Do you want the official answer, or the practical answer?.

With a $500 body, plus all the $$ your spending on your trip, why would you want a cheap battery?.

OTOH, I have used ebatts.com to get batteries licensed by Energizer for my old (out of warranty) D70I would NOT use the cheap $5 batteries that can be found on sites like ebay..

There are anecdotal stories about how they do NOT use safety circuits, etc. and there are pictures of exploded batteries.YMMVWarm regards,DOF..

Is it really worth putting your camera in jeopardy, or more should there be a fire, for the relatively small amount of money you'd save. As Dad-of-Four pointed out, if you're careful with what you buy you'll be OK. If not, well, you pay your money and take your chances.For me it's just not worth the $15 or $20 savings.Jerryhttp://www.jbellphotography.com..

I got a bunch of generic batteries from a couple differen sources back when I got my G1 and later my D30 Canon DSLR four or five years ago along with a couple genuine Canon spares. I still have most of them because I've used them all along in the G1, which I never sold and still use them in the D60 and now the 5D. I let several of the generic ones go with a 10D and a Rebel D, but still have maybe three or four of them. They are no longer any good. Put them in the charger and the light turns green in a minute or two but they discharge in ten shots. The original genuine Canon ones take and keep a charge just like the new ones.

But those original third party BP511's are trash can items..

My suggestion is to use them short term but don't be surprised if in a year they aren't any good any more.Dave Lewis..

Dave Lewis wrote:.

I got a bunch of generic batteries from a couple differen sourcesback when I got my G1 and later my D30 Canon DSLR four or fiveyears ago along with a couple genuine Canon spares. I still havemost of them because I've used them all along in the G1, which Inever sold and still use them in the D60 and now the 5D. I letseveral of the generic ones go with a 10D and a Rebel D, but stillhave maybe three or four of them. They are no longer any good. Putthem in the charger and the light turns green in a minute or twobut they discharge in ten shots. The original genuine Canon onestake and keep a charge just like the new ones.

But those original thirdparty BP511's are trash can items..

My suggestion is to use them short term but don't be surprised ifin a year they aren't any good any more.Dave Lewis.

Why should I pay $100 bucks for a battery, when I can pay $50?.

The fear of the damn thing exploding? Actually that's a reasonable fear... .

So I went to B&H (or any reliable source) and picked up a good battery at half the cost..

So there!!!!!.

Dave..

I bought off Ebay from what seemed a relable source and have had no problems..

Going for the really cheap ones which purport to be Nikons is asking for trouble but I looked for someone with a long trading history and a candid description that told me I was buying a good generic..

Nikon do not make batteries themselves so they have to buy them in from someone.Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.zenfolio.com/..

I've purchased a couple dozen different models over the years, never had a problem with any of them other than their just not lasting very long whether they were used or not. All the ones I've purchased have been from ebay sellers, are probably Chinese copies and perform well when new. Just got one yesterday for my Rebel XTi. It works fine, cost $1.99 plus $5.00 shipping, directly from China.Dave Lewis..

Last year I had the same question... so I did some reading..

I had found (but can't find again) a link where someone actully tested and opened up brand and Ebay level batteries..

The workmanship in the case was very inconsitent for the lowercost. The protection circuits were often very poor and misplaced to detect overheating....

After reading that I stick with brand or good 3rd party brands like Energizer. A low end brand if it fails might take the camera with it..

Ken - KM 5Dhttp://www.cascadephotoworks.com..

Tom Carrick wrote:.

Considering a new battery for my D40 since I'm planning on goingsomewhere without power points for a few days. Are the generic onesas good as branded, or should I stick with a real Nikon battery?.

The answer is in the middle..

Nikon at other brands charge high prices for their branded batteries. You are paying for the name on the battery..

Mid-range brands are very likely to be just as good. Often the companies that make them also sell to nikon etc so they can re-brand and re-sell them. I know lots of people who use them and don't know anyone who has had a battery explode or other such nonsense..

Buy dirt cheap at your risk. Below a certain price and corners will have been cut...

A guy who bought a cheap no brand battery for his D1x, and while it didn't "explode," it did melt, taking his Nikon charger with it..

Seems the cutoff switch was either not present or defective. So this is not an "Urban Myth.".

Dave.

AdrianGB wrote:.

Tom Carrick wrote:.

Considering a new battery for my D40 since I'm planning on goingsomewhere without power points for a few days. Are the generic onesas good as branded, or should I stick with a real Nikon battery?.

The answer is in the middle..

Nikon at other brands charge high prices for their brandedbatteries. You are paying for the name on the battery..

Mid-range brands are very likely to be just as good. Often thecompanies that make them also sell to nikon etc so they canre-brand and re-sell them. I know lots of people who use them anddon't know anyone who has had a battery explode or other suchnonsense..

Buy dirt cheap at your risk. Below a certain price and corners willhave been cut...