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I'll say from the top and likely repeat it below. If you have no desire to use third-party batteries, that is ok. We all have a different level of comfort with things.
The Canon LP-E6P battery is Canon's latest for the EOS R5 Mark II and EOS R6 Mark III. While the previous generations other than the original of LP-E6 batteries will work with those two cameras, not all of the functionality is there. It is what it is.
Currently, the Canon LP-E6P has a retail price of about $80 USD, which can get expensive if you need 3 or 4 batteries for your needs. As we know, these batteries don't have the capacity for all-day shoots, especially if you're shooting video or using pre-capture.
The added bonus with the SMALLRIG LP-E6P? They cost half as much at $40. You get two batteries for the price of one Canon LP-E6P.
Third-Party Batteries
For as long as they have made batteries for digital cameras, there has been and will always be a debate about the safety of using batteries that aren't OEM.
A lot of that comes from the Canon warning in their manuals about voiding your warranty if you use a third-party battery. Maybe that's true, but if you do need your camera repaired, they want you to send it without the battery anyway. It's more of a sales based warning that an actual technical one in my opinion, with a cavaet.
Yes, there are crappy third-party batteries out there. If you see a knockoff of an $80 battery for $10, don't buy it.
Take Some Precautions
One of my favourite 3rd party battery makers is SMALLRIG, I have purchased and used various LP-E6 batteries from them and I have never had a problem. I don't do head-to-head shot count comparisons, as that's boring in a lab and impossible to do in the field. At no time have I ever felt they didn't last as long as the Canon OEM batteries.
If you're going to buy a third-party battery, buy from a brand that is well-known and will answer an email if you have a concern. In the case of SMALLRIG, they stand behind everything they make and you shouldn't have any issues getting problems resolved quickly.
Well known brands are using the same battery cells that Canon uses in their batteries. As far as I know, they have always been Panasonic unless that has changed with the latest iterations. I haven't opened an LP-E6P up to take a look, but Panasonic is the largest manufacturer of battery cells for these types of applications.
SMALLRIG LP-E6P
I have used the SMALLRIG LP-E6P for about a month now with the EOS R6 Mark III and I have not run into a single issue. There are no warnings from the camera body and every feature that should work, does work.
I appreciate the orange colour of the batteries. While I don't have a bag with a black interior, the orange is easier to see in low light if you do need to swap a battery. They also offer their standard light blue colour.
There is also the added functionality of being able to charge it directly with a USB-C cable, no need for a brick. I don't know the last time I brought a charging brick with me. You can charge one battery in the camera and the other with a USB-C cable to a wallbrick.
I use the UGREEN Nexode Series for my USB-C charging needs. Camera, Laptop and Battery all charging at once. You only need one power adapter to charge it all if you've travelled somewhere with different recepticles. This is how I charged the SMALLRIG LP-E6P on a recent trip.
SMALLRIG LP-E6P Features
- Fully Decoded for Canon LP-E6P: The SmallRig battery is 100% compatible for Canon LP-E6P battery. It works seamlessly with original devices for Canon EOS 5D Mark II / 5D Mark III / 5D Mark IV / 6D / 6DMark II / 7D / 7DMark II / 60D / 60Da / 70D / 80D / 90D / XC10 / XC15 / 5DS / 5DSR / R / R5 / R6 / R5C / R7 / R6 Mark II / R6 Mark III / R5 Mark II / C50, supports camera power display, and even charges with the original charger—no pop-up alerts, ensuring a hassle-free experience
- 2520mAh Real-Capacity: This high-capacity battery delivers up to 3 hours and 10 minutes of continuous 4K/30P recording for Canon R7. USB-C rechargeable camera battery supports charging via power banks, household outlets, car chargers, and the original charger, enabling you to recharge anytime, anywhere
- 2.5-Hour Quick Full Charge: With 5V/2A high-current charging, it reaches full power in just 2.5 hours—perfect for Canon R6 Mark III, R5 Mark II, R5, R6, R7,C50 users who need quick power replenishment
- Safety & Durable: Made of flame-resistant ABS+PC material, this battery resists high temperatures and impacts. Its exact size ensures a snug fit in your camera, preventing loose connections or installation issues
- Sleek Design: Adopting an all-new color scheme, the appearance is more recognizable while maintaining professional quality. It is an ideal backup battery for Canon camera users, balancing performance and aesthetics
The SMALLRIG LP-E6P is Just an Option
If you have no desire to ever own third-party batteries, that is completely understandable. We all have a different comfort level when it comes to certain things.
I don't use third-party LP-E19 batteries in my R1. Not because I don't trust the third-party batteries, it's simply that I have never needed more than two at a time, and it's rare I even need to use the second one. If I needed 4, I would definitely be offsetting the OEM batteries with some sort of third-party solution. That gets expensive.
If you're open to saving money and getting a product that we think equals the Canon in performance plus providing added functionality, I think these are the best batteries out there.
There are several comparisons of LP E6(N/P/NH) batteries and the Smallrig batteries have a slightly lower capacity than the original from Canon. I need the batteries with the highest capacity for hiking where weight is an issue. And I understand that other photographers have different priorities. So I see the Smallrig batteries as an additional option which is unfortunately not optimal for my purpose.
The Smallrig is £30 in the UK, and the LP-E6P £120 (= $160). Anyway, I buy my LP-E6s in the USA from B&H when I visit as the UK price is nothing short of robbery.
As I need 4-6 additional for an long journey later this year, I´ll give the third party batteries a try. I like that I can charge them with an USB-C adapter. That saves me the weight of another charger.
Pricing here is €119 at an local dealer for the original version
Currently, I own one Canon LP-E6NH, two Patona Protect LP-E6NH, and one Patona Protect LP-E6P.
In the past I also had a Jupio LP-E6N Premium. Nothing to complain, I had it for like five years, but in the meantime I bought the R6, so I moved on to LP-E6NH.
I’ve said this before: I have no issues trusting batteries from brands that are actually battery makers. It’s their area of expertise.
I like my Patonas Protect more than the original Canon’s, because the third parties have extra capacity. Plus, Patona is a battery maker, Canon is not AFAIK.
But I definitely trust a lot more on batteries from battery makers than from “accessories brands”, like Smallrig, Neewer, K&F, you name it.
I don’t care much for conveniences though. I buy the top of the line the brand I like has to offer. My Patona batteries take longer to charge than Canon’s, but it’s just what it is, since they also have larger capacities.
A genuine Canon battery ensures us the best absolute compatibility with our cameras, because they’re the ones coding them. As for the quality of their cells and BMS, we know next to nothing. We know, from experience, they’re decent, but nothing tells us they really are the best.
Some third parties at least let us somewhat know what’s inside.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
I haven't tested with other brands, so far.
But if they come from pretty reliable vendors like SMALLRIG and if you browse the web about critics, then you can build your own picture about the quality.
Personally, I use two SMALLRIG LP-E6NH equivalent for more than two years.
I am still satisfied and especially for traveling I very much welcome the USB-C direct charging.
Right now (March 12th) there is a special offer in the German SMALLRIG store at amazone.de:
15 % off: 35,60 € instead of 41,90 (incl. VAT).
Compared to this, Canon OEM price: ~98,- € (MRSP 119,- €)
So if you compare the MRSPs, you can get 3x SMALLRIG or 1x Canon.
A few weeks ago I could get OEM LP-E6P for 75,- € special offer.
Bought them, because I didn't know that SMALLRIG would come out with own LP-E6P so soon.
Seems, they have an even higher capacity.
The only thing you can lose is time and postage.
Why is this promoted?
- YouTube