Extra Batteries

[laura]

I'm sure I've seen this asked somewhere before, but I can't find it. So my apologises for this.

I want to buy a spare battery for my D40X, was wondering if anyone has used compatible batteries instead of manufacturers own?

[daltoned]

Hi Laura, I got a spare battery for my Pentax from SRS in Watford and have used it for over a year now with no problems. The brand is INOV8. Give Chris a call in SRS and I'm sure he will be able to help.

[jerryph]

It is about a 50-50 thing. I have used them on both my D200 and D700. On the D200, they worked very well... they just erroneously reported a full charge all the time until the camera failed due to a totally drained battery. Besides that, they worked great.

For the D700, I bought a $50 battery that does the same job as a EN-EL4a battery and it comes with it's own charger. Works 100% as well as the Nikon batteries plus I do not need to spend 150 for a battery plus 130 for a special charger.

I would say that in general, they work, but you have to be careful when using 3rd party batteries for your cameras. Deal with a place that will let you return them if they do not perform properly.

[laura]

Thanks Eddie and Jerry.
Think I might try them, its only as a back-up.

[coffee]

Thanks Eddie and Jerry.
Think I might try them, its only as a back-up.

You will be surprised how quickly your backup batteries turn into regularly used batteries. The more you get into taking pictures the more battery you use. I bought 2 sets of backup batteries for my gripped 40d. Now all 6 get rotated.

In fact it may be best if you do rotate all of your batteries. Batteries sitting around will self discharge. Would be bad if you need your backups, and they don't have the charge left you need. I've read the rechargables lose 1.5% a day. Some more, some less. Plus if you wear out the batteries you use all the time, and never use the backups, and those you use constantly eventually die, and they will, then you are left using your backups, with no backup left. :)

[laura]

Thanks Joseph, I didn't realise that they self disharge! (i feel a little bit stupid now haha)
I have never been in the situation yet where I have used the full power of the battery in one go, I just keep reading "always take a spare battery", so thought i'd better get one!

[coffee]

Thanks Joseph, I didn't realise that they self disharge! (i feel a little bit stupid now haha)
I have never been in the situation yet where I have used the full power of the battery in one go, I just keep reading "always take a spare battery", so thought i'd better get one!

I haven't either, but mine will go dead after several long uses. It's also best to discharge a rechargable battery as much as possible. From what I've read, using and recharging only a certain portion of a battery will reduce it's life. Fully discharging and fully charging uses the entire battery.

[daltoned]

Just to add what Joseph has said, I too rotate the two batteries I have and use till fully exhausted and pop in the other charged battery.