Best Third-Party Camera Batteries to Buy in 2024
Need some spare or replacement camera batteries? Here you'll find the top choices for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and Olympus cameras.
When you buy a new camera, it’ll come with just one battery.
That’s not enough if you want to shoot for a long time, especially if you’re going to be outdoors with nowhere to plug the charger in for a top-up.
Reliable, long-lasting and affordable - a great 3rd party option that are on par with own brand originals.
Most photographers will need at least two batteries to get the most out of their digital cameras.
But first-party batteries (those made by the camera manufacturer) are expensive, so those costs can really start to add up, especially if you’re professional with two or more camera bodies.
This article will walk you through some of the best camera batteries on the market.
I’ve concentrated on 3rd party camera batteries – i.e. made by reputable brands other that are different to the brand of your camera.
By buying third-party rechargeable batteries, you’ll save a lot of money, and as long as you stick to the products below, you’ll barely notice any difference to own-brand camera batteries.
What are the Best Third-Party Camera Batteries in 2024?
| Image | Product | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Powerextra LP-E6NH OUR #1 CHOICE |
| Check Amazon Price → |
 | BM Premium LP-E6NHHIGHLY RECOMMENDED |
| Check Amazon Price → |
 | Watson EN-EL15c |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → |
 | Kseowt EN-EL15 EN EL15a |
| Check Amazon Price → |
 | Neewer NP-FZ100 |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → |
 | Wasabi Power Battery |
| Check Amazon Price → |
 | Watson NP-W126 |
| Check B&H Price → |
 | Watson NP-W235 |
| Check B&H Price → |
 | Shentec 2 Pack Battery |
| Check Amazon Price → |
 | Watson LI-90B |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → |
 | Watson CGA-S005 |
| Check B&H Price → |
 | Synergy D-LI109 |
| Check Amazon Price → |
Best Third-Party Rechargeable Batteries for Canon Digital Cameras
Powerextra LP-E6NH High Capacity Batteries and USB Charger
This product gives you two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, and a charger, for the price of one single equivalent Canon battery.
Based on my testing with a Canon R5, these hold the same amount and duration of charge as the originals.
These rechargeable batteries are made specifically for Canon DSLR and mirrorless camera bodies, so whether you have an EOS 60D or the EOS R5, you’ll be fine.
BM Premium 2 Pack of Lithium Ion Batteries and Dual Battery Charger
Similar to the Powerextra offering above, this is a dual charger that comes with two high quality lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.
They’re compatible with all the Canon DSLR models, the mirrorless R range, and, as they take the same battery, Canon’s range of professional camcorders (for example the XC15).
In testing, I found them to last almost as long as the original battery that came with my R5.
Power2000 LP-E12 Battery Pack
This slim fellow is a 7.2-volt rechargeable battery for Canon’s M range of digital cameras, which are compact mirrorless devices.
According to the reviews, they work just as well as Canon’s own LP-E12 camera batteries, and for a fraction of the price.
Beware though. Not all of the Canon M series use this type of battery.
If you have the M10, M200, or M100, you’ll be fine, but the more upmarket offerings, the M3, M5, and M6ii, take a different sort of rechargeable battery, the LP-E17.
Best Third-Party Batteries for Nikon Digital Cameras
Watson EN-EL15c Battery Pack
This rechargeable battery pack has a maximum capacity of 2250mAh, 7V of output power, and 15.75 watt-hours, the same as the Nikon battery it’s meant to replace.
It’s compatible with their full range of DSLR and mirrorless bodies so that it can be used with anything from the D500 to the Z7ii.
Users seem to be happy with the Watson, with some claiming it’s better than Nikon’s battery. However, most of these folk seem to be writing reviews soon after buying.
Some users who’ve had the battery pack for a while say it doesn’t last that long, so it’s worth considering whether the initial saving will work out long-term.
As I don’t own a Nikon camera, I wasn’t able to test these camera batteries personally, so I recommend you tap the button above and read some recent Amazon reviews.
Artman EN-EL25 EN-EL25A Battery 2-Pack and LCD USB Dual Charger
The Artman battery back comes with two batteries and a charger. The charger has a helpful progress bar, which shows you how far through the charging cycle your batteries are.
This is the choice for Nikon users using the mirrorless Z50, Z30, or Zfc.
Although this is a good budget option, I’d recommend buying a few of them as they may not last nearly as long as original Nikon lithium batteries.
Best Third-Party Batteries for Sony Cameras
Neewer NP-FZ100
Neewer is a pretty reputable brand. They have been around since 2011, making all kinds of photo equipment, from professional lighting equipment to tripods and camera rigs.
You should feel more confident buying third-party batteries from Neewer compared to some other lesser-known companies.
