Anybody using non-Sony batteries?
 

Hi

I need a high capacity battery for my HC1, but is a bit reluctant to pay the steep prices Sony wants for a original battery. It seems that Sony has changed the battery mount, so ony newer sony batteries can be mounted on the camera.

So has anybody succesfully used non Sony batteries on this camera? The GP battery I have for my Sony PC101 will not mount on the HC due to the changed battery mount.

I just bought three generic batteries. The first day they worked fine and I threw out the packaging. After recharging them in a Sony charger however, I get a message to the effect of "USE REAL SONY INFOLITHIUM BATTERIES"!

I have three real (hopefully), but dirt cheap Sony batteries on order that I found on eBay in China. It should take a couple of weeks for them to get here. From reports from other users, these should work fine.

i don't know if this helps but, i bought a 17 hour battery from ebay, for my vx2000. It works great, i wouldn't say it goes up to the full 17 hour claim, it might, but i've never charged it that long to figure out if it does. It hasn't caused any problems, i woudl recommend buying from a reputable battery reseller on ebay. Mine works just fine, 10 hours plus is a guarantee for this battery that i have...

The VX2000 has no trouble with generic batteries. It's the new HDV cameras that do some kind of internal label check.

I have one generic battery for my HC1 (Label "Hama") . Works without problem.

Richard

Seems that the change in the batterymount is a somewhat higher guide pin, that is so high that only newer sony batteries can be mounted. The report that Hama batteries also works is positive, as the Sony battey prices are step.

If you end up getting real Sony batteries, Amazon gives you a pretty good discount when compared to the Sonystyle.com prices. Free shipping and no tax too helps out.

I bought 2 Brand New Sealed Sony NP-QM91D batteries for my Sony HDR-HC1 for $38.99 each. (Retails for $149.99 each.) I got them from eBay seller: carolgift. Check here to get some really good prices on Sony batteries. http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZcarolgiftQQhtZ-1

Hmm

I ended up getting a real Sony Qm91 with a big discount because the box was open.

But the big battery gives a nice ballance to the camera as I'm using a Canon Wd58 wide conveter on it.

Impact brand with Sony HVR-A1U
 

I've not tried one of these yet, but B&H has recently put Impact brand batteries on the Sony HVR-A1U accesories list.

You know you can get genuine SONY batteries from Hong Kong on eBay for really cheap. I got the NP-QM71D for $37.00 about 2 months ago. I know it's still a little more than some generic ones, but you won't have to worry about third-party conflicts. You'll also be able to take advantage of the SQ technology and battery meter.

Hi,

I recently bought the HC1 and in the bundle was included an accessory battery (not original Sony). I ordered it from Pixmania. After receiving the stuff I noticed that the battery does not mechanically fit the cam. Even Pixmania does not know what the are doing...

You are better off using original batteries. However, I have som good experience with Hama products. But expect less performance for less money...

Christian

Yes but I've found out that non-sony charger may not charge Sony batteries.

I ordered 2 "Impact" NP-F970's for my VX (made by Impact). They work fine, were about 40% cheaper than the sony's and charge correctly when using either the on-camera charger or a dedicated Impact charger.

But take a "Sony" battery and put it in that "Impact" charger and it won't charge.

So I guess I'm saying that it's not only the battery you select that's important it's also prudent to make sure the charger is compatible with all your batteries.

Well the cheap generic Chinese "Sony" batteries (bought from two different distributers) gave me the same error message as the generics: "USE SONY INFOLITHIUM BATTERIES". Amazing since the packaging looked perfect, holograms and all!

Cancelled posted in the wrong forum
Mick

Impact Battery Report
 

I just got a new Impact brand battery from B&H (I used the dvinfo sponsor link!) and it is compatible with my HVR-A1U.

Impact BP-QM71 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack (7.2v, 3500mAh) - replacement for Sony NP-QM71 Camcorder Battery

http://tinyurl.com/8b7u5

I hope it works for others, as well.

-David

Impact Battery
 

I ordered two (2) of the impact batteries from B & H for my Hvr-A1u. The camera powered up for about 2 minutes then a message appeared (insert Info-Lithium Battery). I exchanged the batteries for the Sony NP-QM71D, M-Series, Info-Lithium, Battery Pack (7.2v, 2760mAh) with LED DISPLAY. No problem.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=Sony+NP-QM71+

I love the idea of thinking I'm getting a good deal on accessories and I've made the mistake of purchasing Chinese-made Sony camera batteries on eBay from sellers (usually located in Hong Kong). However, after doing this a couple of times, I've decided I've had enough. I'll just go ahead and pay the extra money for a true-blue Sony battery.

