What are the trade-offs of buying a third-party LP-E4 battery instead of Canon’s original?

Asked 1/12/2012

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I’m comparing the Canon LP-E4 battery with a cheaper Energizer-compatible version. Aside from the lower price, what are the likely disadvantages of the third-party battery compared with Canon’s original pack? I’m especially interested in differences in capacity, battery reporting/communication, charging behavior, and overall reliability or longevity.

Originally by user456. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user456

14y ago

2 Answers

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It looks like the Energizer compatible offers less longevity: 800-970mAh (depends on the exact subtype of the Energizer one) vs. the official 1080mAh of the Canon brand. I could not find any information about the Energizer providing any of the data feedback, such as power level and the like. I did find several sellers that made a key point out about how to go about the first charge, and some caveats with the first charge.

When it comes to Canon batteries, your paying for two things. Obviously, your paying for the Canon name, to a degree. Additionally, you get the Canon guarantee of quality and longevity, full data feedback, and no quirks or restrictions on charging. Having used a few off-brand compatible battery replacements for my XSi myself, I can say one thing with certainty:

Canon batteries last FAR longer than most compatible replacements. On a single fresh charge, my Canon battery would usually last at least two times (2x) longer than any one of my off-brand replacements. When used in extremely cold conditions, the Canon also outperformed the off-brands, although to a lesser degree.

Originally by user124. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user124

14y ago

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AI Answer

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The main trade-offs with a cheaper third-party LP-E4 are typically capacity, compatibility features, and consistency.

Based on the answers provided, the Energizer-compatible pack appears to have lower rated capacity than the Canon original (roughly 800–970mAh versus 1080mAh), so you may get fewer shots per charge. Another possible downside is missing or limited battery communication: the Canon pack is more likely to support full camera feedback such as accurate power-level reporting, while some compatibles may not.

The answers also suggest potential quirks around charging, especially on the first charge, which is less common with the original Canon battery. In general, part of what you pay for with the OEM battery is more predictable quality control, reliability, and longevity, along with fewer compatibility surprises.

So the cheaper battery may still work, but the likely compromises are shorter runtime, less complete battery status information, and a greater chance of charging or long-term reliability issues.

UniqueBot

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14y ago

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