Their NP-FZ100 is meant to replace the Sony battery of the same name. The product is a dual charger – using USB or micro-USB ports – so you can charge two batteries simultaneously.
This is one of the best choices for any Sony shooters using their ZV-E1 vlogging camera, or a full-frame mirrorless like the Sony A7R-V.
Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and Dual USB Charger for Sony NP-FZ100
Wasabi is another well-known camera battery manufacturer that has thousands of posivite reviews.
Like the Neewer product above, it charges rechargeable batteries that are compatible with Sony’s mirrorless, interchangeable-lens, digital cameras.
It prevents overcharging and short circuits (like every other charger in this article) and also works with Sony’s original batteries.
One of my close friends swears that the best camera batteries aren’t necessarily own-brand ones – she uses Wasabi camera batteries for all her cameras.
SR Sunroom NP-FW50 SR 2-Pack
This double pack of lithium-ion batteries is good for smaller Sony cameras.
Use them with the RX10 III or IV, or with the ultra-compact Alpha 6100.
A lot of reviews complain about their quality, though. It doesn’t seem like they hold their charge well, nor does the overall battery life appear to be particularly good – some users claim they don’t even last a year.
I haven’t tried these batteries personally, so can’t comment on their quality – I’d recommend reading some reviews on Amazon, since some users love them.
Best Third-Party Batteries for Fujifilm Cameras
Watson NP-W126 Battery Pack
This Watson battery pack is made for Fuji’s compact, lightweight range of mirrorless digital cameras.
So, photographers using any of the Fuji X system bodies, like the X-A7, or the X-T4, could use these as main or backup camera batteries.
On the plus side, for the price of one Fuji battery, you can get several of these, so save quite a bit of money.
As this price, I wouldn’t expect them to have particularly good longevity after multiple charge/discharge cycles, but some photographers may be ok with this.
Watson NP-W235 Battery Pack
A third-party camera battery designed for use with Fujifilm’s big boys, like the GFX 50S-II, or the GFX 100.
Unlike some other cheap camera batteries, this GFX System battery doesn’t seem to have issues with swelling after prolonged use.
It’s possible it won’t hold as much charge or hold a charge for as long as Fuji’s own battery, but if you’re using these as spare camera batteries, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Best Third-Party Batteries for Olympus Cameras
Shentec 2 Pack Battery Compatible with Olympus BLS-5
Shentec’s offering is a 7.4V, 2000mAh, dual battery pack with a charger. The charger has a handy LCD display to tell you when charging is finished.
Olympus shooters using compact point-and-shoots, like the PEN E-PL2, or bigger cameras like the OM-D EM-10, will be able to use this.
The product is well-reviewed, so there don’t seem to be any issues.
I used to own an Olympus OM-D film camera, but haven’t tried a digital one for some time now, so I was unable to review these personally.
Watson LI-90B Battery Pack
Users generally seem happy with this Watson replacement battery for smaller Olympus cameras such as the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-4.
It’s cheaper than Olympus’ own brand and lasts as long.
Photographers using small Ricoh cameras, too, like the Ricoh GRIII, can also rest assured that this is compatible with their device too.
Best Third-Party Batteries: Other Cameras
Watson CGA-S005 Battery Pack
One of the best-reviewed third-party camera batteries I’ve found.
It seems to do the job for everyone who has invested in one. And it’s compatible with a few different brands of camera – the Leica D-LUX 4, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3, and the Ricoh GR IV.
Synergy D-LI109 Battery Pack
Users of either the Pentax KF or the Pentax K70 will be happy to know that there’s also a third-party battery for their digital camera.
It’s extremely affordable and compatible with Pentax’s original charger, so no worries there.
In terms of user experience, it’s a bit hard to find reviews. The ones I’ve found though, seem satisfied, although they do mention a slightly lower capacity than the original camera batteries.
BM Premium 2 Pack of D-LI109 Batteries and Battery Charger
This set of two camera batteries and a single charger is for the same photographers as the Synergy above.
Shooters using any of Pentax’s K models (like the KP or the K500) can get backup batteries at a lower cost than buying more first-party batteries.
This option seems to be pretty popular. The batteries themselves are reliable, durable, and hold their charge, while the charger itself is quick, has an AC adaptor, and also a 12-volt adaptor for plugging into your car and charging on the go.
Watson DMW-BLC12
The Watson DMW-BLC12 is made for some of the smaller cameras on the market, specifically Leicas, Panasonics and Sigmas.
Photographers using point and shoots or compact digital cameras like, for example, the Leica Q-P, the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000, or the Sigma Quattro dp1, can use this third-party battery.
Generally, it seems to be a good option. However, as with one of the other Watson camera batteries, the NP-W126, there is some mention of bloating, especially amongst Sigma shooters.
