Is it okay to put a generic battery on your digital camera or should you always buy an original?

A generic battery will probably be OK provided you buy it from a reputable source - ie NOT some random comapny in Hong Kong trading on ebay.

BUT

The battery will probably not last as long as an original Nikon (ie fewer charge-discharge cycles befor eit dies).

It may not have the correct electronics to communicate with the charger and camera.

It is more likely to leak or overheat during charging and wreck your charger.

Decision is yours - how much did you pay for the camera? What is the saving against a Nikon battery? Is the risk worth the saving?

Do not buy a cheapie battery from eBay or wherever. Buy an original replacement battery or a replacement battery from a reputable store such as BatteriesPlus.

Your battery should last longer than it has. Either it's defective or you've maintained it poorly. However, even when stored properly lithium-ion batteries lose about 20% of their capacity per year. Depending on individual needs, replacement times might be something like every two to five years.

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don't buy cheap battery, it will damage your camera forever.

Please use original only.