Sad but true... many of the non-OEM/after market manufacturers in China have no sense of shame whatsoever when it comes to stealing a company's logo and slapping it on a woefully inferior product copy. Basically, "anything to make a buck" philosophy. This isn't just me doing some "China bashing." I've lived in Asia for several years and know this from first-hand living experience.

Randy

I noticed a brand of generic batteries as Sears, called Lenmar. I looked at their site. They say their NP-QM91D replacement (their's is called a LISQM91) will work with the A1U and the HC1. They also say their QM71 replacement will not work with the A1U or HC1, nor will their NPFM50 replacement.

Have not tried one yet, though.

Thought I'd pass that along.

Impact Battery Report 2: BEWARE
 

All was going well with my Impact brand BP-QM71 batteries until last Saturday night. I was shooting a concert; a multicam shoot with 4 other shooters and my Impact battery died halfway though my tape! This was a major problem because I lost sync with the 4 other cams.

My biggest problem with it was that the A1U said I had 100 minutes of battery left! Then 30 seconds later - no power. Obviously, the battery/camera communications were off. The battery should have lasted a lot longer than it did, too.

I will only use Sony batteries for critical shoots now.

I said it before and I'll say it again.

For $37 you can get a GENUINE SONY QM71D battery from eBay. It's produced in Hong Kong, but it is indeed genuine. I contacted a Sony rep giving him my serial and he confirmed it. It has the hologram and everything. Can't go wrong with it.

Alexander - how do you know which ones on ebay are genuine Sony? There are 2 different reports from 2 users in this thread (Lawrence and Randy) who said they bought what they thought were genuine batteries from a distributor in Asia but were fakes (or just didn't work).

I'm asking because I'm in the market for some batteries for my A1U, but after reading these horror stories I'm defiantely going genuine.

I have actually had good experiences with Lenmar batteries as Jeremiah mentions (on a GL2), but I've heard of similar incompatibility issues with their Sony batteries.

Hmmm, I wouldn't worry. Just make sure that the vendor has pictures and look for a hologram on the packaging. Both the batteries I purchased (from different vendors) have been working like a charm. Also make sure that GENUINE is on the description and you should be fine.

Impact batteries
 

I recently purchased an A1 from B&H along with a B&H recommended Impact brand QM71 battery. It seems to be working fine so far. Because it worked I ordered the Impact QM91 battery and it DID NOT work. I called B&H to get an RMA # and spoke with someone (sorry I don't know who) from the video department and was told that he personally tested 15 non-Sony batteries and some worked and some didn't. His recommendation was to only use Sony Batteries in this camera. He was also suprised that the Impact battery was a recommended accessory.

Give the Hong Kong GENUINE Sony batteries from eBay a try. Have worked perfectly thus far. ;)

I picked up a bunch of Rayovac NP-FM50 knockoffs from a surplus deal really cheap. They've been working fine in my TRV70, and came with palmcorder size camera bags to boot. Not sure what the heck to do with all these little camera bags though.

@ Alexander

I put my faith in you! I ordered a 'Genuine' QM71D from HK from seller 'xin_vancouver' on Ebay. He had very detailed images and the packaging looks legit, and he explicitly states he's sold a bunch of these and they all worked without issue and promises they are not knock-offs. He also offers a 30-day return, although shipping back to HK will be a pain. We shall see!

- Stevan

Hope it works out Stevan.

My only slight concern is tyhat Alex has a very early A1 and the firmware (basiocally software) running on the A1´s seems to have been revised and later models seem to be rather more 'picky' about what battery they use.

But here´s hoping you don´t have any issues with them !

Just wanted to bump and see if there was any more 'news' about the Lenmar batteries and the Z1 (yes, I realize this isn't the Z1 forum, but the discussion was started here) -- it's refusing them outright, correct?
Anyone have any luck with the 'genuine' Sony batteries from eBay (Alexander/Stevan)?

I bought both a Sony and an Assia brand on Ebay for my Z1 and have used both without problem for about 6 months. The charger treats both the same. The Assia cost about 40% of the Sony. It was advertised as a true Sony replacement.

Power 2000 Batteries for FX1
 

I've been running Power 2000 NP-F970 Batteries for my FX1 for a year now with good success. I have only charged using the camera, not a charger. I hear that it can make a differnce where you charge batteries.

