Batteries - Branded or Not?

[Sly Fly]

Yet another newbie question I'm afraid - but I'm confused and don't want to make an error.

If I have a JVC camcorder do I have to get a JVC battery? The one supplied lasts 100mins or so, but I want to get the next size up which lasts circa 3 and a half hours.

Thing is... JVC are selling it for £80. Ouch.

There are many websites out there which advertise replacement batteries that aren't JVC-made - can I trust them?

Thing is... I phoned one of them up and they said for my particular camcorder, if it is a new one, then the battery they supply may not work as the chip gets updated regularly by JVC to stop this very thing.

Also, I'm confused about the mAh rating. The small one I have is around 1400. Now, I was told that the next one up should be around 3300 - to last just over twice as long, but I believe the JVC battery I want (BN-VF 714U) is also 1400. And so are most of the replacement batts. So what's the story there. WHY IS THIS SO CONFUSING!

So.

Comments? Is there a website that the AVForumers always go to that can be trusted? Or a decent JVC-battery selling place?


Thanks again to Senu and anyone else who could help!

[redsox_mark]

I'm not familiar with specifics of the JVC battery range, but in general:

- All the manufactuers will say you must use a genuine battery, otherwise it is your own risk if they blow up etc...

- But due to the cost difference many people use generic ones, generally without problem.

- Manufactuers have been adding more and more logic to the camcorders and batteries to check if the battery is genuine. The generic batteries fight back by changing their models to appear genuine. (My experience is with Sony doing this, but it sounds like JVC is doing the same).

So you have to choose:

1. Use a genuine battery (the safe, but expensive option), or
2. Try your luck with a generic. Best to get a recommendation, ideally someone who has used that specific generic with your camcorder model. Make sure they will accept returns if it doesn't work.

As for the MA rating - Generally there will be a range of different official batteries with different MA ratings - so e.g. JVC may have a 1400 and a 3100 model. The generic ones will generally have the same or similar rating to the model they are cloning. The higher amp models are generally physically bigger.

[senu]

Marks post is quite accurate, However, Most camcorder manufacturers don't make the batteries but outsource them .many are now developing electronics ( which they obviously give thier outsourced manufacturers )

In Sonys case , The infolitium technology is theirs and they do make batteries it seems
( The Dell ( and Sony ) laptop battery fiasco is fresh in our minds so the issue of third party batteries causing a fire should make then ... say hide in shame ).

In essence, use original if you can afford them. if you want to try generic, dont pay top dollar in case they are defeated by the camcorder manufacturers electronics.Some work and work very well. I used Hanmel a lot when I had " Panasonic camcorders and an older JVC still uses generics

Im not sure what happens with Canon but I own 2 digital SLRs which I use 1/3rd price but equally performing third party batteries with ( £9.99 to £39.99)

[Sly Fly]

Gah.

Well... I think it's made all the more difficult that my camcorder is fairly new, I think - GR-D390EK, so not sure if a replacement battery will be compatible.

I'm worried about using a replacement so I think I'm going to have to hunt down an original JVC one for as cheap as possible. But I *might* try the odd website to see what they say.

More expense!