How can I compare the capacity of an original Nikon battery and an aftermarket one?

Asked 3/31/2016

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I have a Nikon D5200 and want to compare the real-world capacity of the original Nikon battery against an aftermarket battery. What’s a practical way to drain or test both batteries so I can compare them fairly?

nikon battery testing d5200 aftermarket-batteries

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

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Since you are interested in comparing the capacity of batteries, you can switch 'automatic standby' off in your camera settings and let the camera display some image on the screen for a prolonged time (preferably uniform so that you do not observe a screen burn afterwards). Measuring this time is another task.

Alternatively, you can setup interval shooting with flash turned on (preferably with positive power correction) with some low resolution JPEG and manual focusing selected. The number of photos recorded will give you an idea about battery capacity (the number will be around a hundred or two). The shutter has some limited life though and it is up to you to decide whether you need to waste part of it for the experiment. Nikon D5100's shutter is expected to survive at least 100000 actuations but actual shutter life may be much longer or somewhat shorter.

Originally by user49477. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user49477

10y ago

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Use the same repeatable test for both batteries and compare either runtime or shot count.

Two practical methods from the community:

LCD drain test: Turn auto standby off and leave the camera displaying an image on the rear screen until the battery is exhausted. Measure how long each battery lasts.
Shooting test: Use the camera in a consistent way for both batteries—same settings, same card, same conditions—and compare how many shots you get. You can do this in real shooting, or set up interval shooting with fixed settings. If you want a heavier load, use flash, but note that repeated shutter actuations add wear.

For the fairest comparison, keep variables the same: image size/format, autofocus/manual focus, flash use, live view use, playback, temperature, and card usage. A simple real-world test is often the most meaningful, since it reflects how you actually use the camera.

If you use a shot-count test, remember that using the shutter extensively does consume a small part of its rated life, so don’t overdo it unless you need a controlled benchmark.

How can I compare the capacity of an original Nikon battery and an aftermarket one?

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