony batteries, but given the price they're perfectly adequate. I replace them every couple of years.

This is a good method if you don't care about the environment and like carrying more gear than needed.

So you spend $1,000 on a camera and you're going to risk it to save $25?

OEM are more reliable. If a Sony battery ruins a Sony camera, you know who is at fault. If a generic battery ruins your camera, who are you going to turn to?

As this poster said, the off-brand doesn't last as long, and they are replaced every few years. That means you need to buy more batteries to get equal use. That also means you have to carry more gear (including chargers). Didn't you buy a compact camera for a reason?

Battery production and disposal is very bad for the environment. If you care about the planet you need to think twice about your buying and disposal decisions.

I avoid saying never, but in this case I will.

 

[Garyster]

I've been using wasabi batteries for my sony rx10 for years without any problems. They might not last as long as Sony batteries, but given the price they're perfectly adequate. I replace them every couple of years.

This is a good method if you don't care about the environment and like carrying more gear than needed.

So you spend $1,000 on a camera and you're going to risk it to save $25?

OEM are more reliable. If a Sony battery ruins a Sony camera, you know who is at fault. If a generic battery ruins your camera, who are you going to turn to?

As this poster said, the off-brand doesn't last as long, and they are replaced every few years. That means you need to buy more batteries to get equal use. That also means you have to carry more gear (including chargers). Didn't you buy a compact camera for a reason?

Battery production and disposal is very bad for the environment. If you care about the planet you need to think twice about your buying and disposal decisions.

I avoid saying never, but in this case I will.

Someone please give this person a medal. I am not being sarcastic, that's a valid point of view not mentioned before.

Except that my issue *was* with an OEM battery. I normally won't buy totally off-brand batteries, but there are several that have great reputations at a fraction of the price.

I won't buy an OEM *solely* because of the brand name. Many times, the aftermarket brands are made by the same company as the OEM ones.

Bottom line, do your homework. I have been shooting full time pro for almost 2 decades and this Sony battery is the only time I have had issues. I mainly use good aftermarket ones.

HTH

g