A Good But Not Great Battery

The Nikon En-EL3e Battery is the only Li-Ion Battery designed for use in the Nikon D-200 digital SLR camera. Buying the optional MB-D200 vertical grip/battery pack permits the user to use either 1 or two of these batteries OR by using the removable tray, 6 Lithium AAs or Ni-MH rechargeables.

As a relatively new owner of my first ever digital SLR and a longtime Nikon Film SLR user, my initial use of the D200 proved disappointing when I realized that Nikon's claims of 1,500 shots between rechargings was nowhere near accurate. In point of fact, use of one of these batteries, with a bare minimum of LCD review after each shot will net the user a more realistic figure of 300-350 shots between rechargings.

Potential buyers of the D200 should be aware of the fact that one of these batteries is shipped with the camera body. I strongly recommend that new D200 owners buy (for approximately $50.00 US) a second battery as a back-up for the first since the camera is an energy hog. D200 users or those considering buying one should also be cognizant of the fact that at the time of this writing that Nikon's supply chain for accessories like this battery is extremely backlogged. Since these batteries are good for about 500 rechargings, it makes sense that the photographer has more than one available ALL the time.

The camera store that I deal with near where I live in NJ is the state's largest Nikon retailer and when they have trouble getting accessories and batteries, I know that the Nikon supply chain has again stumbled.

Nikon has a very bad habit of releasing new products with just a minimum quantity of the product within the supply chain from their factories to retailers around the world. This battery, which is proprietary and exclusive to the D200 is another in a long product/parts list that is still in short supply months after the release of the only camera for which it was designed. As far as I am concerned, that is a major failure to plan properly on Nikon's part. Given Nikon's corporate reputation for excellent cameras and lenses, their inability to support their products in a timely fashion is, in my mind, inexcusable.

I consider myself to be a devotee of Nikon cameras and lenses, but I will also admit to experiencing a certain degree of disenchantment with Nikon for their poor showing the product support department.

This IS the MANDATORY Li-Ion battery needed for the D200. To my knowledge, there are no after-market batteries available for substitution. Then again, if there were, I would be quite cautious in using them. Inconsistent voltage and failure to meet original design specifications could result in poor camera performance and perhaps internal damage to the circuitry of the camera itself.

Users of the D200 may experience better results than I have, but I'd wager that those differences would be the result of significantly less use of the camera menu and LCD screen for image viewing.

I hope that as Nikon rectifies its manufacturing backlogs and supply issues, that they will consider improving this battery. As far as I am concerned, it has mediocre battery life (at best) and 500 rechargings is not really enough if one uses their D200 to a high degree.