after market batteries

[destillat]

Does anyone have any experience with after market batteries?

I have an Olympus camera with 2 OEM batteries that I have used for a few years successfully.
I am going on an extended trip that will put me in a remote location with no opportunity to plug in.
I estimate my 2 batteries will last the duration of my trip (plus I will have a small battery pack to recharge them once each if necessary).
But, I am thinking of taking one more battery just in case.
On ebay, an OEM battery is about $100, while an after market battery is about $10.
I know you get what you pay for, but I am just curious if anyone has any experience with these after market China batteries.
I don't want a cheap-ass battery to explode in my camera and ruin my picture-taking abilities.

I know I have pretty much answered my own question, but I am just curious what success people have had with after market batteries.

 

[Promo]

I can't speak to camera batteries, but I can speak to Chinese laptop batteries. I've bought over 50 in the last few years for family, friends and customers and have made a point of getting feedback.

1) The useful life of the battery is ~75% of an OEM battery. i.e. if a OEM lasts 2 years before it will no longer hold a useable charge, the Chinese will last ~1.5 years.

2) Even though the OEM and knock-off may be rated at the same voltage and capacity, the chinese battery will only supply ~80% power of the OEM battery i.e. if a OEM lasts 6 hours fully charged, the knockoff will last 4.8 hrs.

3) If an OEM battery can still take 80% charge after one year of life, the chinese battery will only take 50-60% of charge.

4) When charging, the batteries can get pretty warm.

Never had a fit and finish problem or any outright failures.

My conclusions are not scientific as I've never tried to formally measure any of this stuff. But every user I've asked had the same comments. Because the Chinese are 60%++ cheaper, everyone feels it's still worth buying them.

 

[Twister]

Does anyone have any experience with after market batteries?

I have an Olympus camera with 2 OEM batteries that I have used for a few years successfully.
I am going on an extended trip that will put me in a remote location with no opportunity to plug in.
I estimate my 2 batteries will last the duration of my trip (plus I will have a small battery pack to recharge them once each if necessary).
But, I am thinking of taking one more battery just in case.
On ebay, an OEM battery is about $100, while an after market battery is about $10.
I know you get what you pay for, but I am just curious if anyone has any experience with these after market China batteries.
I don't want a cheap-ass battery to explode in my camera and ruin my picture-taking abilities.

I know I have pretty much answered my own question, but I am just curious what success people have had with after market batteries.

I bought some Canon ones, they were fake but had no problems with them, they just lasted less than the originals.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

When you are buying generic batteries for your electronics, you are buying a shell that will fit your device. The cells themselves are not bad quality, the aftermarket manufacturer uses cells that will do the job but are not exactly what you have in the original OEM batteries. More important is the age of the aftermarket battery. Within a year to 18 months of manufacture will probably not be a problem. If the battery is in full discharge it will suffer some degradation and you will get less battery life. Buy from a place that sells a lot of new or replacement batteries and have a good turn over.

 

[Jiffypop69]

I recently tried to purchase a replacement battery and charger for my samsung phone through a Chinese supplier. I used PayPal to ensure my info would be safe. However a few 2 months (and after I'd bought a replacement elsewhere) I was finally contacted saying they are having trouble shipping batteries into Canada...sounded like bull, but whatever. Money returned, no problem.
If your buying from China, note that delivery time is very long using economy shipping. If you need it sooner, consider paying a premium for shipping.
I'm still waiting for tennis raquette tape I bout a month ago through eBay, from China.