CR123a batteries

[CMoore]

Are all the brands fairly equal, or have there been some that are consistently better.?
Thank You

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Look out for cheezy and or forged batteries on ebay.

Otherwise any of the big names - Energizer, Duracell, Panasonic - will be fine. Sometimes Duracells and Energizers will spring a leak but either company will replace your camera (actually send you a check) if it is damaged. I have never seen a Panasonic battery leak (oh dear, I shouldn't have said that, now one will spring a leak).

 

[Sal Santamaura]

When using primary lithium CR123As, I never tried any other than Panasonic or Energizer. They were equally fine.

Now, I've been instead using these

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod..._CR123A_Rechargeable_Lithium_Ion_Battery.html​

kept charged with this

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/908622-REG/watson_adc_3vcr123a_charger_for_cr123a_3v.html​

In an F6, a fully charged pair has no trouble powering through four 36-exposure rolls. Cameras without motor drives would probably go much longer. Compared to the cost of throwing away primary cells, I'm very pleased with these, and benefit the planet by keeping spent batteries out of landfills.

 

[removed account4]

there's a company called "surefire" they sell these batteries by the small box and bigger box, they have a 10 year shelf life and are very affordable. you can buy them directly from them.

 

[madNbad]

there's a company called "sure fire" they sell these batteries by the small box and bigger box, they have a 10 year shelf life and are very affordable. you can buy them directly from them.

Surefire has been making tactical flashlights and other gear for military and law enforcement use for about twenty-five years. The box of 12 CR-123 is a good deal and they have a better life than many of the other manufactures.

 

[Moose22]

In an F6, a fully charged pair has no trouble powering through four 36-exposure rolls. Cameras without motor drives would probably go much longer. Compared to the cost of throwing away primary cells, I'm very pleased with these, and benefit the planet by keeping spent batteries out of landfills.

Depending on how you shoot that might be good, but 4 rolls isn't... anything. I've done at least a dozen rolls on my F6 with the current batteries, and it still shows full, so I checked -- those rechargeable are 400mAh, which is mighty low. Typically, good brand names are around 1500mAh.

So, if you go for this solution, be sure to have a handful of charged spares if you intend to shoot a lot. Probably work for me as I shoot a roll at a time, but fair warning.

 

[Don_ih]

When using primary lithium CR123As, I never tried any other than Panasonic or Energizer. They were equally fine.

Now, I've been instead using these

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod..._CR123A_Rechargeable_Lithium_Ion_Battery.html​

kept charged with this

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/908622-REG/watson_adc_3vcr123a_charger_for_cr123a_3v.html​

In an F6, a fully charged pair has no trouble powering through four 36-exposure rolls. Cameras without motor drives would probably go much longer. Compared to the cost of throwing away primary cells, I'm very pleased with these, and benefit the planet by keeping spent batteries out of landfills.

I had two of that brand of those batteries - the smaller size ones, actually (CR2). I bought them maybe 4 years ago. I misplaced them a couple of years ago. I found them in a Canon SLR a few weeks ago - they had leaked badly. Almost impossible to get out, too. I've never seen a non-rechargeable lithium battery leak and I've never seen a rechargeable AA battery leak - so those Watson batteries are very special.
Lesson being: don't forget where they are.

 

[removed account4]

Surefire has been making tactical flashlights and other gear for military and law enforcement use for about twenty-five years. The box of 12 CR-123 is a good deal and they have a better life than many of the other manufactures.

yup their website if full of police and military gear, but I didn't want to scare people away from it by making them think that I was a weapon-nut, I just went there for the batteries. LOL.

 

[AgX]

I'm very pleased with these, and benefit the planet by keeping spent batteries out of landfills.

In parts of the world not putting used batteries into the recycling chain is illegal and even landfills for common waste just do not exist any more. Within the EU the share of used household batteries going into recycling is at about 50% and the aim values for effective shares have been cranked up recently.

 

[Anon Ymous]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that "surefire" is a funny name for a battery and doesn't instil much confidence?

 

[BrianShaw]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that "surefire" is a funny name for a battery and doesn't instil much confidence?

