Canon is a leader in cameras, but it has competition.
If you use Canon cameras, you can use batteries that are Canon-compatible even though they are not made directly by Canon. Generic (or third-party) batteries involve minor differences in operation. The most important thing is to buy the exact size and capacity that matches your camera's requirements.
History
Canon Camera Co., Inc. has existed since 1947 and has a reputation for innovation and quality. In addition to cameras, Canon also developed business machines including calculators, copy machines and printers. Canon's main rivals among professionals are Nikon and Hasselblad. On its website, Canon lists all the instances in which it was first to release a new product or design, and claims it pursues technological innovations to stay on the cutting edge. Many companies are in pursuit of a better battery--one that will last longer, hold a charge better, be safer or less expensive.
Camera Batteries
Many consumer level cameras use alkaline batteries or their rechargeable equivalents, nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), which come in the familiar standard sizes such as AA or AAA. Higher-end consumer and professional models use lithium ion batteries,which have been on the market since 1991 and are still being improved. Lithium ion batteries, which are rechargeable, do not come in the standard sizes and therefore require their own charger. Their self-discharge is much lower than NiCd batteries,which means they will hold their charge longer when not in use. You can begin recharging them at any time, regardless of whether they have been used for a short or long amount of time.
Using Generics: Considerations
As with any name-brand product, the primary reason to buy third-party accessories is to save money in the short term: generics cost less. Customer reviews on purchasing sites or feedback on photography forums reveal specific limitations on generics. For example, the generic battery has a shorter overall life, and it will not work in a Canon charger.
Name Brand: Considerations
When you invest in the name-brand battery, you are paying for dependability and durability, not to mention accountability. Generic batteries often come with warranties of their own. If you have a new Canon camera under warranty and use a third-party battery that somehow causes a malfunction, this could void the warranty on the camera itself.
Using Generic: Details
When you install a generic battery into your Canon camera, the camera may display a message saying that the camera cannot communicate with the battery. Select the option to proceed anyhow. This simply means that the camera will not alert you when the battery charge is low and will turn off abruptly if the battery runs out completely. However, if you adopt the habit of charging the battery every time you finish a photo shoot, and keep a back-up battery on hand at all times, this lack of communication between battery and camera should not lead to a professional catastrophe.
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