Generic SL batteries

[Csacwp]

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Are there any non-Leica batteries that work with the SL and the Leica charger?

[vanhulsenbeek]

Many Posts on these fora since M8! General consensus: avoid then like the plague

 

As to chargers: the Nitecore SL is a well working alternative, small and charges from USB.

Edited February 25, 2018 by vanhulsenbeek

[Timkr]

I don’t believe there are any

[LocalHero1953]

Remember that SL batteries are designed expressly to fit the body shell and weatherproofing (including a moisture/dust seal). Personally, I wouldn't risk it.

[Irakly Shanidze]

I actually had a decent experience with third-party M8 batteries that kept working fine on M9 (except on the M9 they did not show the charge level correctly). There is nothing amazing about it, as all lithium batteries in the world use the same basic principle and technology driven by it. The difference is only in electronics, which can be easily copied, and software, which can be a problem.

Probably a third-party SL battery does not exist due to this very problem: Chinese wizards of knock-offs haven't been able to decode the chip yet.

[farnz]

The problem with third party Li-Ion batteries is that unscrupulous (or incompetent) manufacturers can leave out the essential charging control circuitry that prevents them from overcharging.  Overcharging Li-Ion batteries is extremely dangerous because they are liable to spontaneously burst into flame or explode and there have been many documented cases where this has happened from laptops to the Dreamliner airliner.

 

Third party batteries are a false economy in my opinion particularly if they might burn your house down while they're on charge.

 

Pete.

[frame-it]

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[Bill W]

Not worth the risk to your SL for a few dollars savings. 

[darylgo]

Using a generic on my M9 caused a few issues already mentioned, in addition it made the charger misbehave with all my batteries.  

[pantoufle]

I honestly do have a hard time to understand why someone would spend such a lot of money for a SL and then put it at risk by trying to save a little money via battery third party offerings. Don't get me wrong, also I do not like the high prices for spare-parts but I do shy away from such risk-taking for a miniscule potential 'profit'.

[mmradman]

I think concern about poor quality of third party batteries for SL601 is moot as no such batteries exist. 

 

More generally in the days of M8 & M9 there were third party batteries, some were poor and some were OK.  More recently Leica Q & some APS-C/small sensor models have Panasonic equivalents that are identical, and no surprise, retail for much less. than Leica branded items  As of today there is no equivalent Panasonic, or Zenit,  SL601 camera and corresponding battery.