Off-Brand Camera Batteries?

[MLHSN]

So I just pulled the trigger and bought my first DSLR camera, a Canon SL1.

I'm thinking I'm going to want extra batteries for multiday backpacking trips.  The Canon brand batteries are pretty expensive.  Am I taking a chance buying cheap off-brand batteries?  I don't want to burn out my new camera.

I've noticed a lot of people have an extended battery grip that looks like you can add a couple battery capacity.  Are these worth the extra weight/cost etc.  Does it only double your battery life?

Any other suggestions for a newbie?

[CAMPMEAT]

Those batteries last a long time. I just bought a Canon 70D and I've only charged the battery once when it was 3/4 full after sitting in my truck for 2 weeks. I'd only taken maybe 100 pictures though.

[Bean Counter]

"Luke, you've taken  your first step into a larger world." -Obi Wan Kenobi.

I have an off brand battery and I haven't noticed it lasting any less. I would buy it from Adorama, KEH, Ritz, or Amaon, but NOT B&H. Don't buy from eBay with an unreviewed brand or else you might indeed fry your camera. Read for one with lots of good reviews. My M.O. is to run a battery all the way to 0 before changing. Then swap it out and immediately charge the now dead battery to 100% so its ready. Most batteries are better at not developing 'memory' but I'd rather air on the side of caution and go 100%-0%.

I just got a battery grip by Flashpoint (Adorama's house brand). $80 for my 6D instead of the Canon $200 brand. Sadly I'm having some electrical issues with its use--it randomly shuts off the camera and others have reported this problem. I am going to send back for an exchange or get a refund.

I LOVE how comfortable it is to shoot in portrait mode without having to cock my wrist over the top of the camera. This to me is the reason to have a battery grip. I definitely wouldn't have it on there for a backpacking trip. Just take extra batteries and replace as needed. One other nice thing about a battery grip is that they come with a little tray in which you can stuff AA batteries in case you run out of proprietary batteries. I haven't tried this.

My suggestions for your next few purchases:

• Lens: Canon's 50mm f/1.8 II $60 used to $125 new. Aka the Nifty Fifty Aka the Plastic Fantastic. Buy it now and thank me later.
• Shoot your camera for a few days in full auto and then download a trial copy of Adobe Lightroom 5. Adobe should be releasing 6 soon so that gives you TWO chances at a free 30 day download. Wait until you have a small inventory of photos and you can dedicate yourself to jumping into learning it. I'd happily give up my $5,000 in lenses and body and shoot with your $500 SL1 as long as I have Lightroom if the alternative meant sticking with my gear but having to use iPhoto or PSelements
• March over to Costco and buy Getting Started in Digital Photography. This is for teaching you the basics of lighting, composition, and most importantly, taking the camera out of full auto and learning creative control over the camera. If you have no intention of doing that--you mighta s well shoot with your camera phone. It will run you $10-15. Dollar for dollar there's no better invesment you can make in to your new hobby.

[MLHSN]

Thanks for the tips fellow bean counter.  My brother is going to let me take over his version of Lightroom.  I ordered a copy of David Busch's book on the Canon SL1.  It had pretty good reviews. 

I actually got the camera refurbished off of Canon's website for $360 with a 18-55 lens.  I've been looking at picking up a nifty fifty.  I'd like to take a lot of pictures of the kids and thought that would be the perfect lens. 

I've also been watching for a 28-135mm IS USM lens for a walkabout lens but I'm not sure what to get for a good wildlife lens.  I can't spend an additional $500 right now and the ones under that price are reported to be very "soft and slow".

[Bean Counter]

Keep in mind that the 'sharper' of the zooms will have less than 3x range. For instance: Canon's 70-200mm lenses. If you multiple 70mm x3, you get 210, and 200mm, the upper zoom range, is less than that. These 18-200 and stuff tend to be soft and slow because of their functionality. Stop such lenses down for maximum sharpness.

Same goes for the Plastic Fantastic. If it feels a little soft at f/1.8, stop it down to 2.5-2.8 and youll get a much sharper image. That isn't always needed for portraits--who wants to see all your pimply faced complexion, anyway? 

