# Camcorder batteries:  are generics just as good or not?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camcorder-batteries-are-generics-just-as-good-or-not/359058>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 1, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camcorder-batteries-are-generics-just-as-good-or-not/359058 "2006-06-01T19:47:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camcorder-batteries-are-generics-just-as-good-or-not/359058/1 "2006-06-01T19:47:30Z")

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This will be my first foray into camcorder battery purchasing.

We have inherited my in-laws’ Panasonic Palmcorder and four batteries. Unfortunately, the batteries are so old that even on “full charge,” I get less than 30 minutes of recording time out of them (three are supposed to record for two hours and the fourth should be good for six hours). It’s really a PITA to make sure that I have all four batteries charged and with me to take to any event I want to record. (Even then, I make sure that I have the charger with me in case they ALL run out.) So, I have waded into the world of [froogle.com](http://froogle.com), and crap are these things expensive!

I have three Duracell DR10s (the two-hour one) and one DR11. The DR10s retail for $30-$40, and the DR11 would run me $60-$80 at the Batteries Plus store near me. I can find the Duracells online for a little less, but the generic versions are much cheaper. (I can get a knock-off DR11 for $25.) So, I wanted to ask Dopers with experience about this. Is it worth my money to buy the brand name here?