Lenmar NP-E3 Battery Review
ThatCanonGuy
Registered Users Posts: 1,778 Major grins
I've had my Lenmar for a few weeks now, so I thought I'd do a mini-review on it for other 1D/1Ds/mk2 users. Ask me a question about it and I'll add some info to the review :thumb
Background Info
When my Canon battery was beginning to not hold a charge last fall, I knew I needed a new one. But the Canon ones were $100, and the aftermarket batteries don't get the best reviews. I got an aftermarket Impact brand battery from B&H (it's now discontinued, I think), but it didn't hold a charge very well, nor did it stay locked in the camera always. I decided to try the Lenmar.
Charge Capacity
The Lenmar has excellent charge life. I've gotten over 1250 shots on one charge. The Impact I have could not have done that. I'll keep the Impact, though, as it still does okay.
Fit
Some reviews have expressed concern that the battery doesn't lock properly, doesn't stay in, etc. Not true. Whereas the Impact would occasionally come loose (you would have to push the battery back in and hope the buffer wasn't writing to the card; with vertical shooting, gravity helped pull it out even more), the Lenmar locks. And I mean locks. The switch is excellent, and it doesn't go anywhere.
I have to say, the lock and fit of the Lenmar is... better than my genuine Canon:huh Yep. The Lenmar is harder than the Canon to turn and harder to get all the way in. The Canon doesn't feel loose; it pops out easily with a turn of the switch (and that little button). The Lenmar takes a little bit of muscle just to turn the switch, then to push the button. Oh, and the Lenmar won't come out unless you turn the switch AND push the button (like the Canon), but my Impact only requires you to turn the switch.
Good job Lenmar:thumb
Conclusion
Excellent. The charge life is just as good, and the locking mechanism is, IMHO, better. At a one-third the price of the Canon, you can't go wrong.
Background Info
When my Canon battery was beginning to not hold a charge last fall, I knew I needed a new one. But the Canon ones were $100, and the aftermarket batteries don't get the best reviews. I got an aftermarket Impact brand battery from B&H (it's now discontinued, I think), but it didn't hold a charge very well, nor did it stay locked in the camera always. I decided to try the Lenmar.
Charge Capacity
The Lenmar has excellent charge life. I've gotten over 1250 shots on one charge. The Impact I have could not have done that. I'll keep the Impact, though, as it still does okay.
Fit
Some reviews have expressed concern that the battery doesn't lock properly, doesn't stay in, etc. Not true. Whereas the Impact would occasionally come loose (you would have to push the battery back in and hope the buffer wasn't writing to the card; with vertical shooting, gravity helped pull it out even more), the Lenmar locks. And I mean locks. The switch is excellent, and it doesn't go anywhere.
I have to say, the lock and fit of the Lenmar is... better than my genuine Canon:huh Yep. The Lenmar is harder than the Canon to turn and harder to get all the way in. The Canon doesn't feel loose; it pops out easily with a turn of the switch (and that little button). The Lenmar takes a little bit of muscle just to turn the switch, then to push the button. Oh, and the Lenmar won't come out unless you turn the switch AND push the button (like the Canon), but my Impact only requires you to turn the switch.
Good job Lenmar:thumb
Conclusion
Excellent. The charge life is just as good, and the locking mechanism is, IMHO, better. At a one-third the price of the Canon, you can't go wrong.
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Comments
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
I've a few batteries for the 1DsMII and I'm thinking about upgrading.