Are third-party batteries safe for Nikon D850 cameras?

Question

Okay so I just dropped way too much money on a used D850 from MPB and now I realize it only came with one half-dead battery that barely holds a charge. I have a landscape trip to Glacier National Park in literally four days and I need backups FAST. I'm looking at the official Nikon EN-EL15c but man $75 for a single battery is absolute highway robbery right now especially after what I spent on the glass.

So I was thinking about the Wasabi Power two-pack on Amazon because they include a dual charger and it’s like 30 or 35 bucks total for the whole kit. My logic was that I could get four of those for the price of one Nikon but I’m seeing these horror stories on some old dpreview threads about the batteries swelling or the camera just refusing to turn on after a firmware update. I know the D850 pulls a lot of power especially when you’re doing live view stuff for landscapes or time-lapses. Then there’s the Watson ones from B&H which are like a middle ground at $40 each. They seem more reputable than the random Amazon brands but still significantly cheaper than Nikon brand.

I'm torn between just biting the bullet on one official Nikon and praying it lasts or getting the Wasabi bundle so I actually have enough juice for long exposures at night. I’m really worried about the D850 being picky because I’ve heard Nikon has been aggressive with their firmware lately to block third party chips. If I go with Wasabi am I gonna wake up to a dead camera or a melted battery compartment? The Wasabis claim 2250mAh which sounds better on paper than the OEM ones but does that actually translate to real world shots or is it just marketing fluff? I need to order tonight to get them here by Thursday morning. Does anyone actually use Wasabi or Watson in their 850 for professional work or is it just asking for a disaster? I’m leaning towards the Wasabi bundle just to save cash but the battery cannot communicate error message popping up in the middle of a shoot scares the hell out of me...

MistMarmot · Accepted Answer

Honestly dont overthink it! I took my D850 to the Smokies last year and relied almost entirely on the Wasabi Power EN-EL15c 2-Pack with Dual Charger. They worked like an absolute charm! I was super worried about the firmware thing too because I heard those same horror stories, but they communicated perfectly with the camera and I got nearly the same shot count as the pricey original. Nikon definitely wants you to buy their branded stuff but for landscape work where youre just swapping them out, these third party ones are fantastic! I've got four of those Wasabi Power EN-EL15c 2250mAh Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery units in my gear bag right now and they havent let me down once. Saving that much cash for better filters is just amazing... it makes such a difference when youre on a budget. Just make sure you get the ones specifically marked for the latest 15c version and youll be totally set for Glacier! Its gonna be such an amazing trip!

hsrukffssg · Answer

I definitely agree with being careful about those firmware updates. Its such a headache when Nikon pushes an update that suddenly makes your backup batteries useless right before a big trip. If you are really nervous about the super cheap stuff from Amazon, I would suggest looking into the Watson EN-EL15c Li-Ion Battery from B&H. They are a bit more expensive than Wasabi but they have a way better reputation for safety and they dont usually trigger those annoying cannot communicate errors that ruin a shoot. One thing to watch out for is that the D850 is a total beast when it comes to power consumption. I would be really cautious about relying solely on off-brands for a big trip like Glacier National Park. Sometimes those high capacity labels are just marketing fluff and they die way faster in the cold mountain air. If it were me, I might bite the bullet on at least one Nikon EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Battery just so you have a primary you can trust 100 percent. Then use the Watsons as your secondary set for the long hikes. Also, just a quick heads up... make sure to test whatever you buy the second they arrive Thursday. Put them in, run a long time-lapse at home, and see if they get hot or swell at all. It is way better to find out a battery is a dud in your living room than when you are at Logan Pass waiting for the sun to rise. Just keep the off-brand ones in a pocket close to your body to keep them warm. Good luck!

VerdantVireo · Answer

> I’m seeing these horror stories on some old dpreview threads about the batteries swelling or the camera just refusing to turn on after a firmware update. Just saw this thread and wanted to jump in because the swelling thing is a legit concern. Nothing ruins a trip faster than a battery that gets stuck and you have to pry it out... seen it happen and it is not pretty. The D850 is such a beast but it draws a lot of current, especially when that big sensor is working hard for long periods. Quick question tho, are you planning on doing a lot of 4K video or long exposure timelapses? Also, do you know what the overnight temps are gonna be like? The reason I ask is that the cheaper chips inside some third-party options can be really finicky about voltage drops when it gets cold or when the camera is under heavy load. Thats usually when those communication errors pop up and leave you stranded. I just want to make sure you have something reliable before you head out to Glacier.