I have a SureFire tactical flashlight. Per spec, the battery life is 1.5 hours. “Surely”, It often does not “fire”. But when it does it puts out a lot of light for such a small tool..

 

[Sal Santamaura]

When using primary lithium CR123As, I never tried any other than Panasonic or Energizer. They were equally fine.

Now, I've been instead using these

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod..._CR123A_Rechargeable_Lithium_Ion_Battery.html​

kept charged with this

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/908622-REG/watson_adc_3vcr123a_charger_for_cr123a_3v.html​

In an F6, a fully charged pair has no trouble powering through four 36-exposure rolls. Cameras without motor drives would probably go much longer. Compared to the cost of throwing away primary cells, I'm very pleased with these, and benefit the planet by keeping spent batteries out of landfills.

Depending on how you shoot that might be good, but 4 rolls isn't... anything. I've done at least a dozen rolls on my F6 with the current batteries, and it still shows full, so I checked -- those rechargeable are 400mAh, which is mighty low. Typically, good brand names are around 1500mAh.

So, if you go for this solution, be sure to have a handful of charged spares if you intend to shoot a lot. Probably work for me as I shoot a roll at a time, but fair warning.

Anticipating arrival of the F6 almost ten months ago, I read many Henning Serger posts here in which he wrote about using an external battery grip with AA Eneloops. I decided that, given my shooting volume (not high), the Watson batteries would be a better, more compact, lighter-weight approach for me. I was fully aware of the mAh ratings. Given that battery capacity specification multiple, four rolls vs. a dozen rolls seems pretty good. Besides, as I wrote in this post

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/nikon-f-series-advancements.186027/page-2#post-2454686​

I've always got a pocketful of charged batteries with me just in case.

I had two of that brand of those batteries - the smaller size ones, actually (CR2). I bought them maybe 4 years ago. I misplaced them a couple of years ago. I found them in a Canon SLR a few weeks ago - they had leaked badly. Almost impossible to get out, too. I've never seen a non-rechargeable lithium battery leak and I've never seen a rechargeable AA battery leak - so those Watson batteries are very special.
Lesson being: don't forget where they are.

The F6 I use Watcon CR123As in requires batteries be installed to keep the internal backup clock battery charged. In nearly ten months, I've not seen any indication of leakage or other deterioration. The longest interval between uses during that period might have been a couple of months. Other than silver oxide cells like a PX28 in something such as a Pentax digital spotmeter that draws zero current when not in use, I wouldn't recommend anyone leave batteries installed unattended in any device for extended periods.

Chip hasn't said what camera or other photographic equipment has motivated his inquiry about CR123A batteries. Depending on that, a primary lithium cell might go virtually forever, or be a significant consumer of his cash, or anything in between those extremes. My previous CR123A primary cell experience was many years ago in a Yashica T4 Super. It's still here in storage. Perhaps I'll take it out and try one of my Watson CR123As in it.

 

[Anon Ymous]

I have a SureFire tactical flashlight. Per spec, the battery life is 1.5 hours. “Surely”, It often does not “fire”. But when it does it puts out a lot of light for such a small tool..

Somehow, I made the connection between (rechargeable) lithium batteries, which can fail spectacularly and catch fire, and the "Surefire" name... Takes a new meaning, doesn't it?

 

[Don_ih]

Yashica T4 Super. It's still here in storage.

I'd sell that, if I were you. People pay a lot for that camera and it's something that can die any second.(Unless, of course, you actually paid a lot for it recently.)

I tend not to leave batteries in cameras, since I have somewhat less than a billion cameras and only about 5 batteries. This was an instance of putting the camera away without checking for batteries. Still, I was very surprised to see rechargeable batteries that leaked. I have rechargeable AA batteries that are almost 20 years old that don't leak (and still miraculously hold a charge).

 

[removed account4]

I have a SureFire tactical flashlight. Per spec, the battery life is 1.5 hours. “Surely”, It often does not “fire”. But when it does it puts out a lot of light for such a small tool..