As an aside, I've also heard on dvinfo.net that some folks do not charge their batteries on their cameras for fear of zapping their cams. I still charge on the camera, but I am careful to turn the camera off before plugging and unplugging the charge cord.

I've lost the firewire on my FX1, my A1U, and my TRV11, somehow. These things are more sensitive than I thought!

I'd really like to know which eBay dealer sold this particular battery that checked out as genuine with the Sony rep.

I would like to know as well. I'm purchasing a new A1U and a VCL-HG0737X from B&H in a few days and I need some advice on what batteries to get. Obviously cheaper is better because I'm going to need a few of them, but I don't want to deal with some of the problems others have had in this thread :\

edit: I found a few of them on ebay, prices seem OK...

Is there any advantage using something like http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ry_cart_detail to charge the battery vs. the camera?

Hello,

I received a couple emails from folks inquiring about the battery I purchased on eBay (a QM71D from xin_vancouver). I actually left my Portland home on the weekend for some extended travel and it unfortunately didn't arrive before I left. I'll be back in a couple weeks and can advise on how it worked out. In the meantime, I'll probably have to get ripped off at Best Buy or something similar, so ultimately my plan didn't really pan out anyways.

- Stevan

I hope it works. I went ahead and bought one although the $15 caused me to pause. My camera arrives today, battery promised in a few days, so I'll see and report.

Something is wrong with a system of reusables, like print cartridges and batteries, costing so much that you feel like you are being ripped off. I can't believe quality control is the only thing involved here. Like I said, I've used and recharged the Assia battery with my Z1 a bunch of times without problem.

I think there is a clue in a friend's story. He prints a lot of DVDs bought and has several printers of the same brand because he sometimes finds the printer with cartridges the same or less than the cartridges alone. I was with him Saturday when he bought a similar model printer for $69 where the cartridges alone were $64. He didn't have anywhere to put another printer so he is using the cartridges to finish a 60 disc print job and giving the $5 printer with remaining ink to a friend who has big family, needs a printer but can't afford one.

What happened to this thread? Now I'm really curious as to what everyone is using for batteries on the A1U/HC1.

I ordered a what was named and looked 'genuine' QP71D battery from Hong Kong via eBay. It arrived in about 2 weeks and looked totally legit, packaging and all, but will not charge in the A1U (charge light flashes). I got it to charge for just a couple minutes, tried it out and got the 'use sony batteries' message on the viewfinder. The only thing different than a real one at best buy is that mine had a red 'Demo' sticker on the front. The instructions looked a little sketchy, but overall packaging and compared to the battery I got with the camera, it looks near identical.

So what's everyone else using? B&H has the Impact batteries still listed as an accessory but earlier in this thread it's mentioned issues with them as well. I'm probably going to eat it and just buy real Sony batteries from here in the US. One problem with these non-Sony batteries on location and it's just not worth it.

Well, I don't think the red Demo sticker means it's non-genuine Sony. Like you, I bought a "genuine Sony" battery according to the eBay description (but it wasn't from Hong Kong, just a regular seller). It came with realistic looking Sony packing, Sony instructions, and the red demo sticker. It works perfectly on my camera and during charging when attached to the camera. The battery itself I received says Sony on the back.

It came in original blister packaging unopened, and to me, it seems genuine. I can't tell if it isn't. I got it for $25-26 shipped, very cheap.

Also, in the physical Sony Style store at the mall, they sell the NP-QM71D battery, and of course those are genuine Sony, and they all had the red demo sticker.

I bought a few on eBay and they both seem to work fine! I don't get any sort of "Use Sony Batteries" message...

http://cgi1.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAP...tem=7605572714

and

http://cgi1.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAP...tem=7605242312

Look at that vender's current auctions and you should see a few more. One of mine came with a charger that is a little sketchy but it charges both my after-market batteries and my original Sony battery just fine!

New Vitapower 7.2v 7200mAh batteries
 

We specialize in 7.2v batteries for SONY cameras that offer high quality cells, hand picked by our highly trained Japanese engineers, with 7200 mAh! If you could please take a moment to view our product we would greatly appreciate it. Prices may vary depending on the Qty. purchased. MSRP $113.00 Discounts up to 45% off. Thank you.


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Torrance, CA 90501
www.vitapowerbattery.com
tel: 310-408-8945
fax: 310-781-9764

I was able to get a brand new, still in unopened original, genuine Sony packaging NP-QM71D battery off eBay for $25 shipped. Of course, I don't expect to find such a deal again, but just letting you know it's doable. My battery does not cause "use Sony batteries" messages and it charges perfectly well on the camera.