[MLHSN]

Have you used an extender with a lens before?  I was wondering about getting a 70-200 or a 300 fixed and using the 1.4 extender with it.

[Bean Counter]

I haven't. I believe Bone and a few of the pros on here do though. Just keep in mind that there's no free lunch with those. You lose a stop of light with the 1.4x and 2 stops with the 2.0x if I recall correctly. A stop is a half or double the light depending in which way you're going. Depending upon which aperture you're starting with you might be pretty dim to begin with (f/5.6 with the cheaper lenses )

[MLHSN]

How many batteries do you think I would need for a 4-day backpacking trip if I take a lot of photos?

[Bean Counter]

It depends. If you shoot in live view a lot (I never do--again, use your camera phone for that amerature  stuff) and chimp a lot of your photos you'll use a ton more batteries than if you use your OVF and turn off image review. Image stabilization also sucks a lot of battery down. Cold weather will also drain them down. When is your trip?

Me personally I would probably take my two, both fully charged, and call it good. Most wildlife and landscape shots are best in morning and evening with the warmth of sunlight anyway. I'm guessing you'll be hiking midday anyway.

[Bean Counter]

I think a 300mm lens is close enough for wildlife on a cropped camera. Learn to sneak up on them. Easier than bow hunting

[grandpawrichard]

MLHSN,
you were given Great info by Bean Counter about the batteries and lenses! Buy from a Reputable Seller!

I take a Lot of photos all the time, On my last trip to Lopez Island I was there for 3 days and nights. I took well over 1,000 photos and I never went through my first battery. You are smart to carry at least 1 extra battery and several extra memory cards. I have a battery pack for my Canon 5D Mark II, but I don't like it because of the extra weight and the bulk. It only takes a few seconds to pop out a dead battery and pop in a fresh one, so why pack around a heavy battery pack?

The Canon 300mm prime lens is a Fantastic Lens. (my wife uses one all of the time.) I use a 400 mm lens on my main camera (Canon 7D) and a 70-200 lens on my back up camera (Canon 5D Mark II). Either lens works great with a 1.4X extender or for that matter a 2X extender. In Manual focus I have been known to take shots of the moon with my Canon 1.4X version II and my Canon 2X version II extenders stacked together. But you also have to jump your shutter speed and ISO way up way up to compensate for the aperture limitations caused by the extenders! I have also used that combination on a sturdy tripod for Long Distance Eagle photography.

If you buy a High Quality Lens instead of a beginner's Kit Lens you will be far more happy with your results and it will be cheaper in the long run!

Dick

[CAMPMEAT]

Bean, I should of mentioned the "run your batteries down to zero because of the memory " thing. Didn't even think about that.

[Firedogg]

 The rechargeable batteries that come with cameras now don't need to be run down to zero and doing so will actually cause them to go bad faster. The memory thing rechargeables were known for in the past is not an issue with batteries these days.

  If you are looking for a good affordable wildlife lens (if there is such a thing) look for one of the 100-400 4.5-5.6 IS versions. There are plenty of them going up at good prices since the lens was recently upgraded by Canon. I have one I occasionally use when I don't want to carry the real heavy monster 400mm.

  Unless you are using top quality $$ lenses, limit your tele-converters to the 1.4TC models. With lower quality glass ithe 2TC versions only magnify the lenses lack of quality.

If you are going to use a longer lens don't forget to use a tripod or rest it on a nice solid log or rock to keep it stable.

[Bean Counter]

  The rechargeable batteries that come with cameras now don't need to be run down to zero and doing so will actually cause them to go bad faster. The memory thing rechargeables were known for in the past is not an issue with batteries these days. 

So what's the best way to cycle through batteries? Charge them every night after use?

[Firedogg]

 I usually let mine run down about 3/4 power, whether it's from use or just sitting in the cameras. Since I have a pair of the same camera with matching batteries and spares it's easy to rotate them so I always have fresh ones to put in. The Canon charger will automatically do a refresh on the batteries when they need it, other models have had this as a manual function on the charger
  I've always been one to get factory branded batteries, if I am going to spend the $ on a camera I want quality components to match. The batteries last a long time. I can get through a full weekend of shooting basketball tournaments without having to change batteries.