OEM vs off brand batteries & converters

[kcbryan]

I have a Minolta A1 that I have been very happy with. I am looking into getting an extra battery (NP-400 1500mAh), since I am going to be taking two major trips. Two questions.

1. Has anyone had good luck with off brand batteries, or am I just asking for trouble. The price difference seems to be about $10 to $45.

2. We will be traveling to Belarus, and obviously the recharger for the battery isn't going to work. Has anyone had good luck with converters, or should I just stock up on batteries.

Thanks for any advice that you can give
Bryan

[D70FAN]

I have a Minolta A1 that I have been very happy with. I am looking into getting an extra battery (NP-400 1500mAh), since I am going to be taking two major trips. Two questions.

1. Has anyone had good luck with off brand batteries, or am I just asking for trouble. The price difference seems to be about $10 to $45.

2. We will be traveling to Belarus, and obviously the recharger for the battery isn't going to work. Has anyone had good luck with converters, or should I just stock up on batteries.

Thanks for any advice that you can give
Bryan

1. Mixed experience with off-brands. Not sure about the NP-400 but for EN-EL1 and EN-EL3 the cost for Nikon Brand is about $50 and about $20 for the non-branded. The 2 off-brand EN-EL1's for smaller Nikons worked fine. I bought the Nikon brand of EN-EL3's.

2. If you look on the charger it should be rated for 100V to 240V (or something similar. If so you will only need a plug converter. If not a small 120-240V - 50 Watt converter from Radio Shack or even Wal-Mart should do the trick.

Hope that helps.

[Rhys]

I have a Minolta A1 that I have been very happy with. I am looking into getting an extra battery (NP-400 1500mAh), since I am going to be taking two major trips. Two questions.

1. Has anyone had good luck with off brand batteries, or am I just asking for trouble. The price difference seems to be about $10 to $45.

2. We will be traveling to Belarus, and obviously the recharger for the battery isn't going to work. Has anyone had good luck with converters, or should I just stock up on batteries.

Thanks for any advice that you can give
Bryan

Belarus is nasty. It's full of thieves. Don't trust the hotel to be safe or that things left in the room won't be stolen.

They should have 250v mains supply BUT the plugs are like the 2-pin European plugs except they're thinner. You might need to get something like a US to European converter in the US and then a Soviet to European converter there. Bear in mind also that Soviet (and post Soviet) electrical power is not constant. It fluctuates, dips, surges and has frequent cut-outs - even in capital cities.