new camera takes NP-BG1 - on ebay these can be picked up for £ 5

2 for £ 11 in UK

Sony brand ones are nearly £ 20 ..... so what's the crack?

Anyone using cheap ones or similar so was it a good/bad experience?

Presumably it's to do with how well balanced the cells are. Small Li-ion cells don't have external balancing connectors so you need them to be balanced to begin with.

Otherwise you'll lose battery life and duration.

Then again, the Sony ones are probably the same with a different label on them!!

I've used non branded camera batteries in Pentax and Casio cameras and they last just as long as as the branded ones.

Stu

They are only 3.7v, so it's a single cell and no balancing issues to worry about.

The biggest risk if the quality of the lithium polymer cell itself; a faulty cell is a definite fire risk. That said I have never had a problem with them, although I never leave them charging if I'm not in the house.

I've bought the cheap camera batteries direct from the far east for my Nikon and Canon cameras. No problems here!

ditto, but as a caution I always charge them externally rather than in the camera
At least if it burns the house down I will be able to photograph it

Regards
Rob

oooh goodo ... I was more concerned about them leaking and damaging the camera. they cannot be charge in sity (<--- i.e. inside the camera).

stangely enough, googloing for the battery shows the same ones on ebay for a fiver being advertised for up to £ 20

Yup , think I paid something round a tenner for 2 batts and external charger and car lead and wall charger
(hence my not wanting to charge in camera, and certainly no need to)
Don't know Hong Kong can produce and sell stuff so cheap
It seems THE place to get batterys from whenever I have got replacements (iPods, camera and phones here all running from HK batterys that caused paranoia for the first few charges because they were soooo cheap)

Regards
Rob