Canon 7D Battries - Real or Fake?

**etherial** · 31-01-2010, 12:47pm

Hi, I'm in the market for a spare battery or two for my 7D. I've seen genuine ones around from about $80 and of course there are plenty of copies out there for as little as $10.

I've also found many places that sell fake batteries with their own charger, complete with a warning. Refer here for example! That worries me a bit.

I recall reading somewhere that there is issues with using the copies in the 7D, does anyone know about this?

I'm also considering a battery grip, and wonder if two batteries, one real and one copy will play nice together?

Any advice appreciated.

**Tricky** · 31-01-2010, 1:24pm

Haven't got an answer for you Mic - I tried searching for one myself and came across a few stories of non-OEM batteries causing electrical faults in 5D2s (same battery). In the end went for a genuine battery - I've found battery life to be so good (over 500 photos each) that I've never felt a need for a third. Certainly way better life than my old 40D used to last.

**dulvariprestige** · 31-01-2010, 1:34pm

What i've noticed, is that the genuine battery is 7.2v and 1800mAh, and the copies are 7.4v and 1400mAh.

**etherial** · 31-01-2010, 1:37pm

There are heaps on eBay that are 7.2V 2200mAh for like $15 including a charger. Seems to good to be true so probably is!

**phild** · 31-01-2010, 1:56pm

I buy genuine every time, they're not that expensive and their performance is consistent.

Not sure about clone batteries but on the 5DII the camera tracks battery usage dependant on the serial number of the battery.

**hackcessor** · 31-01-2010, 2:36pm

Doesn't the 7D battery have a smart chip in it?

From memory the chip is proprietary and the aftermarket copies are yet to replicate it.

I will do some more research and update shortly.

**twofruitz** · 31-01-2010, 3:02pm

It really depends. The 5dmkII and 7d have battery info which wouldn't be calculated when using a generic battery. I used to find great results when using generic in the 40d, however have chosen genuine in my 5d as its too expensive to bother with cheap batteries.

**ausguitarman** · 31-01-2010, 8:54pm

After some reading I opted for the original when I upgraded to the 5DMII.

**Speedway** · 31-01-2010, 9:24pm

I did a bit of research on the batteries and it seems that the genuine charger and batteries have a chip in them and will destroy the generic batteries, this is why they sell battery and charger together, the warning on one site suggested if you have the original battery and a generic one that you put the genuine charger away and charge both with the generic charger as this causes no problems, this was noted on a number of sites.
I purchased a battery and charger from here it is a 2000mAh battery and the charger can be used in a 240v socket or a cigarette lighter.
Re the 7.4v this is wrong as 6 1.2v cells = 7.2v.
I am looking at a generic battery grip with batteries the same brand as I have had on my 400D for over 2 years and these come with charger too.
Keith.

**etherial** · 31-01-2010, 9:34pm

Originally Posted by Speedway

I purchased a battery and charger from here it is a 2000mAh battery and the charger can be used in a 240v socket or a cigarette lighter.

Keith.

Hi Keith, that is the same one I was looking at. Have you had it long, what's your experience with it? I guess for $20 you haven't lost much if it doesn't work, but my real concern is if it does any damage to the camera etc. A car charger would also be really handy!

**wideangle** · 01-02-2010, 10:29am

I tend to come to the thinking that if you are willing to spend quite an amount on a camera, then $80 for genuine batteries is a small price to pay for piece of mind.

**Andrew** · 01-02-2010, 10:35am

Originally Posted by wideangle

I tend to come to the thinking that if you are willing to spend quite an amount on a camera, then $80 for genuine batteries is a small price to pay for piece of mind.

That was my thinking too. When I bought my 7D and grip from Fabian I was spending over two grand so why risk damage to save about sixty bucks.

**businup** · 02-02-2010, 3:50pm

I think if we choose the battery with correct voltage, the genuine battery and the cone battery doesn't have great different on the impact of camera.

**Clubmanmc** · 02-02-2010, 6:57pm

i bought some cheap batteries for my 20D ages ago.. they were intermittant with their life and never worked well, so since i have used genuine.... and never looked back

whay save $60 to ruin a 2500 or 4000 camera body ??

sounds like great mathematics to me

M

**Speedway** · 02-02-2010, 11:55pm

I have 4 batteries for my 400D 1 genuine, 1 inca and 2 that came with the battery grip and after nearly 25000 shots all 4 are still performing well. As for the 7D battery only time will tell, the only problem I can see is that with the generic you lose the battery info function. As for the cost savings $60 each battery plus about $120 on the grip and $100 for a car charger = $400.00 This makes a huge difference when you survive on a pension. It has taken me years to build my kit and every cent saved counts.
Keith.

**Speedway** · 26-03-2010, 1:02pm

Just an update to this thread. I have now had my 7D for nearly 2 months and using both the (1) genuine and (2) generic batteries I have found no difference in performance, the generic charger charges the genuine battery in the same time as the genuine charger and has the added advantage of the 12v cigarette lighter adapter included, now I have put the genuine charger away and keep one of the generic chargers at home and the other in the car,although with three batteries I have not had to use the car one yet even though the 150-500Sigma tends to use a lot of power as does the 18-250, possibly the OS and HSM. At under $40.00 for 2 batteries and 2 chargers (less than 1/2 the price of 1 genuine battery) this is a good way to go. The lack of battery info has not been a problem for me as the first time i notice it is when the camera shuts down anyway.

**dulvariprestige** · 26-03-2010, 2:57pm

I've had my grip and generic batteries for about two weeks and have stopped using the generic batteries and are now only there for emergencies.
Apart from loss of battery info, I noticed that the fps didn't seem as quick, but it wasn't until I was next to someone shooting their 40d that I was sure, the 40d sounded a lot faster than my 7d, so I pulled them out and put the genuine battery back in, and wouldn't you know, it was sounding like it should've.
So for me, i'll only buy genuine from now on.

**Speedway** · 26-03-2010, 4:45pm

No such problems with mine, FPS is fine as is everything else. As there is nothing in a battery to cause this:-
1. were the batteries fully charged. It is recommended to leave the batteries in the charger for at least 1 hour after the charge indicator goes out, (both genuine and generic). Also it can take a few cycles before batteries reach full capacity.
2. How many shots had you taken in the burst and is your card fast enough.
Keith.

**dulvariprestige** · 26-03-2010, 5:43pm

Batteries were charged overnight, and i know the card's not the problem as it's fine when using the original battery.
Maybe the problem is that the generic batteries are 7.4v and 1400mAh which i thought i'd checked before i bought them, apparently i didn't, the canon are 7.2v and 1800mAh, could 400mAh less make a difference.

Keith did you end up going with the ones that you linked to.

**Speedway** · 26-03-2010, 6:25pm

Yes I did and both my generics are 2200mAh. I don't think the 0.2 volts would make any difference. The 400mAh would only effect the charge life. Where did you get your grip from?
Keith.

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