I switched from a Nikon D750 DSLR to a Z 6II mirrorless digital camera again in 2020. One factor turned instantly apparent – I wanted extra back-up batteries. On the time, the then-new Nikon EN-EL15c was so costly I felt like they need to have been gold-plated, they usually had been onerous to pay money for anyway.
Fortunately (or so I assumed) eBay got here to my rescue with an amazing deal on the earlier era of EN-EL15b batteries, that are 100% suitable with the Z 6II and different newer cameras. Higher nonetheless, they had been ‘real’ Nikon batteries, at only a quarter of the standard value. However because the saying goes, ‘if one thing seems to be too good to be true, it most likely is’.
It began so effectively. The batteries arrived all the best way from China in double-quick time. The primary signal that one thing wasn’t fairly proper was that, as a substitute of being shipped in Nikon packaging, they had been enclosed in low cost plastic toy vehicles. Very odd, however I figured the vendor was most likely making an attempt to keep away from increased transport prices for dispatching batteries relatively than plastic toys, or dodging customs responsibility.
The batteries arrived within the strangest packaging I’d ever seen – a set of 4 low cost plastic toy vehicles. (Picture credit score: Matthew Richards)
Even so, I took an extended and cautious take a look at the batteries. Reassuringly, they regarded precisely the identical as earlier real Nikon EN-EL15b batteries that I already had, together with the colour, the Nikon brand, all of the printed textual content and even the holographic Nikon sticker on the again. The proof of the pudding was that they labored flawlessly in my Z 6II and different cameras together with my subsequent Z 7II. No drawback, or so I assumed.
The writing was on the wall, or relatively the display screen, after I put my ‘real’ batteries in Nikon Z 6III and Z f cameras and bought this error message. (Picture credit score: Matthew Richards)
All of it went mistaken after I picked up a overview pattern of the Nikon Z 6III the opposite day. It got here with a flat battery however I used to be so wanting to get began, I put the battery on cost and slipped in considered one of ‘real Nikon’ EN-EL15b batteries. No cube. An error message on the display screen popped up instantly, saying ‘The battery is unable to supply information to the digital camera and can’t be used. For security, select a battery designated to be used on this digital camera’. Dammit! Some mistake I assumed, so I attempted them in a good friend’s Nikon Z f. Similar drawback.
My earlier EN-EL15b batteries labored completely superb, which leaves me with one conclusion. I’ve purchased a set of 4 faux batteries from an eBay provider primarily based in China. Now I look extra carefully, all 4 batteries have precisely the identical serial quantity, and that’s clearly not proper.
Nearer inspection of the batteries revealed that every one 4 of them had an an identical serial quantity, proven right here on the backside left beginning with ‘2020’. (Picture credit score: Matthew Richards)
The phrase ‘false economic system’ springs to thoughts, or maybe ‘rip-off’. I do love a discount, however not this time round. There may be one silver lining. I’m receives a commission to put in writing opinion items like this, so I’ll have the ability to put the cash in direction of a brand new battery and hope I get the actual deal!
