About this replacement
NiKon D100 / D200 / D50 / D70 — 7.4V Li-ion Replacement Battery (EN-EL3e)
This is a 7.4V, 2000mAh Li-ion replacement for the NiKon EN-EL3e battery. It fits the D100, D200, D50, and D70 bodies, plus six additional NiKon DSLR models that share the same EN-EL3e form factor. Capacity matches OEM spec at 2000mAh (14.8Wh).
- D-series body compatibility: The D100, D200, D50, and D70 all use the same EN-EL3e battery bay, connector pin layout, and BMS communication protocol. That shared electrical spec is why one cell works across this entire DSLR range without modification.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We ran this cell through a full charge and discharge cycle on a D70 body. The BMS accepted the cell without rejecting it at the authentication handshake, and the battery-remaining indicator tracked through the full discharge curve without false cutoff.
- First charge via camera body: On first use, insert the cell into the camera body and charge it through the body or OEM charger for one full cycle before shooting. The D-series BMS maps the discharge curve against the initial charge cycle — skipping this step can cause the battery-remaining display to report inaccurately across the cell's full range.
Why the D100 and D200 show a low-battery warning sooner than expected on a new cell
NiKon's D-series bodies use a stored discharge curve to calculate remaining charge. When a new cell goes in without a calibration cycle, the camera compares real-time voltage against a curve built from a worn OEM cell. The voltage profile of a fresh Li-ion cell sits slightly higher across the mid-range, so the camera misreads the state of charge. Running one full charge-to-depletion cycle in the body resets the reference and brings the indicator in line with actual capacity.
Battery percentage jumping erratically on the D70 or D50 display
This happens when the camera's fuel gauge loses its voltage-to-capacity mapping after a cell swap. The D50 and D70 report percentage in coarse steps — 100%, 50%, 0% — not a continuous readout, so a jump from 50% straight to blinking empty is normal behaviour, not a fault. If the indicator flips between steps rapidly under light load, the BMS has not yet mapped the new cell's discharge curve. Charge the cell fully via the OEM MH-18a charger or the camera body, then allow one full discharge to complete the mapping. After that cycle, readings stabilise.