Kastar third party battery: BP-SCL4

[AdjusterBrett]

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Has anyone tried these?

https://www.amazon.com/Kastar-Battery-Replacement-Rechargeable-Lithium-Ion/dp/B0CZ7NRM8K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ELN1UHKHUFG1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TtJSSG6E0dyA3HYebgA_XGGP8c2vahlO5lPw-sxfZcSu-ZHM3juqe7T_6ICCki1dAboCHeJ4eFofiRk9OaDggQ.lf7C8PNmzFWdOBt3bLFfy-cqwuaUjCij_mxfxUPl6qk&dib_tag=se&keywords=bp-scl6&qid=1729789381&sprefix=bp-scl%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1&th=1

In a half dozen brands of bodies, I've never had an issue with 3rd party - and with Kastar - I've used for work (probably 100 PnS now) regularly.  They are NEVER as good as OEM - but in the likes of my weatherproof Fujis - I bought two dozen for the price of two OEM - and they came with chargers as well).

Lets hope this is ONLY the start - I have an SL - I need three batteries when I take her, have one SCL4 (orig), and purchased a used one (which is not doing very well), for almost that same price (tax/ship).  Being that the darned things do not charge in body - this little grouping is quite inviting.

Worries - do not want to upset her - in any way shape or form, but not real interested in purchasing 450 worth of a pair of new ones and then still having to buy a charger.  

I'm in my truck 12-16hrs per day - and that OEM charger is rather PICKY about what its plugged into...     

Hoping someone can give some feedback on ACTUAL trial and error...    Not interested in the purist opinion - but if technically there is something to worry about I am interested.

Bear in mind - weekend hack, not a pro, shoot for myself not anyone else.  I also shoot FIVE other cameras - but the SL is favored for vintage.

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Luke_Miller]

I bought two of these: 

https://www.popflash.com/pre-owned-equipment/leica-bp-scl6-li-ion-battery-19531-demo-for-leica-q3/

These are the new batteries that are backward compatible with all SL and Q series bodies and a are 2200mAh versus 1860 mAh of the BP-SCL4 batteries.

[Photoworks]

It is nice to see some other companies make them. I wonder if they work on the SL3, probably you get the same allert of no 4K recording.

I have 15 batteries already, I think I am ok for now. but it would be good to have enough power so you don't have to charge on the go.

[Jonathan Levin]

23 minutes ago, Photoworks said:

It is nice to see some other companies make them. I wonder if they work on the SL3, probably you get the same allert of no 4K recording.

I have 15 batteries already, I think I am ok for now. but it would be good to have enough power so you don't have to charge on the go.

Photoworks. 200$ x 15 = 3000$ Holy crap! I thought I had gone out on a limb buying 3 SCL6's. I'm glad I get a days worth of photography with one.

[AdjusterBrett]

Yeah, a couple of US shops had the 170 ones - most marketed as BP-SCL6 with no mention of anything (Focus Cam had them).  

I'm on the road for weeks at a time - so I have to charge (hence the gripe about no in-camera charging).  Nature of the day job.

I'm just hoping someone has tried the Kastar's to see if they work...

[jdlaing]

14 hours ago, AdjusterBrett said:

Yeah, a couple of US shops had the 170 ones - most marketed as BP-SCL6 with no mention of anything (Focus Cam had them).  

I'm on the road for weeks at a time - so I have to charge (hence the gripe about no in-camera charging).  Nature of the day job.

I'm just hoping someone has tried the Kastar's to see if they work...

They work just fine on an SL-2.

[laowai_]

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Leica doesn’t build battery cells, they OEM them from most likely Chinese, possibly Korean or Japanese manufactures. Almost all consumer grade battery cells are built in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, possibly Japan. Country of origin doesn’t play a major role with respect to quality. 

As a OEM, you chose between three grades of battery cells: grade A, grade B, grade C. Grade C cells have the highest probability to develop dendrites over time and catch fire. 

One would assume that Leica only sources grade A cells for their battery packs. 

Without cracking the case of the aftermarket battery pack open and looking at the two cells that are inside the pack, there is no way of telling how good these after market battery packs are. (There are quite a few companies in the US who do this type of reverse engineering for you).

These aftermarket battery packs might be at least as good as the OEM packs, or they might go up in smoke after a few years of usage.

 

In the age of the internet, price is often a good indicator of quality—but not always. 

[BernardC]

1 hour ago, laowai_ said:

Leica doesn’t build battery cells, they OEM them from most likely Chinese, possibly Korean or Japanese manufactures.

The OEM is Panasonic. There is no reason to believe that Leica isn't sourcing grade A cells from Panasonic. They certainly aren't grade C.

[jaapv]

Virtually all batteries of all brands are made in countries like China and Indonesia. Those countries are quite capable of producing high-quality goods. 
Panasonic has factories in China