10Jul Decoded LP-E8 generic batteries first impressions.
Those generic decoded Canon LP-E8 batteries showed up yesterday along with the two spare battery chargers. From the little testings I was able to do today, they seem to work just about as good as the Canon brand batteries. I was however disappointed that none of the batteries included covers.
I normally use the covers to keep track of which batteries are charged and which aren’t while filming. It can be a real pain if you have a bag full of batteries and you don’t know which ones are charged. Plus it wastes time filming when you grab a battery with very little charge, pop it in, shoot a couple of scenes, then see your battery warning starts flashing.
Until I get some battery covers ordered, the easiest way to go is to simply rap a rubber band around the battery after I pull it off the charger. Maybe I can print some type of battery cover out on the makerbot. Other then the missing covers I think these should work out well.
July 10th, 2011 at 11:19 pm
I was just wondering if it lasted well? and the build quality?
Also do i really need to order the battery charger?
Sorry one more thing. Do you have the link to the battery you bought it from?
July 11th, 2011 at 6:12 am
I’ve only had time to test them for 2 charging cycles, so far they seem to last about as long as my Canon brand batteries. The build quality feels about the same and you don’t need to buy the extra chargers. These batteries are decoded and seem to charge just fine in the canon battery charger that came with my t2i. I bought the extra chargers because I know have 10 batteries.
I bought mine for on ebay, here is the link.
This guy sells the batteries for a little more, but they look almost identical to the “real” canon batteries. I haven’t had a chance to try them out but they do come with a battery cover.
July 11th, 2011 at 9:25 am
That’s really great to hear! They’re so cheap compared to the OEM Canon Batteries. I see. If they’re decoded I can just charge them with my own Canon Charger. Is there anyway to know if or if not the batteries i purchased was decoded?
and thank you for the link! I appreciate it a lot! I’m gonna need these batteries for filming.
(This is out of the topic, but have you ever got your hands on a 10-20mm Sigma Lens? I’d really like to know how they are using it with the T2i/T3i)
August 14th, 2011 at 7:39 am
Has anyone tried the ones from ebay that look like OEM Canons? They are too cheap to be genuine but i was wondering if they are any good?
July 11th, 2011 at 11:31 am
I’ve purchased similar batteries from Ebay. I haven’t had any issues out them.
July 12th, 2011 at 9:34 am
Would there be anyway to create an adapter from one of the charging boxes and use these batteries to run something like the ‘cheap mini monitor’?
July 12th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Yes. The small monitor runs on between 9 and 16 volts, If you wire 2 of them in series you’ll have about 14 volts. The really cheap chargers have a slide of cover with 2 metal prongs that adapt the charger to the battery. If you pick up 2 of those you can just slide the top off and do a little bit of soldering. Then find a clean way to mount it and your set. The Smallhd monitor does the same thing with canon lp-e6 batteries.
July 27th, 2011 at 8:35 am
What advantages do the decoded batteries have over the cheaper generic ebay ones?
The generic ones are around $4.82/ea where as the link you posted for the decoded ones, they’re approx $7.88/ea (when bought in twos)
Is there a way to tell if the generic ones are decoded or is it a case of test & guess?
Cheers
July 27th, 2011 at 9:48 am
The decoded batteries give you proper battery indication on your camera. The generic batteries that aren’t decoded don’t give you proper battery indication and some people say they get a warning on the camera screen every time they boot up with generic undecoded batteries. The main problem I’ve run into with the undecoded batteries is that the camera will just shut down with no warning. The decoded batteries will give you a warning and screen indication when your battery starts to get low.
The decoded batteries generally point it out in the sales description since it’s kind of a good selling point.
July 29th, 2011 at 12:43 am
Cheers. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find any decoded batteries that can be shipped to Australia, what a pain!