BM Premium 2 Pack of DMW-BLC12 Batteries and Dual Bay Charger
This offering is specifically for Panasonic photographers.
If you own a compact mirrorless like the DMC-G85 or a compact point-and-shoot such as the DMC-FZ2500, you’re good to go. Two camera batteries can be charged at the same time – it’d be hard to be disappointed with that.
Users seem happy too. Apparently, these are as good as or possibly slightly better than the originals.
What Are Third-Party Camera Batteries?
Third-party camera batteries are batteries made by brands other than the brand that made your camera.
For example, if you buy a Canon camera, you normally get a Canon battery with it. That’s the brand’s own (or first-party) battery, so a third-party camera battery is anything else.
Third-Party Camera Batteries: Pros and Cons
When you go off-brand to buy camera batteries, there are advantages and disadvantages, benefits and risks, pros and cons.
These are the things you must weigh up before making that choice.
Pros
- Much cheaper than first-party camera batteries
- Can hold as much charge as the brand’s own batteries
- Sometimes last as long as first-party camera batteries
Cons
- Cheaper build and design quality
- Chargers often not as good as the brand’s own versions
- In the very worst case, can damage your camera
Most Dependable Third-Party Camera Battery Brands
Brand 1
For me, BM Premium is the clear winner of the dependability trophy.
Overall they have the most positive reviews. Generally, people seem happy with them regardless of which brand they’re using. And BM Premium cover a lot of brands and types of camera; from Canon to Pentax, and from full-frame DSLR and mirrorless cameras to compact point-and-shoots.
Across the board, their batteries seem to have a similar capacity to the first-party camera batteries they’re meant to replace, hold charge well, and last for a long time.
Brand 2
This is difficult, as all of the other brands tended to have issues or partial issues across their range of offerings.
For example, Watson makes batteries for many brands and sizes of cameras, and although some are decent and have loyal users, others suffer from the battery compartment nightmare of bloating.
Wasabi would have to be my choice for runner-up. Their Power Battery and Dual USB Charger for Sony NP-FZ100 seems like a sturdy, no-nonsense piece of equipment, and it’s well-regarded by people who own it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of batteries are used in cameras?
That depends on the camera.
Some smaller compact cameras or film cameras (eg 35mm) use standard alkaline AA or Nimh batteries. Newer compact point-and-shoots often use slim, rechargeable lithium batteries.
If you’re using a modern DSLR or mirrorless camera, you’ll likely have a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
Is it safe to use third-party batteries in my camera?
If you get a good quality brand, yes. If you buy the cheapest battery on Amazon, you might end up with something defective or camera batteries that could actually damage your camera through swelling (or worse).
But, a reputable brand should be fine. Experts recommend buying camera batteries from a dedicated photo site though, such as B&H Photo.
Weigh up the costs and the risks, and scour user reviews.
How many years do camera batteries last?
Generally speaking, if we’re talking about lithium-ion batteries, they’ll last you on average between three to five years before they begin to deteriorate.
When they’re new, you’ll probably be able to shoot up to 1000 images at full charge. This could decrease to as little as 300 images as the battery nears the end of its life.
As with anything, the better care you take of your batteries, the longer they’ll last.
If possible, don’t expose them to extreme hot or extreme cold, and don’t ever let them fully discharge. That should maximise your battery life.
Do third-party batteries last as long as the batteries that came with my camera?
They can do, as long as you buy a reputable brand and take care of them.
The less you spend on a third-party battery, the more likely you are to have problems such as the battery not holding a charge.
One recommendation I’ve found is to use third-party batteries with your first-party battery charger. You’re more likely to have problems with third-party chargers than with the batteries themselves.
Final Words
I hope this article has been some help in your quest to know whether to buy third-party camera batteries.
There are a lot of good deals out there, and this is (let’s face it) the main driving factor behind photographers considering them – it’s expensive to buy first-party batteries from your camera maker.
I use third-party camera batteries myself, but I always make sure to buy them either from a camera shop that can vouch for their quality or likewise, an online photo-specific website that can do the same, and where I can read the reviews.
Which is, I think, the most important thing when looking for third-party camera batteries. You need to spend a good amount of time sifting through the reviews.
Knowing what other photographers have experienced with the type of battery you need will give you the confidence to buy, and help you avoid the chronically defective ones that will end up, in the long run, costing you more than you save.
Reliable, long-lasting and affordable - a great 3rd party option that are on par with own brand originals.
Jeff Collier is an experienced film photographer who enjoys experimenting with modern digital photography equipment, software and apps. He’s also an ex-world champion triathlete and avid cyclist, clocking hundreds of km each week in the beautiful Tweed Valley of northern NSW, Australia.
