Anybody tried generic camcorder batteries?

[revo2001]

Taking a quick look around the net for camcorder batteries one will find many web sites hosting generic off-brands of the same caliber or better as far as volts and mAh's. Even though the price is half of what the brand name offers.

Has anybody tried buying a generic battery?

I'd like to get a backup battery for my panasonic pv-dv53 but $100 for a battery that lasts 2 hours just doesn't seem right.

[seinman]

I only buy generic batteries for all of my camcorders and have never had a problem. Most of the time they're the same parts inside (they buy the cells from the same companies the camcorder manufacturers do), it just doesn't have the brand name printed on it.

[rumplestiltskin]

Bought two of 'em for my Canon ZR50 & ZR60 over the past few years. Have been getting a few years out of 'em (no worse than the Canon "genuines") at less than half price.

[monkeyking]

This week, I just received a $15 (after shipping) battery from ebay to fit my Canon Z80 DV recorder. It would have been $50-60 at the store for a non-Canon equivalent. I just charged it and it seems to work fine.

Some cameras use batteries with onboard circuitry to monitor voltage and charging. So a generic may not always work.

[p_l]

Just don't get Optex. The original Canon batteries that came with my Elura are still going strong after 4½ years, but the Optex ones I got two years ago don't hold their charge anymore for even half as long as the originals do.

[funkguy4]

generics are fine

[lordsmurf]

Sure. Works fine.