3rd party batteries (EN-EL15c) for Nikon Z8

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ARClark said:
I’ve been using SmallRig brand batteries in my Z8 since I purchased it in February. No problems thus far.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1785881-REG/smallrig_4332_np_el15c_usb_c_rechargeable_camera.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI:6879&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD7yMh1eGtU1_UIU8wfZ-LtlSIDOc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-OGj_a-RhwMV_Ut_AB1J5wJ_EAQYAiABEgIJHvD_BwE

Compatibility​

Including compatibility with the following cameras, but not limited to:
Nikon Z8, Z7 II, Z7, Z6 II, Z6, Z5, D850, D810, D810A, D780, D750, D610, D500, D7500, D7200

NOTE: This battery is not compatible with Nikon Zf.
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Does this SmallRig battery charge in the MH25a charger that comes with the battery? Or do you need to use the USB C cable?
 
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The cheaper batteries often omit the ciruitry needed for proper charging and this can cause serious problems. If I do buy a third party battery it is from a known source such as BH Photo and never from someone selling on eBay or Amazon. BH Photo has a reputation to protect and if a given brand results in a large number of returns the buyer will drop it and find a different supplier. I have seen this numerous times with third party batteries for my Nikon cameras.

There is aslo a risk of fires with the battery overcharging and with the Canon camcorder batteries they could explode and seriously damage the camcorder and anyone using it at the time. When the Nikon brand last me for the life of the camera I see it as an investment and buying two Nikon batteries is not the place to economize.
 
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IMO, the biggest issue with camera batteries is that there is a lack of transparency in the market. The first question I would like to see asked is, "Exactly how many battery manufacturers are making batteries for Nikon cameras, and who are they?" I don't know this for a fact, but I have a suspicion that Nikon doesn't make their own batteries, but have them made to their specifications. If so, who is this manufacturer, or manufacturers, and for how many labels are the same batteries being made? Also, how many of those batteries are being made to the same exact specifications as Nikon's? I prefer using Nikon branded batteries, but I have enjoyed some success with a couple of Enegon En-El15 batteries (in a D7500). I don't use them as much as the OEM versions, but if the originals are depleted, or being charged, these third party batteries have performed well for over two years. (Almost as significantly, I like the Enegon charger more than Nikon's.) Based on anecdotal evidence, I think it is safe to assume that there are good third party batteries being sold, and that there are really crappy ones out there, too. And all this is complicated by the fact that there are a slew of internet links touting reviews of third party batteries. Most of whom I have never heard, and, so, don't know what to believe. So, I mostly stick with Nikon, and live in hope that a forum such as this can eventually reach a consensus as to which third party batteries are worth buying and which should be avoided.
 
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Ad Astra said:
I have one of the SmallRig EN-EL15c batteries, I liked the USB-C charging. Alas I have had to stop using it. I was getting complete Z8 camera lock ups with it. The camera would freeze with the monitor on, turning on and off had no effect. Only way to reset was a battery pull. It has happend 4-5 times now and always with the SmallRig battary. Something is not 100% compatible between the Z8 and the SmallRig EN-EL15c. Never had this issue with Nikon batteries.
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Do you have the blue or the orange SmallRig battery? I ask because I was looking at them and saw that the orange one is an “updated” version that is campatable with the Z6iii, where the blue one is not. I wonder if that “upgrade” did something to mess up the compatibility with the Z8.
 
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eaglenws said:
Do you have the blue or the orange SmallRig battery? I ask because I was looking at them and saw that the orange one is an “updated” version that is campatable with the Z6iii, where the blue one is not. I wonder if that “upgrade” did something to mess up the compatibility with the Z8.
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Traditionally the upgrades have to do with battery charging and monitoring and batteries are backwardly compatible.
 
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If the battery can "handshake" with the camera I imagine it could be used.

As I understand it, Nikon requires communication between the battery and the camera body, which is a higher hurdle than just providing power. i can see 2 reasons for this. First is to gather the small amount of additional profit from selling more batteries. Could be that the margins on batteries are higher than on cameras and lenses.

And second, there may be certain function which require handshaking. Only guessing ..
 
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RichF said:
If the battery can "handshake" with the camera I imagine it could be used.

As I understand it, Nikon requires communication between the battery and the camera body, which is a higher hurdle than just providing power. i can see 2 reasons for this. First is to gather the small amount of additional profit from selling more batteries. Could be that the margins on batteries are higher than on cameras and lenses.

And second, there may be certain function which require handshaking. Only guessing ..
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Given Smallrig and Viltrox are selling them at half the price with a profit I'd say Nikon's making a solid 100%+ profit on batteries. They'd probably sell a lot more if they just priced them at $45 or $10 more each than the good aftermarket ones and people would just buy OEM.

They should also release a version D with the USB C charge port because it's genuinely useful over the OEM batteries.
 
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