Nikon rechargeable batteries are high-energy devices which are designed to respond to heavy power demand and are manufactured to strict standards of safety and reliability. Counterfeit batteries may not be equipped with safety mechanisms such as the protection device that is fitted in genuine Nikon rechargeable batteries. This may affect performance or in the worst case, it could cause damage or injury to the person using the camera or charger. From a standpoint of safety and performance, we only recommend the use of genuine Nikon products.
How can I tell if a battery is genuine?
Nikon rechargeable batteries sold by Nikon authorised dealers or through the Nikon Store are guaranteed to be genuine products however you may wish to check the authenticity of batteries purchased from other sources.
Should you want to verify the authenticity of a battery, please contact our Customer Support with photos of all six sides of the battery, making sure each side is photographed straight-on, with even lighting and good resolution.
The existence of counterfeit batteries has been verified for the following Nikon rechargeable batteries.
EN-EL19 I EN-EL15a I EN-EL15b I EN-EL15c I EN-EL14 I EN-EL12 I EN-EL11 I EN-EL10 I EN-EL9a I EN-EL9 I EN-EL8 I EN-EL5 I EN-EL3e I EN-EL3 I EN-EL2 I EN-EL1
Nikon bears no liability for accidents or damage that occurs as a result of the use of counterfeit batteries, including those shown below or other non-Nikon rechargeable batteries.
Nikon rechargeable batteries with a security hologram
If the battery has a security hologram, a visual inspection will help you identify if the battery is genuine. Have your battery ready for inspection and follow the checks below, the hologram is located on the battery as shown (EN-EL15b example).
Check the security hologram for the following:
• The word Nikon is printed multiple times in bands on the hologram as shown below.
• There are four small cuts in the hologram as indicated by the red boxes.
• Tilt the battery slightly away and then towards you, the hologram text should change colour as indicated.
• At certain angles, lines are visible in the background (similar to the Nikon logo).
You can also return your battery to a Nikon Service Centre for inspection, they will scan the security hologram to confirm if the battery is genuine.
Comparison images of genuine and counterfeit Nikon rechargeable batteries
EN-EL19
Front and back surfaces.
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Counterfeit product on the right.
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Counterfeit product on the right.
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Text font and positioning on counterfeit products differ from those on genuine Nikon products. The length of the 4 notches on counterfeit products' holographic seals differs from that of genuine Nikon products.
Top (terminal side) and bottom surfaces.
Counterfeit product displayed at the bottom. | 
Counterfeit product displayed at the bottom. |
The colour of the portion on the far left edge of counterfeit products differs from that of genuine Nikon products. Text is printed on counterfeit product labels.
Indentation above terminals on counterfeit products differs from that on genuine Nikon products. Latin (Roman) letters are stamped on counterfeit products.
EN-EL15c
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Font is different, especially noticeable with the letter [R].
Detail enlarged, counterfeit battery on the left.
 
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EN-EL15b
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The counterfeit battery on the left has the product name, EN-EL15b printed on the front surface. The genuine product on the right does not.
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On the back of the counterfeit battery on the left, the Nikon logo is different to the genuine battery. There are also differences in the Japanese characters and English fonts as shown in the red highlighted areas.
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EN-EL15a
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The counterfeit battery on the left has K4D3F printed on the bottom side of the battery. The genuine product on the right does not.
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The shape of the Nikon logo differs, especially the letters [i] and [o], counterfeit battery on the left side.
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EN-EL14
Front and back surfaces.
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Counterfeit product on the right.
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Counterfeit product on the right.
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Top (terminal side) and bottom surfaces.
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Counterfeit product displayed at the bottom.
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Counterfeit product displayed at the bottom.
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Indentation above terminals on counterfeit products differs from that on genuine Nikon products. Latin (Roman) letters are stamped on counterfeit products.
EN-EL12
Front and back surfaces.
Counterfeit product on the right.
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Counterfeit product on the right.
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The label colours and font on the counterfeit products differ from those on genuine Nikon products. The holographic seals on counterfeit products do not have 4 notches.
Top (terminal side) and bottom surfaces.
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Counterfeit product displayed at the bottom.
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Counterfeit product displayed at the bottom.
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There are no round indentations in the middle of the square boxes on either side of counterfeit products.
EN-EL11
On the counterfeit EN-EN11 battery the clarity of the text in the dark areas of the packaging differs from the genuine packaging. Made in Japan is printed on the side of the counterfeit packaging.
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Counterfeit product on the left
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Counterfeit product on the left
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Some genuine Nikon EN-EL11 packaging appears as shown below.
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Counterfeit product on the left
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Counterfeit product on the left
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On the counterfeit EN-EL11 battery the dimensions of the hologram seal are different and it does not have the four notches. Warnings and cautions on the backs of counterfeit batteries use a different Japanese font and positioning also differs. The counterfeit battery colour is a milky white.
