17/02/2026 9:18 pm
Topic starter
Notifications
Clear all
RF Mount Camera & Lens Forum
3
Posts
4
Users
0
Reactions
123
Views
0
Hey everyone! I recently made the jump to the Canon R series (loving the R6 Mark II so far!), but I've quickly realized that mirrorless cameras definitely eat through batteries faster than my old DSLR did. I'm planning a couple of long day-shoots and some travel soon, so I really need to stock up on some spares to keep in my bag.
I looked at the official Canon LP-E6NH batteries, and man, they are pricey! I’m a bit hesitant to just grab the cheapest generic ones on Amazon because I've heard some third-party brands don't support the full high-speed burst rates (the green H+ icon), or they sometimes don't show the remaining battery percentage accurately on the screen. I’m also on the hunt for a solid dual-slot charger, ideally something compact that can be powered via USB-C so I can charge on the go using a power bank or in my car.
Have any of you found third-party brands like Wasabi, Watson, or Neewer to be reliable for the newer R bodies, or is it better to just bite the bullet and stick with OEM for the performance? Also, what’s your go-to compact charger for a travel kit?
3 Answers
10
17/02/2026 10:25 pm
Late to the party but I feel u!! I went through this last year when I jumped to the R series. Switching from a DSLR was a total shock cuz the battery life is just... different. Mirrorless is sooo much hungrier for juice with the EVF and IBIS constantly running, you know? Honestly, I tried to go super cheap at first with some random no-name brands, but they were literally useless. They couldn't hit that green H+ high-speed burst icon and they'd randomly die when the screen said 20% left. NOT what u want in the middle of a shoot! Basically, the camera needs a high discharge rate for peak performance, and cheap chips just cant handle the communication protocol Canon uses. Here is how I eventually sorted my kit:
* I realized I needed at least one more Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery for professional stuff where I cant risk a glitch.
* For my travel backups, I grabbed the Neewer 2-Pack LP-E6NH Replacement Battery and Dual USB Charger set. The charger is super slim and runs off my power bank via USB-C perfectly.
* I also tried the SmallRig LP-E6NH USB-C Rechargeable Camera Battery which is awesome cuz u can plug a cable directly into the battery itself—total game changer for light travel!! Ngl, it’s worth spending a little more on brands like SmallRig or Neewer rather than the absolute cheapest thing on the shelf. The peace of mind that your burst rate won't drop is huge. Anyway, gl with the R6 II, it's an amazing piece of gear!! peace.
1
23/02/2026 8:06 pm
I totally agree with what was said above. The mirrorless power draw is a whole different beast. Honestly, the R6 Mark II is basically a tiny computer with a lens attached so it just eats juice. The reason those cheap batteries fail with the H+ icon is usually because they cant maintain the required voltage under high load. Basically, as the battery drains, the internal resistance increases and the camera detects that it cant pull enough current for the max frame rate.
- If you want to save money but keep performance, I highly recommend looking at the SmallRig LP-E6NH USB-C Rechargeable Camera Battery. These are cool because they have a USB-C port built directly into the battery case. You can charge them with a phone cable and they handle the high speed burst mode pretty well.
- For a charger, the Nitecore UCN2 Pro is realy the gold standard for travel. It shows you the battery health and actual charging voltage, which is sooo helpful for tracking when a cell is starting to go bad. It uses USB power so you can use it in the car.
- Another solid choice is the Watson Duo LCD Charger. It has swappable plates so if you ever use different battery types, you just swap the plastic bit. Tbh even the best third party ones might drop out of H+ mode sooner than OEM ones as they age, but for the price difference, it is definately a better value. Just keep a couple extra in your bag!
1
21/03/2026 2:45 pm
Would love to know this too