I don't really use a flash that uses these batteries anymore but they go into my fire alarms well and last a looong time .. my local pharma charges like $14/2pack. in a box is a fraction of that.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

The F6 I use Watcon CR123As in requires batteries be installed to keep the internal backup clock battery charged. In nearly ten months, I've not seen any indication of leakage or other deterioration.

I use an F100 with the vertical grip - which works well with the eneloop batteries. The rechargeable CR123As for the F6 don't seem to be available on the UK market from what I can see.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

my local pharma charges like $14/2pack. in a box is a fraction of that.

So it isn't just UK shops that massively overcharge for batteries compared to ordering online.

 

[Helios 1984]

In parts of the world not putting used batteries into the recycling chain is illegal and even landfills for common waste just do not exist any more. Within the EU the share of used household batteries going into recycling is at about 50% and the aim values for effective shares have been cranked up recently.

Down here, I put all my used batteries in a big coffee tin can and dispose of them at the nearest recycling drop-off location when it's full. Also, I always pick up batteries that I see on the ground when I cruise around the neighbourhood with my bicycle.

 

[CMoore]

I'. I have rechargeable AA batteries that are almost 20 years old that don't leak (and still miraculously hold a charge).

The OP here.............batteries are for my wife's camera.
A Nikon something or other....N70...N80.?

BTW
I used to use rechargeable 2 and 3 A batteries.
I stopped for some reason. I suppose it just did not seem "Worth It".
But maybe it is.?
I do not know how much its costs to recharge those things or how long they last compared to Alkaline.
I liked that i was not recycling batteries as much, but................
What devices are you using yours in.?

 

[BrianShaw]

Somehow, I made the connection between (rechargeable) lithium batteries, which can fail spectacularly and catch fire, and the "Surefire" name... Takes a new meaning, doesn't it?

LOL… I hadn’t made the association with Li-ion batteries (the chemistry that is notorious for thermal runaway events). Funny, though.

 

[Nodda Duma]

Sure Fire batteries have a good reputation… they are pretty much the defense industry standard for CR123.

that said, I just get the amazon brand off amazon

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...Yashica T4 Super. It's still here in storage...

I'd sell that, if I were you. People pay a lot for that camera and it's something that can die any second.(Unless, of course, you actually paid a lot for it recently.)...

Bought new probably 25 years ago. I've learned from my mistakes not to sell any photographic equipment, especially film cameras. Mine were all purchased new, are no longer being made, and it's inevitable that I'll want them again at some point in the future.

...I have rechargeable AA batteries that are almost 20 years old that don't leak (and still miraculously hold a charge).

Eneloops are outstanding products. I use them in some non-photographic equipment, but just didn't want to turn the F6 into a larger-than-F5 heavy item by adding the external battery grip.

 

[Moose22]

Bought new probably 25 years ago. I've learned from my mistakes not to sell any photographic equipment, especially film cameras. Mine were all purchased new, are no longer being made, and it's inevitable that I'll want them again at some point in the future. Eneloops are outstanding products. I use them in some non-photographic equipment, but just didn't want to turn the F6 into a larger-than-F5 heavy item by adding the external battery grip.

Same. I have the battery grip. Also for my F100.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm a roll at a time guy. I'm also not worried about the minor speed increase. So the grips are nice to have, I always have a crap ton of AAs around (flash guns, and about a dozen things around the house) so it's a backup if I need it now, but I just don't want to deal with the weight.

And it is empty of batteries, too -- all the battery talk and from checking terminals on old cameras that were neglected I'm getting paranoid about one exploding inside.

 

[runswithsizzers]

Down here, I put all my used batteries in a big coffee tin can and dispose of them at the nearest recycling drop-off location when it's full. Also, I always pick up batteries that I see on the ground when I cruise around the neighbourhood with my bicycle.

I used to work for a hospital that started collecting the various "dead" batteries we accumulated at work. Per policy, all batteries going into the storge bin were required to have at least one terminal covered with tape to prevent short circuits.

 

[Don_ih]

What devices are you using yours in.?

I had rechargeable batteries for things like cordless mice, remote controls, kids toys - low drain devices.