Some genuine Nikon EN-EL11 batteries appear as shown below.
EN-EL10
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Counterfeit product on the left
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Counterfeit product on the left
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On the counterfeit EN-EL10 battery the white portion of the Nikon logo and positioning of the logo differ. The clarity of the text EN-EL10 in the dark area of the packaging also differs.
Some genuine Nikon EN-EL10 packaging appears as shown below.
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Counterfeit product on the left
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Counterfeit product on the left
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On the counterfeit EN-EL10 battery there is no silver band around the holographic seal or around the top and bottom of the battery itself.
Some genuine Nikon EN-EL10 batteries appear as shown below.
EN-EL9a
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Counterfeit product on the left
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Counterfeit product on the left
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The label seal on the back of counterfeit products is darker in colour than that label on a genuine Nikon battery. The dimensions of the hologram seals are different and the fake seal is missing the four notches from the label.
EN-EL9a top surface (terminal side)
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Counterfeit product shown on the left
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In the dent beside the battery terminals, there is no lid or separate component in this gap on counterfeit batteries. To see the difference it may be easier to compare with the genuine Nikon battery supplied with your camera.
Some genuine EN-EL9a batteries appear as shown below.
EN-EL9
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Counterfeit product on the left
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Counterfeit product on the left
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On the packaging of the EN-EL9 the counterfeit product has a different colour Nikon logo and packaging. Made in Japan is printed on the side of the counterfeit battery and some counterfeits do not have the hologram seal.
Some genuine EN-EL9 packaging appears as shown below.
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Counterfeit product on the left
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Counterfeit product on the left
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On the counterfeit battery the text on the front is printed at a slight angle and the dimensions of the counterfeit hologram seal is different and does not have the four notches.
On some of the counterfeit batteries the terminals are gold plated.
Some genuine EN-EL9 batteries appear as shown below.
EN-EL8
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Counterfeit on the left
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Counterfeit on left in both cases below
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With the packaging for the EN-EL8 the Nikon logo and the package colours differ, also the positioning of the standard logos, as shown above.
Some genuine EN-EL8 packaging appears as shown below.
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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On the counterfeit battery the product differs in the shape of the holographic seal.
EN-EL5
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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The counterfeit product has different colours as do the white parts in the Nikon logo.
Some genuine Nikon EN-EL5 packaging appears as shown below
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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On the counterfeit product EN-EL5 is engraved on the surface rather than the Nikon logo and 1100mAh is not included.
Some genuine EN-EL5 batteries appear as shown below.
Cell Made in Japan / Pack assembled in China is noted as the country of manufacture and standard logos such as the PSE and WEEE trash-can logos are printed on the back of the batteries.
Made in Japan is noted as the country of manufacturer.
Made in China noted as the country of manufacturer.
Made in China noted as the country of manufacturer and the cautions are also printed in Chinese.
EN-EL3e
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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On the counterfeit product the text layout and the font differ as does the size of the Nikon logo.
Please note some genuine Nikon EN-EL3e packaging appears as shown below.
Counterfeit EN-EL3e 1.
The font for the Nikon logo differs, Made in China is the country of manufacture, the note regarding recycling the battery is not highlighted and the holographic seal dimensions differ and does not have the four notches.
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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Counterfeit EN-EL3e 2.
The font for the Nikon logo differs, highlighting of the note regarding recycling the battery differs and the holographic seal dimensions differ and the counterfeit seal does not have four notches.
Please note some genuine Nikon EN-EL3e batteries appear as shown in the three examples below.
EN-EL3
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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On the counterfeit product the Nikon logo and Li-ion BATTERY PACK is not printed on the surface.
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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On the counterfeit product one of the characters in Japanese is incorrect.
Please note some genuine EN-EL3 batteries are also Made in China, as shown below.
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Front
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Back (terminal side)
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EN-EL2
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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On the counterfeit product EN-EL2 is printed rather than the Nikon logo and engraved into the surface 1000mAh is not included.
The following three types of genuine Nikon EN-EL2 batteries are available
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Front (terminal side)
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Back
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Front (terminal side)
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Back
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Front (terminal side)
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Back (no frame
around the recycle logo)
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EN-EL1
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Counterfeit
On the counterfeit product it reads
NIKON COM. PADE IN JAPAN.
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Genuine
The genuine product reads
NIKON CORP. MADE IN JAPAN
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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On the counterfeit product one of the characters in the Japanese caution is incorrect.
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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On the counterfeit product the characters are blurred.
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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On the counterfeit product, some of the characters in Japanese cautions are incorrect or use simplified Chinese characters rather than Japanese characters.
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Counterfeit
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Genuine
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On the counterfeit product some of the characters in the Japanese cautions use simplified Chinese characters rather than Japanese characters.
The following five types of genuine Nikon EN-EL1 batteries are available.
