If you’ve looked at the prices of proprietary batteries sold by the manufacturer of your digital camera, you may get sticker shock. They ain’t cheap!

So, should you buy a non-name brand battery instead?

Non-brand camera batteries

Many digital camera users opt to purchase generic batteries that cost half or less than half the price of brand name batteries. If you decide to get one, do a little homework first.

Battery power ratings

When deciding between off-brand batteries, compare the mAh ratings. mAh, or Milliamp Hour, represents how much power a battery holds. The higher the mAh rating, the more images can be taken per charge. Check the manual to make sure the rating doesn’t& exceed the highest accepted by your digital camera.

Buying generic batteries

If you decide to buy a generic battery, look for one that comes with a warranty. Buying one from a reputable company that backs up a product with a warranty should provide more confidence.

Make sure the warranty covers a decent time period and also covers defects in material, craftsmanship and normal wear.

Brand-name camera batteries

Some photographers believe it’s worth the extra money to buy a battery from the manufacturer. They feel the batteries are more reliable, have a longer life and, perhaps, safer. However, others fine generic batteries work fine as long as they are bought from a reputable company that backs them.