Camera Batteries: Original, Compatible, and What Each Camera Market Order Includes
How many batteries your orders include, what 'battery health' means, and when to buy third-party vs original.
A frequent question from Camera Market customers: “How many batteries are included? Are they in good condition? Are they original?” Here’s the complete answer with real data you’ll see on each product page.
How Many Batteries Each Order Includes
By default, one original manufacturer battery for the camera. That battery is the one that came with the body when it arrived at our warehouse — it’s not new.
Original charger included if it came with the lot.
If you want more batteries, you buy them separately (we typically offer “body + 2 batteries + 3 SD” bundles at a combined price cheaper than individual).
What “Battery Health 87%” Means
This is the data you’ll see on many product pages. It means the battery has 87% of its original nominal capacity. A brand-new factory battery has 100% and degrades with use (charge cycles).
We measure it with brand-specific smart chargers:
- Canon LP-E6/LP-E6N/LP-E6NH: in-camera via service menu + smart LC-E6 charger.
- Sony NP-FZ100/NP-FW50: Sony Imaging Edge software + BC-QZ1 charger.
- Fujifilm NP-W126S/NP-W235: smart BC-W235 charger.
- Nikon EN-EL15: in-camera via menu or MH-25a charger.
We publish them on the product page rounded to the nearest 5% (85%, 90%, 95%). If health drops below 70%, we declare it and sell the unit at a discount or with a battery replacement.
Interpretation by Use
| Battery Health | Shots per Charge (Mirrorless) | Shots per Charge (DSLR) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95-100% | 400-500 | 1,500-2,000 | Almost like new |
| 85-95% | 320-450 | 1,200-1,800 | Normal work, no issues |
| 75-85% | 250-380 | 900-1,500 | Need an extra battery for long sessions |
| Less than 75% | Less than 250 | Less than 900 | Replacement advised |
When health drops below 80%, it’s time to consider a replacement, especially if you do event photography where you can’t stop to change batteries.
Original Manufacturer vs Compatible (Third-Party)
Original (Genuine Canon LP-E6NH, Sony NP-FZ100, etc.)
Advantages:
- 100% compatible, reads health correctly, communicates firmware with the camera.
- Better longevity (500-1,000 cycles before noticeable degradation).
- Necessary if you shoot long video (some cameras like Canon R5/R6 reject third-party batteries in long 4K).
Disadvantages:
- Price: €70-120 per single battery.
- Stock availability: sometimes the manufacturer stops making batteries for older models.
Compatible (Patona, Newell, Watson, Wasabi)
Advantages:
- Price: €15-35 per single battery (3-4× cheaper).
- Declared capacity sometimes higher (compatible LP-E6 can be 2,500 mAh vs original 1,865 mAh).
- Available for older models where the manufacturer no longer makes them.
Disadvantages:
- Higher failure rate (~5-8% degrade in less than 6 months).
- May not read health correctly (camera shows “Non-genuine battery, limited performance”).
- On cameras like Canon R5/R6, it can limit 4K video recording.
- Your camera manufacturer’s warranty does NOT cover damage caused by compatible batteries.
Practical Recommendation
| Use Case | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Social / travel / family photography | Compatibles work well, 2-3 Patona/Newell batteries for less than the price of 1 original |
| Weddings / professional events | Only originals — you need absolute reliability |
| Long 4K video on R5/R6/A7S III/X-T4 | Original mandatory, compatibles fail |
| Older camera (5D Mark III, A7 II, X-T2) | Compatibles work perfectly, they’re cheaper and the difference is marginal |
| Backup in bag just in case | Either works |
Compatible Brands We Recommend
After selling cameras for 6 years, we’ve seen consistent results with:
- Patona Platinum (premium compatibles, health reading OK)
- Newell (decent quality/price)
- Wasabi Power (high volume but variable, don’t buy giant multipacks)
Brands we do NOT recommend:
- AmazonBasics non-batteries
- No-name compatibles from AliExpress (high swelling rate)
- Substitutes promising 50% more capacity — they’re advertising falsehoods
Camera Market Battery Policy
- 12-month warranty covers the original battery included in the first year (drop below 70% health = we replace it).
- Compatibles sold by us: 6-month warranty, we replace if it lasts less.
- Compatibles bought elsewhere: we cannot cover or inspect them.
- If your camera arrives with a new original battery (batch A), it’s explicitly stated on the product page.
Read also: how the warranty works → Or what we do to each camera before selling it →